It was during a careers lesson at Takapuna Grammar in Year 10 that Ella Cornfield realised she had to be a professional performer. She says that most of her peers were interested in medicine or marketing but she knew they could never offer the right path for her. Fast-forward six years, and Ella is now making the first big steps in her career. It has taken a gruelling 19 drama school auditions, seven call-backs and almost three years since leaving Takapuna Grammar for Ella to finally realise the dream of studying to be a professional actor.

Ella Cornfield grew up in Devonport. Her passion for performing began at age seven as ‘Ariel’ in a production of the ‘Little Mermaid’ at Vauxhall Primary. At Takapuna Grammar she performed in the ‘Foxy Pitches’ Barbershop quartet, ‘West Side Story’ and the 2015 production of ‘Oliver!’ playing ‘Nancy’ at the Bruce Mason Centre. She studied singing under Janice Webb and Jane Horder, and was a student at Devonport School of Dance for over 15 years. Performance highlights include ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ & ‘Hairspray’ with North Shore Music Theatre, ‘Catch Me If You Can’, with Papakura Theatre Company and ‘Oliver!’ with Harlequin Musical Theatre.
Most recently Ella appeared as a guest soloist with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra at the Bruce Mason Centre and the Town Hall. She also sang with local band Wonderfish all over Auckland raising money for “Shine” and for a Wilson Home fundraising concert.
Ella has recently moved to London to study a BA Actor Musician degree at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She is ecstatic to spend the next three years acting, singing, dancing and playing the piano and cello.
"I have been incredibly fortunate to be one of only 16 candidates selected from thousands for Mountview Academy of Theatre Art’s BA Actor Musician course. This unique and niche area is taking off in the industry with more demands for actors with a musical training in plays and musicals.
"Musical theatre has long been my passion but I have always been surrounded by music. I started playing the piano at five years old, then the violin and by eight I had picked up the cello. My parents both studied classical music in London 30 years ago and it is crazy that I will now be living in the same area they both flatted in when they first met.  
"Over my 5 years at Takapuna Grammar I had many inspirational teachers and was given so many opportunities to develop my craft. Since leaving Takapuna Grammar I have taken a couple of ‘gap’ years that have been incredibly challenging but ultimately rewarding. In 2016 and 2017 I worked at Auckland Live, spending all of my spare time singing, dancing and preparing for auditions.
"Facing a third year without securing a place at a world class institution I decided to move to the UK.  I booked a one-way ticket and launched myself into the unknown. Over the last four months I have completed another eight drama school auditions, four call-backs, and been offered two places and one reserve. I spent this time working in one of “Britain’s Best Butchers” in West Yorkshire, while staying with family.
This time I had more success. I was offered a place at the upcoming Emil Dale Academy and listed for a reserve place at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. However, my final audition was for Mountview’s Actor Musician course and I could scarcely believe it when I found out I was one of the lucky 16 selected for the course!"
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts was founded in 1945. It is recognised as one of UK’s foremost drama schools and since 2006 Dame Judi Dench has been its President. The school provides specialist training in acting, directing, producing and theatre production. Mountview’s reputation for the quality of its training is evident within its industry results as 95% of students work professionally within one year of graduating. As celebrated producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh has said, “I employ many Mountview graduates, I appreciate the consistently high standards achieved by the staff and students”. What is even more exciting is that Mountview is moving to brand new premises this year in Peckham, South London.
"I am thrilled to receive support and recognition from my local community in the form of an AIMES Emerging Talent Award from the North Harbour Club,” said Ella in early October. "I would love the opportunity to sing at an AIMES Award evening and to share my story with any young artists who also have dreams beyond their imagination! I want to put the North Shore on the map once more, this time at the Tony’s instead of the Grammy’s! I’d be proud to inspire other kiwis just like me to never give up on their dreams. The next three years at Mountview will be the start of the dynamic and authentic performing career that I have always dared to dream of. Now it is time to make that dream a reality. I’m ready to be the ‘other Ella’ from Devonport!"

Ella Cornfield receives the AIMES Emerging Talent Award from the North Harbour Club – sponsored by Bellingham Wallace – including a cash grant of $7,500.