Who is Emma Louise Pursey?
I’m a Melbourne/Naarm-based actor, writer, producer and educator with nearly 30 years’ experience in the performing arts and in the Suzuki Method of Actor Training. I’m currently the actor, writer and producer of my solo show Where Is Joy? – a visual poem inspired by the life and work of Joy Hester, the only major woman artist of the Heide Circle (now Heide Museum of Modern Art). It’s a life’s work. My Insta bio reads: “Bowie, Bush, Books and Boombie.” Boombie’s my cat. Hi, Boombie!
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I once heard lawyers described as “Shark Librarians” which deeply appealed to me. In another life I’d love to have been a human-rights lawyer. I started out studying philosophy, so I love expanding the mind and getting into a good, critical argument… but also, libraries. Who doesn’t love libraries? Or librarians!
Who inspires you and why?
I’m most inspired by people who have the courage to live their most authentic lives – not necessarily the “successful” ones, but those unafraid to be at odds with convention. Love a good eccentric! I’m also aware that authenticity itself can be a privilege, yet I’ve seen how the true spirit of a person can shine through, no matter their circumstances.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Alongside teaching the Suzuki Method of Actor Training to generations of students at 16th Street Actors Studio and other institutions, I work as a Community Engagement Officer for DonateLife Victoria, educating the public about organ donation. I donated a kidney to my brother 11 years ago, and until his sudden diagnosis with kidney failure, I knew nothing about it.
That experience led me to start volunteering – and while live donation is very different from choosing to be an organ donor when you die, both can change lives. Thousands of people are on dialysis at any given time, and not all will make it. Having one honest conversation can literally save multiple lives. FYI you can register through your Medicare app!
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Holiday? Who has holidays?! I once did a show in Pula, Croatia. A magical place. On my last night I sat on the rocks overlooking the Adriatic Sea and watched the sun rise. Medieval towns spill into the water; they keep their ruins alive.
It’s home to the second-largest arena outside Rome, used for concerts, and I performed Macbeth inside the Kaštel, a 17th-century Venetian fortress. We had downtime to explore the region which is a truly stunning part of the world. That said, anywhere is the best destination if you are with people you love.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
The Royal Botanic Gardens or the Yarra Bend bushwalking trails – both are magical escapes. The gardens are serene and grand, full of lush idylls for an afternoon with a book beneath the shade of a tree. The bushwalks along the Yarra offer an immersive sense of Country. Always was, always will be.
What are you currently reading?
Currently reading my well-thumbed, very underlined copy of Joy Hester by Janine Burke. When I can finally read for pleasure again, I’m excited for Bri Lee’s new novel Seed. That woman is a powerhouse. (She’s also a Shark Librarian).
What are you currently listening to?
A dear friend recently put together a playlist for me called Returning Light. It starts with Joan As Police Woman, whom I love and was lucky enough to see again recently at the Recital Centre earlier this year. I lost my partner 19 years ago very suddenly, which is something I have in common with Joan Wasser. Her songs give me hope that it’s possible to love again, that the Light can return.
Happiness is?
Speaking of light… I believe happiness is something that comes from within. External factors can help, but ultimately if you’re not open or at peace internally, you can’t fully receive or recognise it. I called my play Where Is Joy? and have been in a process of finding her… I think happiness is much the same thing: a process. It comes, it goes. Enjoy it when it’s present.
What does the future hold for you?
I don’t have a crystal ball (like Joy Hester did), but what I can tell you is that life can turn on a dime. Truthfully: I don’t know. I am open and ready for whatever comes. Hopefully there’s a lot of Joy in it.
Emma Louise Pursey can be seen in Where Is Joy? – which will be presented at Melbourne’s fortyfivedownstairs from 30 October – 9 November 2025. For more information, visit: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com for details.
Image: Emma Louise Pursey (supplied)