Coach Spotlight: Giovannie Espiritu
Meet the fabulous Giovannie Espiritu! Coach Gio currently teaches our newest class and special Intensive of the Month: Rhythms of Comedy for all ages, as well as private coaching. ⭐️
✨FUN FACTS✨
Coffee, tea, matcha, or…? Coffee. Always coffee. ☕
What do you love most about teaching/coaching actors? I love helping actors understand that there are no “bad” emotions. Anger, jealousy, fear, sadness, excitement—all of it is information. Our emotions point us toward what matters to us. I love helping actors get curious about that instead of judging themselves for what they feel. And then watching something click? That’s my favorite part.
Favorite movie you never get tired of watching? Angel-A and The Matrix. Completely different movies, but both have something to say about identity, choice, transformation, and waking up to who you actually are.
The book you recommend the most to actors? The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Actors need technique, absolutely—but they also need to protect the part of themselves that makes them want to create in the first place.
What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played—and why? Dee on NCIS: Origins is definitely one of my favorites. The team behind that one is wonderful. I felt welcomed and cared for on that set.
Go-to snack or treat between coaching sessions? Greek yogurt with honey. Simple. Delicious. No notes. 🥣
Who’s an actor whose work always inspires you? Florence Pugh. I love how fearless she is about being emotionally messy, vulnerable, funny, physical, and deeply human. She commits fully, and there’s something wonderfully alive about watching her work.
What’s something students might be surprised to learn about you? I have a kiddo at MIT! Which means I have spent a lot of time being a proud parent, a cheerleader, a taxi service, and occasionally the person asking, “Have you eaten anything today?”
Favorite place you’ve traveled—or dream destination? The Philippines will always have a huge piece of my heart. But honestly, give me somewhere beautiful, fascinating, full of good food, and I’m pretty happy.
When you're not teaching or acting, we’ll probably find you… West Coast Swing dancing! 💃 It turns out all that stuff I teach about rhythm, listening, connection, and responding in a scene applies to dance too. Also: comedy shows, taking classes, making films, and finding something delicious to eat.
What do you hope students feel when they leave your classes or coaching sessions? I want them to feel more connected to themselves—not like they’ve been given another set of rules about how to “be an actor.” I want them to feel curious, capable, and free to make choices. Most importantly, I want them to know that their emotions aren’t the enemy. They are clues. They tell us what matters.
Your personal motto (or a quote you live by)? “Break Hearts Wide Open and Create More Moments of Joy.”✨
MORE ABOUT GIO…
Giovannie Espiritu is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, writer, director, producer, and acting coach whose career spans film, television, animation, and independent filmmaking.
As an actor, Giovannie’s credits include Young Sheldon, NCIS: Origins, and 9-1-1: Lone Star, along with numerous film and television productions. She has also received recognition for her performances, including a Best Supporting Actress nomination alongside acclaimed actors Alfre Woodard and Amy Irving.
As an acting coach, Giovannie brings years of professional experience both in front of and behind the camera into her work with actors. She coached Rosalie Chiang during her journey as Mei in Pixar’s Turning Red. Giovannie has also worked behind the scenes with Pixar on Elio, Luca, and The Good Dinosaur, giving her a unique perspective on the voice-acting and animation process and what it takes to bring a character to life.
Giovannie is also an award-winning filmmaker, writer, director, and producer. Her feature film Love & Karma (with Oscar-nominated Eric Roberts and international star Bai Ling) and the series Maid to Shine, created for FilAmTV Network and acquired by Viva Films, are among her recent projects. She received a 2023 Silver Telly Award for Legacy and has been recognized for her contributions to the Filipino American creative community.
She is a member of the Producers Guild of America, the Television Academy, and the Alliance of Women Directors.
But Giovannie’s path into the industry has been anything but conventional. A Filipina filmmaker who was born in Manila and built a career across acting, coaching, and filmmaking, she understands that there is no single blueprint for becoming an actor. She knows what it feels like to audition, get rejected, fight for a role, make your own work, and figure things out as you go.
That perspective is at the heart of her coaching.
Giovannie helps actors get out of their heads and into the scene. Her approach is grounded, intuitive, practical, and playful—with an emphasis on making specific, honest choices rather than trying to figure out what someone else wants to see.
Whether you’re preparing for an audition, working on a self-tape, developing a character, or simply looking to deepen your craft, Giovannie wants you to walk away not just with a better performance, but with a better understanding of yourself as an actor.
And yes—she believes acting should be fun!
To train with Coach Gio visit: https://www.actorsite.com/audition-coaching