Helena Hsiu is an actor, singer, and writer originally from Columbus, OH. At 5 years old she stumbled into the living room as her parents were watching “Seasons of Love” from the film version of RENT. She fell to her knees, her mouth hung wide open, and sat entranced by the strange power of performance for the very first time. Since then, she has pursued this craft with an unshakable determination to hold that feeling again and share it with the world. For her, acting is a total embrace of truth, a celebration of community, and a deeply spiritual practice.
Beginning her journey in Musical Theater, and later branching out into her passion for Film/TV, her ambitious spirit and curious mind have supported her through her artistic journey. Helena’s Taiwanese roots embolden her to create work that uplifts underrepresented stories, specifically that of Asian communities. Skilled at excavating the nuances in everyday life, she has a passion for poetic texts and creating visceral work that leaves audiences with a greater sense of themselves and each other.
Most recently at UNCSA, Helena played The Mai in Marina Carr's Irish family drama “The Mai” directed by Acadia Barrengos, and can be seen this fall playing Polexia Aphrodesia in “Almost Famous the Musical” directed by Sarna Lapine. She has starred in the recent UNCSA student films, “Whelved”, “Masquerade” and “Polyester”.
Outside of performance, Helena is incredibly passionate about writing and the environment. Most recently, marrying her love for these both, Helena wrote a spoken word piece which was performed in downtown Winston- Salem, raising awareness about the water quality crisis in North Carolina and its effects on minority communities. She is currently writing a short play which she plans to star in, discussing Gen-Z’s take on Asian American identity in the age of labels. Her other passions include painting landscapes, video/movie editing (tik tok), and experimenting with the latest and weirdest fashion trends.