MY STORY
Hi! I’m Julia J Wilke, and I’m an actor, writer and producer.
I grew up on Mercer Island, just outside of Seattle, and started my artistic journey as a ballerina. When I was twelve, I played Clara in the Nutcracker, and caught the acting bug. I shifted my focus to theatre in middle and high school, and played roles like The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods and Luisa in the Fantasticks. When I wasn’t on stage, I was composing piano music, or teaching myself KPOP dance routines.
I did theatre in my free time at Whitman College while majoring in Sociology, which helped me to better understand how people are shaped by the world around them. I’ve been able to use my degree to deepen my acting work in developing the characters I play. My study of Sociology also led to a passion for art as a form of rehabilitation for currently or previously incarcerated individuals.
I have been working professionally as an actor since 2021. I’ve starred in multiple films since then, including LINES, for which I won the award for Best Actress of the Year 2024 at IndieX Film Festival in May. I'm currently honing my craft in classes at Zak Barnett Studios, with the ongoing guidance of Jo Kelly.
In 2022 I had the chance to work in story development for the film MORE TOGETHER, written by Jake Foy and Curtis Brown. This spearheaded my interested in screenwriting, leading me to begin creating my own films. I co-own Steel Cat Productions with my partner Phillip Solheim, and am eager to produce films that tell the stories of individuals with stigmatized identities.
I live with Phillip and our two cats, and am grateful that I get to spend my time with the people I love, delving into my passions.
If you are interested in working with me, I hope you’ll reach out. I’m glad you stopped by!