Helory Laurent ’16: A Diva’s Directing Debut

Name: Helory Laurent

Hometown: Willingboro, NJ 

Major: Theater and Comedy

Year: Junior

Involvement: Misfit Kids TV

Fun Fact: I’m a book-worm, movie lover, and I love anime!

Favorite Quote: “I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we’ll never know most of them. But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where to go from there.” – Perks of Being a Wallflower

Helory Laurent at first impression exudes a calm serenity; she brings humility to the “diva” title like no other. If you sit down to chat with her, you’re bound to feel a sort of organic flow, like talking to an old friend. But when Helory makes her way onto the stage, she lights up and beams with energy. Her vibrant performances are endearing and her devotion to her craft only translates through her delivery. Further more, this semester Helory took her love of theatre to the next level by adding “director” to her list of titles. Helory and co-director, Shauni Ramai, guided a cast of 20+ girls in this year’s The Vagina Monologues. Using her charisma to inspire the cast and her humility to connect with the actresses, Helory went above and beyond. By blurring the lines between director and personal cheerleader, she truly enriched the experience for her team. That is why the fabulous budding actress is our celebrity for this week! 

HC: How long have you been involved with theatre? 

HL: I’ve been involved with theatre since my sophomore year of high school.  

HC: What has been your favorite role? 

HL: My favorite role so far was Salima in Ruined, which we performed last semester. It was so challenging, which is what I loved most about it! 

HC: What is your favorite thing about WPUNJ?

HL: My favorite thing about Willy P would probably be the people. I’ve meet some really cool people these past three years, and I appreciate how diverse the campus can be. It has only made my experience an interesting one!

HC: You made your directorial debut with this year’s production of The Vagina Monologues. Can you describe the experience for us?

HL: Oh, it was amazing! Shauni Ramai, my co-director, was awesome! It was cool to work with such a great friend. The girls we directed were phenomenal and I’m so proud of them for the performance they put on! And we all bonded and became a really tight knit group. Of course, nothing is without flaw; there were plenty of moments that were stressful and made me wish for the whole thing to just be over with. However, given all that, if I could do it again I would. It was incredible, and I never felt more accomplished and proud when I saw my girls perform and get the response from the crowd that they deserved. 

HC: Do you prefer to be behind-the-scenes or center stage?

HL: I like to do both, but mainly center stage, since that’s where my passion lies. It’s always cool though, to see how everything’s done behind the scenes. It gives me even more room for growth. 

HC: If you were to give your younger-self a piece of advice, what would it be?

HL: Take a deep breath and relax. You’re gonna end up where you’re meant to be. Never let any single failure bother you. 

HC: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

HL: I see myself on Broadway and in feature films, with successfully published books. I also hope to travel around the world and learn as much as I can about what’s out there. 

See her in her comedic glory as she puts out content with Misfit Kids TV, a comedy group made up of WPU students. Follow the group and Helory on Instagram to stay updated, @MisfitKidsTV and @xohill_billyxo. 

• celebrity
• comedy
• director
• drama
• theatre