The Road to Hollywood Intersects with the YMCA

On an ordinary day, Eliza Holland Madore is an average eight year-old playing with her friends at the Somerset Valley YMCA. On other days, she’s living the life that many of us could only imagine. Whether she’s shining under the spotlight of a Broadway stage or sharing the camera with comedian Ricky Gervais in an Audi commercial, Eliza’s budding acting career has taken off.

Eliza’s acting career began when her mother, Gina Holland, recorded Eliza singing and acting silly after her bath one night. Eliza’s parents sent the video to a friend who connected them with a casting director, and her career quickly took flight.  

Since that fateful night, Eliza acted in a series of car commercials, performed the role of Ivanka in the Broadway musical Once and landed the part of the title character in Angelica, an independent film directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein set to come out this year. With all of this early success, you might think that Eliza misses out on the key experiences that make childhood so special. That’s where the Somerset Valley YMCA comes in.

“It’s important for Eliza to have a sense of normalcy. At the Y, she can be creative and socialize with kids her age,” Holland said.

It’s at the Somerset Valley YMCA that Eliza gets to do what no child would want to miss out on. She plays with her friends, takes hip-hop class, plays sports and does arts and crafts. Eliza loves her time at the Y so much, in fact, that even some of the most exciting news can’t pull her away.

“When I found out that Eliza got the commercial with Ricky Gervais, I went to pick her up at the Y. Her hands were covered in Gak that the kids were making. I whispered to her that she got the commercial, and she said ‘That’s awesome! Can I have ten more minutes to play with my Gak though?’” Holland explained.

Though performing in front of hundreds of people might sound intimidating, it’s nothing that Eliza can’t handle. Eliza simply imagines that there’s a wall blocking her from the audience and remembers what her cast member once told her, “Don’t be afraid. You can accomplish anything.”

At her young age, Eliza is also unfazed by the idea of working with celebrities.  This was particularly helpful during the filming of an Audi commercial where Eliza acts the part of Ricky Gervais’s niece who reads insulting tweets aloud as Gervais cringes in the driver’s seat. Of course, if Eliza were to act alongside one of her absolute favorites like Kristin Chenoweth, she said even she would be nervous.

Eliza is happy whether she’s auditioning, onstage or in front of the camera. As she put it, “Acting is fun, and I get to be who I am. It’s funny. Even when I’m playing another character, I get to be who I am,” Eliza said.

Though Eliza has a bright future in the entertainment industry, Gina said that her daughter’s main job right now is to be a kid. 

Back at the Y, Eliza can be found doing cartwheels with her friends, kicking the soccer ball around and looking up to her favorite counselor, Whitney Curry, who is role model to the kids. “Whitney doesn’t care what other people think of her. She’s always herself, and she’s fun and kooky,” Eliza explained.

The Program Director of the Somerset Valley YMCA's Hillsborough Branch, Matt Gray, said, “You would never know that Eliza is in commercials or on Broadway. She is remarkably humble for a child that has had such success.  She also has great compassion and is always looking to help other children that might not be having a great day.”

With the help of Natasha Matallana, Eliza’s agent from Take 3 Talent Agency, we’re sure to see more of this rising star in the coming years. For now, we’re proud to say that Eliza is one of the many happy kids who thrive in the YMCA’s youth programs.