Hayley O’Toole
Performing Professional: Actor, Comedian/Improv Comic, Singer, Voice Artist
Hey there! I'm Hayley O'Toole, and I am a San Diego-based actor, comedian, and creator of devised work.
My main goal in theatre and in life is to make people feel they’re not alone. I want people to feel seen, feel safe, feel nurtured. Even if what I do only does that for one person, then I have done my job.
I stepped on stage for a talent show in 4th grade, and haven't stepped off the stage since. I fell in love with storytelling. I was involved in theatre both in school and in the San Diego community for most of my childhood, while also taking nine years of vocal lessons and performing in choirs. For high school I attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts as a theatre major. I also attended the California State Summer School for the Arts at CalArts, where I received the honor of California Arts Scholar for acting.
In June of 2020, I received a BFA in Acting from UC Santa Barbara. In their BFA program, I studied various acting and vocal techniques with our diversely talented, wonderfully passionate faculty. I also studied movement and devised theatre under Daniel Stein, who trained under Etienne Decroux, the father of corporeal mime. My passion for acting has grown and flourished through my training at UCSB, and I will work to carry the vulnerability, empathy, and strength I've found in my time there throughout the rest of my life, both in my art and in our social sphere. I will continue to pursue all forms of acting, both theatre and film/TV, while also creating and devising my own work.
Think of me as a golden retriever mixed with a dachshund—wacky and weird, lovable and loyal, curious and playful. I want to amuse people, make people laugh, and hopefully through that laughter they find something out about themselves, or feel better about themselves or the world in some way.
