About

Susanne Sulby

Multiple Careers, One Goal

Susanne Sulby is an actor, nationally regarded voice and dialect coach, adjunct professor, writer, and speaker. Her versatile background and training align to form many synergies that have not only helped her in her career but have benefited those who have worked with her.

Whether she’s acting, coaching, teaching, writing, or speaking, her goal is the same: to inspire, guide, affect, motivate, and to help fulfill the vision of her clients and creative colleagues.

As an Actor

Susanne has lived her passion by performing as an actress for decades. She has performed in a wide variety of theater genres including, Shakespeare, contemporary, movement and improvisation. Some highlights include playing Gertrude in Hamlet for Rev Theatre and Aunt Bobbie in American Sligo for New City Stage. Her solo play, Sanctuary, written and Performed by Ms. Sulby, toured the festival fringe circuit and then off-Broadway.

Her film and TV credits include supporting roles in Silver Linings Playbook, Jesus’ Son, (opposite Billy Crudup), and Picking Up the Pieces.

As a Dialect Coach

Her ability to connect with her clients one-on-one and in groups has earned the respect of actors across the film and TV industries and helped inspire award-winning performances.

Clients include Jean Smart, Julianne Nicholson, Evan Peters, (Mare of Easttown, Emmy Award-winners; Katherine LaNasa), (The Pitt, Emmy Award-winner); Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Oscar nominee); Sienna Miller and J.K. Simmons, 21 Bridges, Glen Powell, Hitman and Chad Powers and Alex Roe in Billy the Kid and Hazard. She also coached the entire cast of HBO’s critically acclaimed series, Task.

Task cast members Mark Ruffalo, Sam Keeley and Emilia Jones have all spoken about Susanne’s essential role in helping them develop and perfect their Delco PA accents.

Theatre coaching credits include The Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC for the critically acclaimed 1776, Violet and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee productions. Additional theatre credits include Jean Smart on Broadway in Call Me Izzy, and various cast members in A Streetcar Named Desire for the Backstage Renaissance Theatre, San Diego.

As a Teacher

Ms. Sulby’s extensive experience as an actress, dialect coach and designated Linklater voice teacher uniquely positions her to teach a variety of modalities. Some of her most impactful courses include Acting Shakespeare, Freeing the Natural Voice, Acting Fundamentals and Voice and Speech for the Actor. She has taught at prestigious universities, theatre companies and acting schools nationwide. Her university and teaching credits include California Institute for the Arts, University of the Arts - Philadelphia, Muhlenberg College and The Linklater Center.

As a Private Coach

Having maintained a private coaching practice for decades, Susanne is attuned to her clients’ individual needs. Her direct yet empathetic approach puts her clients at ease, allays their fears, and helps build their confidence to attain their goals. Services she provides include acting, dialect coaching, accent reduction, audition prep, on-camera coaching, and executive presence and communication skills.

As a Writer

A playwright, author, and poet, Ms. Sulby has written works across several genres. Her one-woman play, Sanctuary, was first conceived in 2005 and ultimately produced off-Broadway in 2016. It examines the universal experience of war across the centuries, and in particular, the impact of war on women.

Susanne was a contributing author to, “Why Black Lives Matter Too”, a call to action on social justice and white privilege.

She is currently working on her memoir, which recounts her unusual life – having grown up living in a prison with her family in Bucks County.

As a Public Speaker

Susanne is a sought-after radio, tv, and podcast guest, speaking on topics ranging from the art of dialect coaching, to “Why We Sound the Way We Sound” to ”Growing Up in Prison”, to her signature talk on “Taking Peace Into Action.” She has extensive experience in both live and virtual arenas with a variety of audiences including peace centers, faith congregations, schools, and universities.