I met Lily Spencer in an acting class taught by Eric Lutes, whom many television fans will remember from the 1990s sitcom “Caroline in the City.” Eric, who now lives in his home state of Rhode Island, hosts a small acting cohort that I joined last year. Lily has been studying with him for the past three years. It was our platonic meet-cute moment, and we have been friends ever since.
But Lily’s acting adventure began decades before that class.
Like so many performers, she was one of those theater kids who seemed born for the stage. As a teenager, she lived for school plays and musicals, regularly landing lead roles and immersing herself in the magic of live performance at any given chance. She loved everything about theater — the lights, the costumes, the collaboration, the thrill of stepping into someone else’s shoes. A beloved drama teacher became both mentor and champion, helping shape her early journey in acting.
Then life intervened. Or more accurately, death.
When that teacher passed away suddenly, the loss hit Lily so hard that she stepped away from acting entirely. What had once been her passion became too painful to do. Years passed before she found her way back to it.
In her thirties, Lily began studying with local actor Fred Sullivan Jr., who encouraged her to step into the worlds of film and television. By 2009, she had officially relaunched her acting career. Along the way, she found inspiration and guidance from artists and mentors including Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, Mike Messier, Tim Hillman, and filmmaker Patricia Chica through the CHI Energy for Actors retreats.
While acting will always remain her first love, Lily has occasionally ventured behind the camera. One of her most meaningful projects was serving as executive producer of She, Who Dared, a film created by Gabrielle Rosson and made in partnership with New Path Productions.
The biopic tells the story of Lois Weber, one of the most influential figures of the silent film era and a pioneer whose accomplishments remain largely absent from mainstream film history.
Surprise, not surprised.
Weber was among the first women to direct a feature film in the US, own a production company, and became one of the highest-paid directors of her time. She wrote, directed, and produced hundreds of films, while tackling controversial social issues that often attracted the attention of censors. At the height of her career, she was every bit as famous as many of the male directors of the day, like Cecil B. de Mille.
That film project inspired the creation of the Lois Weber Film Festival in 2023. Founded by Gabrielle Rosson and Katie Killourhy, the festival exists to celebrate women filmmakers and provide a supportive space for bold storytelling. Every submission must be directed or co-directed by a woman or person identifying as a woman.
I had the thrill of learning about the event when a project I acted in, Steeped in Denial, screened during the 2026 festival. Directed by Sue Farina and written by Nicky Lowney, it was an honor to be included among so many powerful stories led by women.
Lily serves as a board member of the festival, and this Adventure Broad is about to join the organization as an advisory board member.
For Lily, storytelling has always been about more than entertainment. She is particularly drawn to projects that explore women’s issues, veterans’ experiences, mental health, and Indigenous stories.
One recent project, the documentary Nine Little Indians, screened in New York City and left a lasting impression on her. Directed by Shannon Kring, the film tells the story of the nine Charbonneau sisters and the abuse they endured at a Native boarding school in South Dakota. The documentary shines a light on the devastating legacy of the American Indian boarding school system.
Lily portrayed Barbara Kay, one of the nine sisters, in dramatic reenactments used throughout the film. The experience reinforced her belief in the power of filmmaking to bear witness, preserve truth, and honor the stories of those whose voices have too often been overlooked.
Fortunately for audiences, Lily has no plans to slow down.
She hopes to direct a project of her own someday, while continuing to pursue acting opportunities wherever they may lead. She is also an active member of Women in Film & Video New England, and recently appeared as a co-star in my directorial debut comedy short, Two Ladies and Their Parts, which is currently in post-production.
When asked what advice she would give aspiring filmmakers and actors, her answer is simple: get out there and just do it. Join a 48 Hour Film Project team. Volunteer on a student film. Audition even if it scares you.
And if the opportunity doesn’t exist? No problem. Just go and make your own darn movie.
Learn more about the Lois Weber Film Festival by visiting LoisWeberFilmFestival.org. Follow Dennise on IG @theAdventureBroad.