Her mom put her in drama to help her become a more sociable person when she was young.

Now, Joni Efflandt, 31, stars in the upcoming play “Antigone.”

“I was really shy when I was growing up as a kid. So my mom put me in sports and drama to help me come out of my shell,” Efflandt said.

Efflandt said she has been influenced by strong positive women in her life.

“My mom is a big influence to me,” Efflandt said. “I think women who don’t give in to stereotypes and who go against the grain influence me a lot.”

Efflandt said she loves that she can play all different types of people when she is performing.

“I love that I’m able to play someone completely different and it’s great to have an outlet to do so,” she said.

Efflandt can be seen in many different types of shows because she likes to try all types of plays from drama, which she said she can play very naturally, to musicals, in which she gets to have fun singing and dancing.

Efflandt has been in 10 of EC’s productions.

“I played in last spring’s play called ‘Crimes of the Heart,'” Efflandt said.

The play was directed by Caryn Desai, who Efflandt said is a strong and positive influence on her.

“She is a very inspirational woman and definitely someone to look up to because she challenges you to do the best that you can,” Efflandt said.

Now, Efflandt will be playing “Antigone,” but said her favorite character that she has ever played was in the play “Baby with the Bath Water,” where she played a character that was zany and dysfunctional.

Aside from EC productions, Efflandt has been busy doing extra work for shows and just being in the background.

Efflandt has acted in about five different independent films that she said were rewarding experiences for her.

Efflandt has one more semester at EC and then will be transferring to Cal State Domingez Hills to get her teaching degree, she said.

Until then, Efflandt said she will continue to focus on drama and acting.

“I don’t have to be famous; I just want to do my best and be the best actress and artist I can be because I love every aspect of art.”

For the record

Donna Angers, Rising Star of the previous issue, did not get her Chrysler PT Cruiser herself, but inherited it from her father when he passed away.