Brooke Moltrum on Creativity, Curiosity, and Building a Life in Storytelling

Brooke Moltrum came to vertical dramas with skepticism, but the format quickly became another outlet for her creative life. From acting and singing to writing and directing ambitions, her story is rooted in curiosity, growth, and storytelling.

Brooke Moltrum did not enter vertical dramas thinking they would become a major part of her acting life.

At first, she was skeptical. A friend encouraged her to audition after she had been trying to work full-time as an actor, but her first reaction was, “No way, I'm staying far from these!”

That changed after she booked the female lead in “Fated to My Forbidden Vampire,” her first vertical drama role.

The experience quickly shifted her view of the format. Moltrum found herself working with multiple cameras, a strong cast, and an experienced crew. What she once dismissed suddenly felt like a real space to learn, work, and grow.

That turn says a lot about Moltrum’s larger creative journey. She is not only an actress building a career in vertical dramas. She is also a singer, voice teacher, theater performer, painter, writer, and aspiring director who sees storytelling as something much bigger than one medium.

When asked who she is at her core, Moltrum answered simply:

An Artist Before Anything Else

Before vertical dramas, Moltrum’s creative roots were in music and theater.

She grew up in Camas, Washington, and has said that seeing “The Lion King” on stage as a child helped spark her love for musical theater.

Years later, that early inspiration came full circle when she performed on the Minskoff stage in New York, the same theater associated with “The Lion King.”

Moltrum was also classically vocally trained for years and still teaches singing when her schedule allows.

She has described music as a major part of her life and has shared that she trained in opera from childhood into her early twenties.

Her resume also reflects that wider creative foundation, listing acting, singing, theater, improv, and performance training.

That background helps explain why she talks about acting less like a job title and more like one branch of a larger creative life.

In addition to acting, she draws, paints, teaches, writes, and has expressed interest in directing.

Finding Vertical Dramas, Then Learning the Format

Moltrum’s first vertical drama was “Fated to My Forbidden Vampire,” which she has repeatedly described as a turning point.

She came into that first set with confidence from theater, short films, and independent features. But vertical dramas required a different skill set. She had to move quickly, work with multiple cameras, hit marks, adjust to the pace, and learn how the format functioned in real time.

The experience humbled her.

She has said that after her first vertical shoot, she spent a couple of days in bed from exhaustion. But the challenge also made her want to return to set as soon as possible so she could keep learning.

Nick Ritacco, her scene partner in “Fated to My Forbidden Vampire,” also played an important role in that early learning curve. Moltrum has credited him with helping her understand camera angles, blocking, and how to navigate a vertical set.

Since then, her credits have included “Deadly Husband,” “Second Chance Double Trouble,” “Irresistible Love for My Brother-in-law,” “Hold Me Tight, Mr. Firefighter,” and other vertical dramas listed across her IMDb and resume.

The Roles That Let Her Dig Deeper

Moltrum has played both female leads and memorable villains, but what seems to matter most to her is whether a role gives her something real to explore.

In “Second Chance Double Trouble,” she played Lorraine, a character she valued because she had more backbone than the typical put-upon heroine. Moltrum said she looks for female characters who do not have to feel so small and who are allowed to have real moments.

The poster for "Second Chance Double Trouble" | Source: IMDb

That matters to her because she has seen how audiences connect to those moments. She recalled receiving messages from viewers who related to Lorraine’s exhaustion and strength, as well as messages from people who connected with her portrayal of Amelia in “Love Always Finds Its Way.”

For Moltrum, that response changed the way she thought about the work. Even when the stories are wild or heightened, she realized they can still mean something to viewers.

Moltrum often approaches characters through psychology rather than simple labels of hero or villain. While discussing lessons she has learned both personally and professionally, she said:

That perspective carries into her acting. Instead of focusing on whether a character is good or bad, she looks for the motivations underneath the behavior and tries to understand why a person makes certain choices.

That same interest in human behavior shows up in the kinds of roles she enjoys most. While she has played a range of characters, Moltrum has said she particularly enjoys villains because they often have stronger motivations, sharper choices, and more room for exploration.

She also appreciates the campier side of those roles and the freedom they can offer as a performer.

Her villain work has also earned recognition from viewers. At the 2025 Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards, Moltrum was nominated for Villainess of the Year for her performance in "How to Dump a Hockey Star."

Wanting More From the Format

Moltrum is also candid about what she hopes vertical dramas can become.

She has spoken about wanting stronger female characters, more dynamic scripts, and more complex, complicated people on screen.

She has also talked openly about how much attention can go into the early episodes or pre-paywall scenes, while the rest of the story does not always receive the same care. Her view is simple: audiences are smart, and the full story matters.

That is one reason “Hold Me Tight, Mr. Firefighter” stands out to her. Moltrum has described it as one of the verticals she would recommend to someone new to the format, praising its story, its look, its humor, and Paige Compton’s direction.

Her interest in the behind-the-scenes side of the industry has also grown. Moltrum shadowed Compton during pre-production and said it gave her a clearer view of how verticals are structured, including the way episodes are broken down and built around specific story questions.

That experience connects to another goal she has mentioned often: directing.

Moltrum has directed theater before and has said she would like to step into directing in the vertical space one day. She is especially drawn to the idea of being an actor’s director, someone who knows how to speak to performers in a way that helps them reach a moment instead of simply dictating it.

Still Drawn to the Stage

She has said her heart is still drawn to the stage, and she has worked with New Musicals Incorporated in Los Angeles, where she has helped develop new musical work.

That love of new work is important to her. Moltrum has said she is more interested now in creating and supporting new musicals than returning to shows that have already been done many times.

Naturally, that has led to one dream that fits perfectly between her two worlds: a true musical vertical drama.

Moltrum is clear that a musical vertical would need to be more than a story about a singer or a drama with music in it. For her, a real musical would use songs to move the story forward.

It is easy to understand why that idea appeals to her. A musical vertical would bring together her acting, singing, theater background, and interest in where the format could go next.

A Career Built on Growth

Across her interviews, Moltrum returns to a similar theme: growth. Whether she is discussing acting, music, directing, or life outside of work, she often describes success as an ongoing process of learning rather than a final destination.

She has spoken openly about the emotional challenges of acting, including rejection, self-worth, and the vulnerability that comes with being seen. She has also credited her family, partner, mentors, and other supporters for helping her continue pursuing creative work.

As her career continues to evolve, Moltrum has expressed interest in exploring more opportunities behind the camera, including writing and directing, while continuing to work across the creative disciplines that have shaped her journey so far.