Experienced tutor in Acting in Cambridge, Debra offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Perfect! I initially reached out to Debra to try out her free acting class. Her reviews were outstanding, and I figured I had nothing to lose. During our first phone conversation, she asked thoughtful questions about why I wanted to pursue acting and explained that the introductory lesson would be complimentary and was to see whether we would be a good fit for each other. That immediately increased my trust in her because it showed that she genuinely cared about the student experience and the quality of work we would be doing together.

During the first class, I immediately sensed that she had real, working knowledge of the industry and was also an experienced teacher. She wasted no time in getting to the core of the work, and I left the session feeling like I had gained real insight and couldn’t wait to learn more from her. So, I signed up for a 40-session package.

About halfway through our sessions, I started to realize that what I needed most was not actually acting training. While I had some successes I was very proud of, I was also running into internal barriers that felt bigger than what acting techniques could help me conquer. I talked to Debra about my concerns and she was completely open and understanding. She told me that she was developing this new course called SPEAK HUMAN and offered to tailor my remaining sessions to my needs using her extensive knowledge and experience in exactly the areas I was interested in: setting boundaries, feeling more empowered, building confidence, and being more true to myself.

That shift ended up being life-changing for me. In our sessions, we practiced real life scenarios where I struggled to maintain boundaries. She coached me through multiple approaches and I practiced them, just like in acting class, except now I’m practicing to be a more powerful and true version of me. What surprised me was not just the effectiveness of the lessons themselves, but how much I learned from observing Debra’s mindset and way of moving through the world. She approached situations from a place of assured self-respect rather than anxiety and uncertainty. She didn’t over-explain herself or make herself appear small. Gradually, I could feel my daily anxiety decrease as the number of tools in my toolbox increased. I slowed down and made decisions that were more thought out rather than through reflex, driven by anxiety. I felt more confident and clear-headed. It felt like I was introduced to a completely different blueprint for how a self-respecting person could think, respond, and carry herself.

The changes affected areas of my life that I didn’t expect. Prior to our sessions I had low self-confidence. I wanted to get back into the work-force but felt unmotivated and anxious about my qualifications. After my SPEAK HUMAN training with Debra, I’ve been sending out job applications, revisiting my past experiences and seeing them through a much more healthy lens. Instead of only remembering failures and shortcomings, I am filled with renewed vigor, optimism, and peace with myself.

For anyone who wants to try acting or improve their craft, who feels lost and like they haven’t reached their potential, who wants to improve communication, become a better version of themselves, and navigate life with more clarity and self-respect, I highly recommend working with Debra. If her style resonates with you, the experience can change your life.

Perfect! Working with Debra as my daughter’s acting coach has been such a blessing to us.
My daughter suffered two sports related concussions within 4 months of each other. After her second concussion, my daughter struggled with facial expression, emotional connection, and even basic confidence in articulating her thoughts in daily conversations.
Although my daughter had only participated in a few required elementary school plays, she expressed interest in acting classes. She hoped that acting would give her a meaningful way to rebuild her ability to articulate and connect and help fill the sudden void in her schedule as her concussions prevented her from returning to sports.
I found Debra while searching options and after speaking with her found out she has worked with other concussion patients with success. Although I wasn’t sure if acting could be our solution, Debra stepped in with incredible patience, expertise, and compassion. She created a safe, supportive environment where my daughter could slowly rebuild her expressiveness, reconnect with her emotions and strengthen her ability to clearly articulate without pressure or frustration.
Debra’s techniques are masterful and deeply insightful. She tailored every session to my daughter’s unique needs and recovery process, helping her regain control of her facial muscles, become aware of her emotions and regain her ability to express herself while gently building her acting skills.
What started out as therapeutic recovery work quickly turned into real artistic growth. Thanks to Debra’s dedicated guidance, my daughter has now booked her first feature film—a huge milestone given how this journey started just months ago.
Debra is far more than a coach; she’s a true mentor who genuinely cares about her students’ well-being and success. Her decades of experience, certifications, and ability to adapt to each person’s learning style and challenges set her apart. She gave my daughter back her confidence, her sparkle, and a new dream.
I wholeheartedly recommend Debra Crosby to any actor—beginner, recovering, or seasoned—who is committed and teachable, and who wants transformative and high caliber professional acting training. She doesn’t just teach acting; she helps people heal, grow, and discover success. We are forever grateful.

Perfect! Throughout my entire time with Debra, she has always given me the professional coaching, support and confidence to help me move forward with my work as an actress.

Whether it was adding extra time over zoom to help me nail a piece or watching endless self-tape and giving me feedback before submitting my self tape, video audition, she has thoughtful, insightful and helpful information to bring my acting up a notch.

When I first started with Debra, I was very nervous with my acting, always second guessing and questioning myself. However, working with Debra I have gained so much trust in my skill as an actress, and not just with my acting, but in all aspects of my life.

During all of our sessions Debra always provided me with relevant and valuable tools and techniques to help me in my acting process. She knows just how to help each person she works with reach their full potential with her vast knowledge of experience and the years of dedication to the success of her students.

Everything that I have learned from Debra I use every time I work on a new project, monologue, or audition.

I can say confidently that I am very happy with the skills, craft and confidence that I have gained working with Debra.

Spending the time studying the professional craft of acting with Debra was worth the investment. I have been able to use the skills I learned to go out for auditions, record self tapes, and attend a summer intensive where I am able to present my acting with the confidence I developed with Debra.

Now I am excited to continue my journey studying acting at a highly respected Acting Academy, for a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Acting for Film.

I am very grateful to Debra for all the support she has provided me throughout the beginnings of my acting career and helping me move forward with my work to reach new levels in my acting.

Perfect! What I appreciated the most , is your direct way of getting to the point. Meaning, if this is what you, ("I") want to be a part of, i.e.,
acting, voice-over, etc., it's all possible and do-able.
Thank You - Ken Millen / email address: kennygotmusic@me.com

Perfect! Words can’t describe how much Debra has helped me. I have only been working with her for a few months and I already booked a paid acting job.
She is patient, observant and gives positive feedback. But she won’t hesitate to show you how to do something better. Debra’s credentials, certifications, range of experience, and the decades of dedication to the success of her students really stood out to me. She saw the potential in me and that meant the world to me. It really boosted my confidence. She took a chance on me, just like how she had stood out to me as, in my words, the perfect instructor. I am very happy that I had the opportunity to work with Debra for my professional acting training. I can’t recommend her enough.

Perfect! Words can’t describe how much Debra has helped me. I have only been working with her for a few months and I already booked a paid acting job.
She is patient, observant and gives positive feedback. But she won’t hesitate to show you how to do something better. Debra’s credentials, certifications, range of experience, and the decades of dedication to the success of her students really stood out to me. She saw the potential in me and that meant the world to me. It really boosted my confidence. She took a chance on me, just like how she had stood out to me as, in my words, the perfect instructor. I am very happy that I had the opportunity to work with Debra for my professional acting training. I can’t recommend her enough.

Perfect! I have been taking classes w Debra for seven months- it has been a wonderful experience in so many ways. This investment in myself and my acting career is already paying off as I’ve gotten paying jobs and continue to get opportunities. I did my research and found Debra on this website.
She offered a free initial Zoom and she patiently listened to my aspirations and expectations, she laid out her approach and style and I knew we would click- and we have. Debra customizes her approach for each student, and it is so refreshing to have high level instruction given by a true pro who only wants you to succeed. Her instincts are spot on and she has a way of getting so much out of me that I was unaware I possessed. If you truly want to get great lessons from a very experienced and compassionate instructor, working with Debra is an easy decision.

Perfect! When I started working with Debra as my professional acting coach in September 2021, I had no prior acting experience whatsoever. In our weekly sessions Debra taught me how to have fun with acting while also harnessing my craft as an actor. With Debra’s strong guidance, I discovered a passion, love and appreciation for acting that I never knew I could have before.
From September 2021 until January of 2022, Debra worked tirelessly to not only expose me to the history of acting, but more importantly to as many tools, techniques, skills & scripts as made sense on my journey.
Working sometimes 3-4 times a week, Debra helped me through every step of the college audition process. To my own amazement, Debra got me ready to start auditioning for colleges.
In March of 2022, I found out that all of our hard work paid off. I’m so excited to say that I got into my top choice for university with the acting program. I really wanted to be studying in. I will be attending college in the fall of 2022. I couldn’t be more delighted.
To be perfectly honest, I felt like the odds were stacked against me in terms of getting into any University Acting Training program, never mind getting into the prestigious University which was my top choice. I knew that the competition was going to be pretty stiff, given that most applicants probably would have been acting since early childhood and would have auditioned with years more of experience than I. To go from a gap year student with absolutely no acting experience to an incoming freshman at the top college acting program of my dreams is not something that I could have done without the support of Debra Crosby.
Since our first conversation Debra has been pro-actively committed to assist me to achieve my acting goals. She tailored our sessions to meet my needs, my goals and she taught me in a way that I would not only understand but respond well to. With every piece we studied and every technique we practiced Debra was able to identify where I struggled, and she taught me how to conquer those challenges & improve without ever making me feel like I was less than or not capable. She embraced my learning process and she inspired me to want to always be learning more about acting.
Debra is devoted to observing her students and adapting her teaching methods to best fit their learning style. Debra is a well-informed acting trainer who comes with a ton of credentials, certifications, decades of experience and many, many success stories. I feel blessed to have worked with such a kind, compassionate, funny, knowledgeable and highly accomplished acting coach. It is with confidence that I can highly recommend Debra as an acting trainer. No matter who her student is or how much experience they have Debra is ready for the challenge to help her students deliver an outstanding performance, out compete the competition, and discover the confidence to succeed!

Perfect! I was a theatre major back in college (1987) but I did not graduate. I am at a place in my life where I can have a 2nd chance to complete my theatre training and I am so glad I found Debra!! Her knowledge of the acting world is second to none and the compassion she has for the craft and for her students is exceptional. I have learned so much from her over the past few months than I ever did in a year and a half of college. Debra has taught me how to approach cold readings, how to break down the lines and use my imagination to deliver them in an audition. Heck, she even taught me the right way to smile. Just these few tools alone are priceless, I cannot wait to see what else I learn from her!! If you are looking for an acting coach I highly recommend Debra Crosby.