Daily Inspiration: Meet Chelsea Gilson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Gilson. 

Hi Chelsea, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hailing from a small town outside of Boston, I grew up far from the glitz of the entertainment industry. But after graduating from Assumption College with a Psychology + Spanish degree I took a vacation to California, and really never looked back. I’ve been working as an actress and television host for the past decade and have loved every second. I also teach yoga and maintain a well-read travel blog, www.travelingfig.com. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
On more occasions than I’d like to admit, I’ve thrown my hands up in frustration and declared “I quit!” Sometimes in this industry, it feels like you’re just throwing darts blindly in every direction hoping you’ll eventually get on the board. I try to really enjoy the process as much as I can and I always celebrate every little success, big or small. It’s easy to lose sight of how far we’ve come when we’re so focused on booking that next gig. I find it imperative to my well-being (and, let’s be honest, my sanity), to frequently remind myself to slow down and appreciate the journey.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think what sets me apart is that I’m a quick-witted, improv loving, dry-humored girl from Boston at heart. I stay humble and grateful, and I’m never afraid of the possibility of failing or embarrassing myself. I’m also the girl on set who’s always volunteering to do her own stunts! And often the one leading the cast and crew in group yoga classes during downtime.

Acting really is a discovery process. I love taking on challenging characters and building out their personalities and how they interact with the world around them. I truly believe that as long as you do the character work and have a grasp of where your character is coming from, then there are never wrong answers, just different interpretations. Instead of worrying only about memorizing the lines, I focus primarily on becoming the character so that when I show up on set and there have been last minute rewrites, or the director asks us to improvise the scene instead, I’m not thrown.

Any big plans?
I just finished filming “A Merry Single Christmas” in and around Cleveland Ohio, so look out for that this coming holiday season!

I’m also in the edits of a book and have a few screenplays I’m hoping to get made. Other than that, I’ll just be plugging away at acting, hosting, teaching yoga, and blogging in Sunny California until my next adventure!

 Contact Info:

• Email: Chelseagilson@gmail.com
• Website: www.chelseagilson.com // www.travelingfig.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/chelseagilson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chelsearaygilson/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/chelseagilson
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/ChelseaGilson
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4573227/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm