We’re looking forward to introducing you to Carrie Gibson. Check out our conversation below.
Carrie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes are crucial to set me up mentally and physically. I do a 3o minute yoga/stretch routine. I walk with my dog for an hour or play pickleball and a shorter walk and I chant. I am a member of SGI-USA Buddhism and practice Nichiren Buddhism to elevate my life condition.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carrie Gibson and like my name says I love to carry whatever I can. I am the kind of person who has many bags hanging from my arm literally and metaphorically because I am primarily an actor. Being an actor means putting as many irons in the fire as I can. I will serve story in whatever capacity I can. Obviously first and foremost as a TV and film actor. I have been lucky to have been part of some wonderful sets and projects. They are all my favorites but most recently you can see me Weapons, Barry Matlock , Miss Governor and Scarpetta. But if you back a bit in time I had a great recurring role as a cynical waitress in The Politician. I also just finished shooting my first lead in an indy about how pickleball almost takes a town down but ultimately unites it. I love pickleball so it was a great fit. Stay tuned for that. If I had to choose an acting brand, I am the one who is usually quirky, dry, cynical, edgy and sarcastic though I have also been know to be a caring older Mom type… When I am not auditioning or on set I am breaking into the world of audio books. I have recorded two so far and am in the market to find another.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I would have to say one of the moments that shaped my workd view was in an African American Studies class in college. Professor Juilus Lester asked how how we imagined it felt to be a slave in a book we were reading. A fellow student said they did not know. Professor Lester slammed a book on the desk and said “That is why there is suffering in the world. It is your inability to imagine how it feels to be someone else. You will never know how they feel but you have to try to imagine..” All my life I have been exploring empathy, first as a therapist and now as an actor and writer.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
the first time I sat down to dinner with my friend’s parents, the Rosenthals. I had a dysfunctional family filled with explosions and depression so the dinner table was always eventful. I learned to stay quiet. When I had dinner at the Rosenthals’ we stayed at the table for 4 hours because everyone’s thoughts mattered. They listened to what I had to say and apparently I had a lot more inside than I knew. It felt like magic, acovnersation where everyone was heard and everyone mattered.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think they would say three things, integrity- I act on my beliefs and am consistent, honesty-I have to tell the truth and loyalty-I stick with my friends
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am definitely born to be an actor but it took a long tine to get there. I got a masters in psychology and pursued helping people who grew up in addictive families. I was good at it but I kept wondering what it would be like to be a full time actor. I was told by my mother to not act because she was an actor who was told to stop by my father when they got married. She ended up doing recorded books. I started two theater companies that toured shows on social issues and she saw the value in that. When those companies ran their course I became a full time TV /Film actor. I know it is my path but the in between is tough. It is a hard career but I love it. Ironically I am now pursuing audio books to be the mortar between my acting job/bricks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carriegibsontheactor.com
- Instagram: @carriegibsontheactor
- Linkedin: Carrie Gibson
Image Credits
exactdigital for the headshot
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