We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ansley Gordon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ansley below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ansley with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic is one of my favorite things about myself. There is so much you can’t control in the entertainment industry but how hard you work and your attitude are two things that you can control that can make a huge, lasting impact on your career.
I decided at a really young age that I wanted to work in this field but I had no connections and, as the eldest of four kids, my parents were the opposite of stage parents. So when I decided I wanted to be an actress, I remember sending emails to talent agents in 7th grade with my school yearbook photo and a resume I had made on my parents desktop computer. I made a game out of it – how many people could I get to take a meeting with me. I started doing that with my auditions a few years later when I started going out for TV and film: how many people could I get to call me in? It wasn’t about booking the job, it was about getting the appointment. And to do that, I had to do everything I could outside of the audition room.
I think that my work ethic comes from a desire to achieve. I knew that if I wanted something – in this case, a career in the entertainment industry – I would need fo find a way to out work my competition. And that wasn’t just in the typical ways like in acting class or in audition prep, but in my life in general. How could I be the best artist possible? The healthiest person? The most well-rounded? I found that if I built myself up as a person, opportunities followed.
I also studied people who had things I wanted, who were where I wanted to be. I remember being a sophomore in college and working as a nanny one summer. The kids were obsessed with this Disney Channel show and I started looking into the actors and how they got the job. Some had stage parents, others moved to LA right out of high school, got an agent, auditioned and then booked.
I put together a list of who was doing it the way I was – no connections, no stage parents – and started making a list of what acting teachers they studied with, who their agents were, any interviews they gave about how they got started. Two years later when I moved to LA, I had a book full of working actor’s origin stories and I used it as my jumping off point to get my own career started in LA.
It’s not easy being told no all of the time. But knowing that a “no” isn’t the end of the road and that if you keep going, keep putting in the time and the effort, it will eventually pay off has kept me going all of these years. Think about a professional athlete – they are training all of the time. They live and breathe their game. Every decision – how late they stay up, what they eat for lunch, what kind of media they consume – all has an impact on their mental and physical state, which affects their performance. It’s the same for you as an artist.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a screenwriter, actress, and producer based in Los Angeles. The past few years I have sold over 30 projects, mainly in the direct-to-consumer space, that have aired on Hulu, Hallmark, Paramount+, AppleTV, and more. Currently, a film that I wrote, produced, and starred in for Hulu, “A Christmas Frequency,” is now streaming as an original. The film also stars Denise Richards as my boss. That script when through the hands of so many different people before landing at Hulu and I am so thankful for the way it all played out.
Desperate Housewives’ Teri Hatcher stars in my movie “How to Fall in Love by the Holidays” which is a Roku Original with international distribution. I also write, produce, and star in “The Abigail Mysteries”, a cozy mystery series where I play the titular character of Abigail for Great American Family. The series is set to continue in 2024.
Earlier this year, my movie “When Love Springs” premiered on Hallmark Channel and “The Single’s Guidebook” premiered on Paramount+. I just finished my second novel and am so excited to dip my toes into the world of publishing.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When it comes to building a career in the entertainment industry, I think consistency is key. When I was first starting my screenwriting career back in 2019, I challenged myself to write a script a month for six months. I learned how to structure and format a script, how to take notes, how to build in strong character moments and layer in backstory while pushing myself to grow my “writing on a deadline” muscle.
When I sold my first two projects in 2020 back to back, these skills came in handy because I already knew I could deliver quickly. I was prepared and that gave me a sense of confidence.
Whatever it is you want to do, do it every day. Even if it’s just for a short period of time. You will grow exponentially.
The second thing I would say is don’t take anything personally. Everyone has opinions and your work – as an actor, writer, director, whatever – will be critiqued. People won’t like or understand everything you do and that’s okay! Finding a way to protect your feelings while growing from what other people have to offer is a good way to push yourself as an artist. Not every note is a good one, but looking at things from other people’s perspectives can offer you new avenues to grow your work.
The third most important thing I would say is finding balance. Your are an artist. Not a machine. You can’t be expected to deliver all of the time. Having a social life is important. Having hobbies outside of your work is important. Taking time to do nothing so your brain can reset is important. Working on your mental and physical health aids in your creative output. Set goals and don’t let yourself off of the hook, but also know when it’s time to rest so you don’t burn out and give up on them completely.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The book “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert has been really impactful on me.
The premise of the book is basically each idea, whether for a song or a script or a book, is trying to find a vessel to bring it into the world and if you don’t “answer the call” it can go to someone else. Creativity is a fluid thing and building a relationship with yours can help you get out of the “shoulds” and into flow.
It really helped me look at my creativity in a new light and now when I get an idea for something I look at it through the lens of “what is this idea trying to tell me” and “am I the right person to bring it into this world?”. It has taken a lot of pressure off of myself to create anything and everything at all times. I highly recommend it for all creatives or anyone looking to explore their relationship with creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ansleygordon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ansleygordon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ansleygordon
- Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3624160/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Image Credits
Molly Torian Photo, Wes Klain, SASHA DYLAN BELL
