Meet Nan Gurley

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nan Gurley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

The best way to be effective, even if you’re alone in your beliefs, is to be the most prepared person in the room. Be the hardest working and most professional person at the table. Be a good listener and show genuine concern for others. Go the extra mile. Show initiative. I’ve spent my life auditioning for directors. They are stressed out and overworked and underpaid. I learned quickly that they are looking for actors who have the potential to make their job easier. I made it my daily goal to be over prepared for each rehearsal, to write down what they said in the daily note session, and to respond to their direction and be willing to try what they asked me to do. I showed up with a good attitude and gave 100%. This is the way to make the people who have the power to hire you want to keep bringing you into their projects. You can’t bring your own personal business into the work process and you can’t be moody and temperamental and self-absorbed. The best practice is to treat others the way you want to be treated. It works every time and it really pays off.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve spent the last 50 years (I started young!) onstage singing and acting my way through dozens of roles — from Mama Rose in “Gypsy” to the witch in “Into the Woods,” Amanda Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie” and Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I’ve sung with symphony orchestras and jazz bands, recorded audio books and enjoyed being a voice-over talent for radio and TV commercials. I’ve produced educational TV programs for children on public TV, and I’ve toured with my own one-woman show.

My most recent theatrical endeavor was playing the role of Corrie ten Boom in the film “The Hiding Place,” released worldwide in August 2023. Playing Corrie ten Boom is perhaps the greatest honor of my life — and it was also one of the greatest challenges. Her story still speaks profoundly to us today, and I felt pressure to do her and the story justice. If you’d like to see our film version of “The Hiding Place,” go to hidingplacefilm.com.

I also co-wrote a musical with my best friend, Bonnie Keen, called “Women Who Dare to Believe.” In this musical, we portray 21 different women from Scripture. We also currently have a podcast called “Women Who Dare to Believe,” and it’s available on all streaming platforms. In the podcast, we take a deep dive into the lives of the women of the Bible. Our main goal is to help women see these characters not as dusty icons on a shelf but as real flesh-and-blood women who still speak and have much to teach us today about following Christ. Visit us as womenwhodaretobelieve.com

Also, about 15 years ago, I began pursuing fine art. I call this Act III of my life. I’ve always wanted to learn the art form of canvas and paint, and several years ago, I started studying with Dawn Whitelaw. She is an internationally renowned landscape and portrait artist as well as my mentor. I feel very blessed; it is a huge honor and opportunity to study with a master. I launched nangurleyfineart.com this year and am working hard to get the word out about this stage of my career.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I grew up in a family of creatives. My Dad was a music and drama professor as well as a singer/actor. My Mom was a food writer for our local newspapers and magazines. There were 4 of us kids and 3 out of the 4 have pursued careers in the arts. So I was never discouraged from pursuing my dreams in the performing arts. My Dad was also the worship leader in our church and I have vivid memories of him looking for creative ways to bring the congregation into a deep place of worship through the hymns he chose to lead and the Scriptures he chose to read. He was always looking for ways to bring excellence into the worship experience. He also had great skill as a gardener and every night when we set the table for dinner, he would create an interesting centerpiece for the table. Sometimes he’d go out into the yard and find leaves, flowers and rocks to make a an arrangement. This kind of creativity was always just a normal part of the day for us. My parents had the gift of hospitality and loved having people over for dinner. Our dining room table was large and our home was welcoming. We always had people over from church, or students from the local college where my Dad taught music, drama, and led the choral groups. My Mom was a fabulous cook and people were always excited to eat at our house. My parents loved to perform in local theatrical groups and helped pay my way through college by moonlighting at a local dinner theater after a long day of work. Looking back on it now, I really don’t know where they found the energy for all of it. But they did it with joy and great generosity. They taught me that the blessings a person has received should be shared with others so that they will be blessed too. They modeled an unselfish life of thinking of others instead of a self-centered existence. I have learned to look at my talents and opportunities as gifts from God that were given for the purpose of glorifying God and blessing others. It’s not about me. I’m responsible for stewarding what He’s given me. It’s my job to work hard, be disciplined, and bring excellence into the workplace. When this is my focus, doors open and opportunities arise. I enjoy telling younger artists coming up in the field of the performing arts that God is more interested in the use of your gifts than even you are. The arts are His idea. He loves to display His glory through the arts and He will guide and bless the person who chooses to honor Him in their work.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents are responsible for starting me on my journey of a personal relationship with Jesus. They made it a priority to take us to church each week and read the Bible stories to us when we were little. By showing us what was most important to them, they showed us what the purpose of life is and what we were created for. I will forever be grateful for growing up in a Christian home.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nangurleyfineart.com
• Instagram: nanarnoldgurley
• Facebook: womenwhodaretobelieve.com
• Other: Nan Gurley is an award-winning songwriter, singer, children’s book author and actor, having performed with symphonies and jazz bands and providing voice-over talent for TV and radio. She’s taken on dozens of roles, from Mama Rose in “Gypsy” to Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” More recently, she starred as Corrie ten Boom in “The Hiding Place,” released in 2023. She’s also the co-host of the “Women Who Dare to Believe” podcast, which explores the lives of women in the Bible. Painting is the latest endeavor she’s added to her resume. Her work can be seen at nangurleyfineart.com

Image Credits

If you’ll let me know which photos you choose to use, I’ll send photo credits. I’ve sent probably way more than you can use.
some photos are by Tony Matula and others by David Grapes.