We were lucky to catch up with Gwendolyn Osborne recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gwendolyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Taking the risk of leaving one career for another later in life. I left Price is Right with no guarantees. Just my intuition, grit and gratitude! I’m so glad I did!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started out my career as a performing artist in Bath, England. I have gone to schools and colleges in England and Miami, Fl for music, dance, and acting. Musical Theatre was my first love. I’d like to thank my big sister Judith for introducing me to ‘Fame’, the TV show, and for showing me what was possible with representation that I could relate to. Unfortunately but fortunately, I never graduated college. Becoming a teen Mum was a new education of life that steered me into becoming a professional model and self-employed business woman without even knowing it! I am extremely proud of my younger self for being such a truly dedicated, fierce, young, single Mum who continued to pursue her dreams while creating the stability for my daughter’s career to flourish as well.

Working as a Model/tv personality on The Price is Right (CBS) for 12 years encompassed many personal and professional highs and lows, one of the highs being that I was the first model to show pregnancy and come back to work on the show afterwards (which I ended up doing twice), opening the door for other models to do the same comfortably after me. I gained the accolade of being the ‘longest running woman of color on a daytime game show’ which feels good, like a great accomplishment. The lows became low when I realized I felt like a mute in my personal and professional life – and that’s when I retired from that job and my marriage in the same year! I didn’t know what was ahead but I had faith that I would find it!

Since then, I’ve launched my own wellness brand and company and have worked on many sets as an actor, including Wonder Woman 1984 as an athlete Amazonian (Warner Bros.), Grownish (Hulu, Disney+), a Lead Mob boss in a feature film, ‘ Iceman’, and numerous short films that have debuted in film festivals this year. Now a Mother of 3, two of them still young athletes that need a lot from me, I am still doing the balancing act in a whole different way.
I feel like I’m here to let women know that if you face your truth, deal with what it takes to care for your mind, body and spirit through that… I believe your intention can take you where you want to go in Life. I have done a lot but I still feel like I’m just getting started!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I do get asked about how to start your career in acting quite a bit so I’ll touch on that. I wish I knew that as a performer and a human, we can be our own greatest resource. I truly think you should know and believe that you are enough with the human that you already are. Get comfortable in that body and spirit. I think really understanding yourself and how you come across to others is powerful because that’s what you bring in the room before you even open your mouth. From there, you can start deciding what characters you think you can connect to and with that match your essence. That’s when you start class and get connections. The rest will happen naturally…

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Knowing how to be a good student is imperative, we should always be open and willing to learn. Knowing when to shut-up and listen… I think my biggest lesson is learning humility.

Contact Info:

• Website: Gwendolynosborne.com
• Instagram: @itsgwendolyn
• Facebook: Gwendolyn Osborne
• Linkedin: Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith
• Twitter: Itsgwendolyn
• Youtube: @Gwendolynosborne

Image Credits
Photographers: Yves Bright Vince Trupsin Dana Patrick Lisa Boyle Price Is Right