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

Hilarie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

“And you’ve gotta really smack ’em, so they can’t think about anything else.” ~Loretta, Green Glass Blues.

I have had the privilege to play some incredible characters over my career. Characters who have struck a chord, stretched me as an artist, and provoked raw emotions-but none as much as Loretta. Playing Loretta was the epitome of stripping every bit of myself away, so that I could build up the most incredible character I’ve had the honor to portray.

Green Glass Blues is the most meaningful project I have worked on because of the artistry that went into making it. Every single person on set brought an unprecedented level of professionalism and creativity to the project which allowed a safe space to play. The film is about two lower class women in the 1940’s who work tirelessly to improve their state. It’s a beautiful depiction of the LGBTQ+ community in the 1940’s and how women weren’t allowed to be together because of societal roles and pressures. It also delves into the sacrifices people will make to be where they want to be in life. Plus who doesn’t like a film about a jewel heist.

The project is meaningful to me because of the work that went into creating the film and characters, but also the significance of the script itself. It’s something that isn’t depicted often, but especially not depicted with the level of flair, sophistication, and care that the director, Will Cohn, brought to the table. They are the best director I’ve had the pleasure to work with thus far in my career. My hope is that Green Glass Blues will mean as much to our audience as it does to the creative team.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an actor and model. I started in the theatre community when I was a child and fell in love with the craft of character creation. I have an inherent love for people and finding out what makes them tick. Now I get to do that for a living. Although the stage has a dear place in my heart, I switched to film after college for the nuance that the medium creates. I love the power of the camera and how the performer can connect with a wider audience.

I want to make a difference in people’s lives and the best way I know how to do that is through the mutual love of a character. When the audience is watching a performance and they’re laughing or crying, I get to give a little piece of my soul to them. It’s as if I get to say, “here, forget about your world for a minute and welcome into mine.”

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

If I could sum up my creative goal into one word it would be: escapism. I want to give my audience an opportunity to escape their lives for a bit. Give them an opportunity to feel like they aren’t alone. I want people to be able to feel like they can laugh with me and cry with me. That as my characters go through things, they can go through them as well. I want to build unity and hope. When people see my characters going through things that they relate to, that’s an opportunity for me to connect with someone I may never actually meet in person. I want to make an impact. No matter what the medium.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Doubt only benefits those who are against you.

I am a notorious people pleaser. I used to regularly seek out others approval of my performance or my looks. For a while I got a lot of praise and it fueled me. However, in college I started hanging out with a group of people who would tell me I was good only if it benefitted them. As soon as we started competing for the same roles, they took every opportunity to tell me how bad I was or what I was doing wrong. I got so in my head that I couldn’t even decide a line reading without asking someone for help. All those people went on to bigger, better things while I stayed in a crippling cycle of self-doubt. I lost years of career-advancing opportunities due to self sabotage. The doubt is something I struggle with to this day. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be that if you love it, enjoy it, and are happy, then don’t let other people’s fears about themselves make you question your own worth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hilariegrace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilariegrace/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HilarieGraceNelson/
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.me/hilariegrace

Image Credits
Sean Wada At Dawn and Dusk Art – Jett Brewster (MUA) & Elizabeth Cortez 303 Magazine – Roxanna Carrasco Ciara Roze (MUA) & Michael Collins