Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Nielsen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
First, thank you so much for having me! I love the artistic community of Canvas Rebel and am humbled to be a part of it. Well, I’d say ever since I was little I pretty much knew I wanted to follow an artistic path. When I was very young I used to go around telling people I wanted to be a ‘singing veterinarian’ but realized very quickly I didn’t like needles or blood! Ultimately, I think I had a lot of role models in my life that shaped my passions and helped me recognize my love of acting and the craft.
I’m originally from a small town in PA and had the privilege of growing up in a very creative household; my dad had studied acting at Rutgers and even had a role on the soap ‘Guiding Light’ when he was young and my mom similarly has many talents and nurtured our imagination, empathy, and curiosity. Also, as a kid I had a metabolic disorder growing up so I was absent from school a lot due to illness and doctors visits. For this reason I became more reclusive and often felt left out from sports or other after school activities. I spent a lot of time in my own worlds with art projects, writing poetry, or immersing myself in books at home. My Mom graciously helped lift my spirits and encouraged me by taking me to the theatre or showing me some of her favorite shows or movies. My earliest theatre memory is of going to see a stage play of Amelia Bedelia at the Paper Mill Playhouse with her. I was totally obsessed with the children’s books and just remember having so much fun and being amazed seeing a live production and wished I could be a part of something like it! Some movies my parents exposed me to that inspired me during this time were Chariots of Fire, Forrest Gump, and Erin Brockovich. These stories not only gave me an escape but moved me in a deep and visceral way that planted the seeds for how impactful and hopeful this art form could be.
Fast forward to middle school and I started to yearn for any sort of outlet for my passion. Every arts assignment or class report became a chance to perform and the shell would shed a little more and I’d be my happiest! A really memorable moment for me was winning a writing contest and getting to meet Kevin Bacon and the Bacon Brothers. I wrote about an embarrassing story from school (I wore a skirt as a top for a school photo in 8th grade) and they included it in the lyrics of one of their songs! Getting to talk to someone prolific who was also from PA and made it in the arts was a real turning point for me. To their credit, I think my parents observed all this and suggested I try theatre as a form of self-expression and to try and make more friends. It only took a couple of rehearsals and I was hooked! I knew I had discovered my vocation and an insatiable love for acting. Plus, my middle school drama teacher was really incredible and validated my dreams by telling me she believed in me and encouraged me to think seriously about acting as a career. The combination of her support and the support from my family really affirmed my purpose in the arts and from there the rest is history!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
For those who may not know me, hi! My name is Rachel Nielsen and I am an actor, model, and activist based in NYC and have worked in film, tv, and stage. I got my start on FOX Tv’s ChatRoom while still in High School enrolled in an audition-only performing arts school. From there, I studied with The Maggie Flannigan Studio, Playhouse West, and Elizabeth Kemp. While studying my craft, I was hand picked for Leads in two feature films directed by Jim Parrack (True Blood, Suicide Squad) and acted alongside Leven Rambin (Hunger Games) in one of them. I have also costarred with comedic actors Brian O’Halloran (Clerks) and Dian Bachar (BASEsketball) in the episodic ‘Green Piece’.
Most recently, I played a lead role as a scientist in the comedic action film Cash Storm currently streaming on Tubi. Some notable credits I am proud of include playing ‘Rose’ in HBO’s ‘Mare of Easttown’ where I acted with Kate Winslet and David Denman. I also starred in the feature ‘Alpha Rift’ as the female lead acting alongside veteran actor Lance Henriksen. The world premiere of ‘Alpha Rift’ took place at the TCL Chinese theatre in Hollywood as part of the 24th annual Dances with Films Festival and had an international theatrical release.
‘Alpha Rift’ is a really special project for me because it was the first time I got to play a lead in a feature film and I made some incredible lifelong friends from that project. I even started to play dungeons and dragons with some of the cast and crew from the movie over zoom during lockdown. We would play every Monday night and I have some awesome memories of laughing and working as a team. We loved it so much we later made a music video for ‘Alpha Rift’ inspired by gaming culture that garnered over 100k views!
As a model, I’ve been fortunate to walk in NYFW, be featured on a billboard in Times Square, and collaborate with brands such as Toyota, Hasboro, and Boscovs to name a few.
Some fun facts about me- I also love to read, play the ukulele, and watch Battle Star Galactica or any movie with Brendan Fraser. Faith, my parents/brothers, my fiancé Patrick, and my dog River all bring me joy and abundant inspiration!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I would say that my main ambition in my art and life is to work on innovative projects that explore the diverse experiences of life and help make people feel joyful and less alone. I’ve always really looked up to and respected artists who not only work at the highest level of their craft but also use their visibility and platform for good. Viola Davis is one of those women who is not only an absolute legend but also has massive social impact and promotes positive change. She’s had such a huge influence on me and one of my all time favorite quotes is from when she gave her Oscar acceptance speech and said that she was happy she became an artist because “we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.”
There is something universal about the fragility and vulnerability of the human spirit and it really wonderful to be a part of sharing that and helping to shape perspectives. There is some statistic I remember reading that said 77% of people say films changed their views on cultural issues and when I heard that it really convicted me in my purpose and compelled me to seek out and get involved in organizations and non profits like NYWFT (New York Women in Film and TV) and The Geena Davis Institute that provide resources for women and illuminate diverse voices and narratives. They are pretty awesome and I would definitely recommend people to check them out!
Like my passion for creativity, my passion for advocating for others started when I was young and was also instilled in me by my family. One special experience in particular which really galvanized me to want to use my art as a vessel for good was having organized a community talent show to raise money for Variety Club Children’s Charity when I was in High School. I’m also a mental health advocate and one of the most formative experiences I’ve had was being elected as a Young Adult Ambassador for the 2021 National Mental Health Advisory Board in partnership with Active Minds, WellBeing Trust, and Young Invincibles. I got to help design an online website that provides educational tools and resources for teens and kids. I’m really proud to have been a small part of such a cool project and to have met some very cool people across the country working to make the future brighter. It definitely strengthened my commitment and mission even more!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I don’t think anyone is really immune to self-doubt or fear and I’d say even though I’ve been lucky to have remarkable mentors and people in my life like both my brothers that help me to see my strengths and be the best I can be I’ve had to unlearn or overcome some of those thoughts in my own journey. An example of this was when I went to public school for the first two years of High School. I had a moment when I was talking to my guidance counselor and she tried to discourage me from pursuing an artistic career. I was a good student and did well academically so she was surprised that I wanted to seriously pursue the arts and told me it was a waste of my time. That stung pretty bad and was really hurtful to hear. I had to learn in that moment I wasn’t going to let fear or what others said deter me from following my heart. I think it is so important to not give up on your dreams and to go after what you love because that is going to be what is most meaningful and fulfilling in life. I would just want to encourage anyone who has those fears that it is worth it and you aren’t alone. After that meeting and some reflection I decided to go out on my own and look for a performing arts school so in the end it all worked out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelnielsenactor.com/
Image Credits
Andrew Tomasino Photography
Joe Kelly Photography