On Tuesday University of Notre Dame’s Student Union Board welcomed Hollywood actress, music artist and Broadway star Elizabeth Gillies to the stage in a student-led panel in DeBartolo Hall. Gillies appeared on the hit shows “Victorious” and “Dynasty.”
Gillies was introduced and subsequently engaged in a dialogue led by students Jamil Allan and Jasmine Williams, both of whom are members of the Student Union Board.
The event was announced last week over an email to the student body and tickets were secured quickly. With around 200 students, the audience was energetic and eager to hear about Gillies’ outlook on her career and life experiences.
Following a brief introduction, the initial conversation focused on Gillies’ experiences on Broadway from a young age and her later experience with television, before exploring her transition to the music industry.
Gillies explained that because much of her time was spent on set, she formed strong connections with her coworkers. She went on to highlight the importance of upholding such relationships.
“When you do shows like that, no one else can understand what you went through, except for those people,” Gillies said.
Shifting the discussion, being asked about the characteristics of roles she wished to play, Gillies responded by indicating her goal was to portray motivated individuals on the screen.
“I am drawn to characters that I relate to, for example, strong women,” Gillies said.
Gillies said she aims to serve as a positive force for female representation not only in relation to the screen but also amongst professionals in the film and music industry.
Gilles said she aimed to learn as much as she could from her coworkers.
“I did everything that I could to absorb anything I could,” Gillies said.
While the ability to become a child performer is incredibly appealing to individuals, Gillies said, the aspiration is oftentimes hindered by various factors. Gillies, acknowledging the privilege granted to her through such experiences, broke down the negative impression that celebrities are too heavily removed from the television viewer’s context to be relatable.
Returning later to the potential for new and upcoming projects, Gillies indicated she is planning to continue producing music. However, she also directly expressed her wish to become involved in more film, TV and music opportunities.
“I am always open to different opportunities and open to life. I say ‘yes’ a lot, because I believe that life has a lot to offer,” Gillies said.
