On-Air TV Personality, Advocate, and Multi-Talented Artist
She shares her journey from the world of baseball to her current career as a TV personality, actress, and advocate for women’s health. Known for her role on The Story of My Number, she opens up about balancing her passions, the inspiration behind her career choices, and her vision for the future.
Hello Gracie, Could you share more about your experience as an on-air TV personality on The Story of My Number?
It’s been really wonderful. There is something so unique about the position I’m in where I can combine baseball, something so close to my heart and something I grew up around and loving, with my passion for entertainment.
Having the opportunity to work with this incredible team across the board has been the most professional and organized set I have ever seen.
The show is so deeply researched you really get to see a different side to these athletes than even I have ever seen before and it’s been really magical to be part of it all.
How do you balance your career in television with your passion for theater and music?
It’s easier than it sounds! They’re obviously very different mediums but I was lucky enough to get my degree in theatre and I was on the musical theatre track so like most programs I was trained in both.
You of course focus a bit more heavily on one but it’s almost like texting your friend vs. emailing your boss. You’re communicating just a little differently and as long as you know how to make that switch, it’s the same underlying skillset and tools you’re working with you’re just applying them a little differently.
In terms of schedule, I’m definitely at a “say yes to everything” point in my career. So I’m open to whatever opportunities present themselves and that has just so happened to be more television focused in the past year but we’ll see what the next year brings!
What inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, given your family’s rich history in sports and television?
I wish I had a better answer for this! I just always knew it’s what I wanted to do. I can’t remember a time that I didn’t desperately want to be on stage.
My aunt took me to musicals starting when I was very young so I credit her for introducing me to that and subsequently me choosing that specific avenue of the entertainment industry but I think the need to entertain people is something you’re sort of born with.
Can you tell us about your upcoming TV movie and what viewers can expect from it?
It’s a very cute Christmas movie that of course focuses on a big city career woman who reconnects with her hometown in Vermont and her family.
I actually play the villain (which in my opinion is always the most fun) and a very different side of me than I have ever had the opportunity to show before!
As an advocate for women’s health and reproductive rights, how do you use your platform to make a difference?
I think right now what I’m trying to do is share my story and my experience. As I work more closely with specific organizations I hope to have the education and platform to do more, but right now I just want other women who might be suffering to know they are not alone and there are options available to them.
What advice would you give to aspiring actresses and TV personalities, especially women looking to break into the industry?
You absolutely have to get your motivation and your confidence in your craft from yourself. A successful audition is one that you walk out of feeling like you did your best work.
I don’t even want to use the word “rejection” because it’s not what it is – and I think it takes away from the moment that lightning does strike because it’s more than just “not being rejected” when you book something – but you will feel rejected all of the time if you are equating a successful audition with booking the job.
How do you prepare for your on-screen roles, both as a host and as an actress?
There’s the obvious preparation work (knowing your lines and or researching the person you’re interviewing) but I try to do that pretty far in advance.
As far as preparation goes the night before or the morning of, I try to relax, drink a lot of water, get a lot of sleep and trust all the leg work I put in for the months leading up to it. I find it easiest to do my best work when I go in with a clear and rested head.
Specifically for hosting, I have to be approachable and someone the interviewee feels comfortable going to vulnerable places with! So it’s really important that I’ve had enough sleep and enough food, and am not (as my dad would say) a “cranky Yankee.”
Could you share a memorable moment from your career that has had a significant impact on you?
I think this is the impactful moment – I’m in it right now – which is so special! I always used to ask my dad these completely absurd questions about the players like “if you had to bring one on a family vacation, who would you take” just because I was more interested in their personalities and who they were off the field.
So, when I got a call that pitched this show, something diving deeper into who these legends are as people, I was desperate to be part of it. It is indescribable when a project aligns so perfectly it feels like it was kismet.
What do you hope to achieve in your career in the coming years?
My dream would be to keep doing this show forever and to do some passion projects in the months we’re not filming (like a musical one off-season, a movie the next one, etc.) and really get to dive into those interesting acting roles while still getting to work on this amazing project which perfectly blends two things I’m sure passionate about.
How do you stay grounded amidst the demands of fame and success?
I’ve had a very tight knit circle of people in my life for a very long time and they’re a real “tell it like it is” group. No one would ever let me get away with getting out of line.
Can you elaborate on your experience performing at renowned venues like 54 Below, and how it has shaped your artistic journey?
There is nothing like getting to perform at those kinds of venues. Big or small you walk in and it’s just pulsing with history and it’s impossible not to think about the people who stood on that stage before you and will stand on that stage after you. It’s a really humbling experience and it’s nothing short of an honor.
Gracie’s journey reflects the versatility and determination required to navigate the entertainment world. Whether hosting, acting, or advocating, she continues to inspire women everywhere with her commitment to both her craft and the causes she believes in.
