The Netflix series GLOW has given a number of actresses some great character roles that typically aren’t seen in most other television series. For actress Kimmy Gatewood, the show was the perfect opportunity to revitalize an acting career that she was considering moving on from. Speaking to CBS Los Angeles, Gatewood revealed how GLOW reignited her passion for acting.
Gatewood reveals that GLOW saved her acting career — literally, because she was planning to move on to a different career path. She admits, “I was about to quit acting right before GLOW. I was just kind of done with the grind of acting, which I love more than anything. This audition came along for Jenji Kohan and GLOW, which I used to watch as a kid and I could audition with my best friend Rebekka Johnson. We went in and auditioned for that cool show and then they called us back. It was pretty crazy and it’s been the greatest experience I’ve ever had as an actor.”
On top of landing the role, Gatewood also landed in a series with a group of actors who have been there for each other. She explains, “The ensemble is incredibly supportive of each other. I’ve never had this many women in a cast before and it tells women’s stories specifically. I also had to learn how to wrestle. We did four weeks of wrestling training and I tell you what will bond any cast… shoving your face in their armpit for four weeks. I didn’t think I’d be any good at wrestling, but I’m pretty great at it. My character is not unfortunately, but I caught on to it really well.”
Part of that support has come from the message of the series, which just released its third season. Gatewood concludes, “We’re much more open emotionally and physically. We’re in spandex all the time and I had to get comfortable with that real quick. Just being proud of what my body can do and it’s not just for looking gorgeous. It can be strong and everybody’s body is beautiful is a strong message I walked away with.”
