Conversations with Chelsey Kaye

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsey Kaye.

Hi Chelsey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I grew up in Boulder, Colorado, in a home that encouraged curiosity, creativity, and connection. Movies and TV were a big part of my childhood, and that is where my love of storytelling began. Stories did not just entertain me, they opened entire worlds, made me feel deeply, and helped me understand people in ways I could not have otherwise.

Performing was always where I felt most alive, whether it was musicals, dance, or figure skating. Later, in college, I studied both astrophysics and dance. Science taught me structure and problem-solving, while dance gave me intuition and expression. That mix of discipline and creativity is still at the heart of how I approach my work today.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I did not have a plan, just a car full of stuff and a stubborn belief that if I kept showing up, something would happen. I have not had the big break. Instead, it has been indie roles, friends’ films, background work, and a lot of training. But there were moments that told me I was on the right path, like the 16-hour background days when I came home more fulfilled than I had ever felt at any remote gig or office job. I found my community on set and in acting class, and that is what kept me going.

It has cost me being close to my family, which has not always been easy, but they have been my constant support system through calls and FaceTime. Eventually, my curiosity led me behind the camera, into writing, producing, and directing. Still Here is the first project where all those pieces came together. It is a story I felt honored to tell, one that I hope sparks conversations we need more of.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Not even close. I do not think anyone who sticks with this career has had a smooth road. There have been long stretches with no auditions, projects that never made it past the pitch phase, side jobs that drained me. One of my lowest moments was going through a breakup and realizing I did not have anything tangible to show for all the years I had spent in LA. I felt lost and questioned everything.

I thought about quitting often, but every time I circled back to the same truth: this is not just what I do, it is who I am. My dad once told me, “The only way you fail is if you quit.” That line stuck. I have learned how much perseverance matters, how to show up when there is no roadmap, and how loyal I am to the craft itself. Patience, resilience, and self-trust have been my biggest teachers.

Acting has been the hardest pursuit of my life, and also the most rewarding. There are countless hours of preparation, long stretches of uncertainty, and a lot of rejection along the way. But the moment I step on set, it all makes sense again. The exhaustion disappears, and I remember exactly why I do this. There is something extraordinary about slipping into someone else’s life for a while, stepping into their shoes, their struggles, their triumphs. In a single career, I get to experience what it might feel like to be a doctor, an artist, a mother, a rebel, a dreamer. Most of us only get one lifetime, but acting allows me to live many. With each role, I discover a new layer of empathy, of imagination, of what it means to be human. That is the magic. That is why, no matter how tough this path gets, I know I could not live without it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I am an actor, director, and writer based in Los Angeles. At the core of everything I do is a commitment to telling stories that move people, stories that spark empathy, make you feel less alone, and open up perspectives you may not have considered. I am drawn to work that feels emotionally grounded and human, the quiet but powerful moments that reveal who we really are.

My most recent project, Still Here, is a short film I wrote, directed, and produced. It explores the opioid crisis, specifically fentanyl, through the lens of grief. It is a subject that has affected so many people, and I wanted to create something that could both spark conversation and hold space for feeling.

What makes me different is the balance I bring between logic and emotion. My science background gives me a structural way of solving problems, while my years in dance give me access to embodied, emotional storytelling. Starting out in background roles also taught me to respect everyone on set, which guides how I lead and collaborate.

More than anything, I am proud that I have kept going. I have built this step by step, without shortcuts, and I still genuinely love the work.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?

You do not have to wait for permission to create. You do not need the perfect script, or the best gear, or a huge budget. Start with what you have. Make the thing that scares you, the thing that feels too vulnerable or too raw. That is probably the thing you are meant to make.

When I was a kid, I would spend hours choreographing dances, writing scripts, and making up songs. I did not know what I was doing, I just knew I loved it. In many ways, I am still that kid, just with more tools, more clarity, and more responsibility. Success, for me, is showing up for that kid, having the courage to try, and hopefully creating something that makes someone else feel less alone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chelseykaye.com
• Instagram: @chelseynicolekaye

Image Credits
Kennith Dolin, Rachel Stella, Evan Canepa