She told us a lot more in a short interview for the UK Blasting News. Find out what she accomplished so far and about her upcoming projects.
BN: Stacey, can you tell us about your acting beginnings?
Stacey: The first thing I was taught about acting is "don't act" so my beginning was truly at my beginning. But in terms of roles, I had some interest in grade school and my first role was Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. I was always a lover of films - classic musicals especially- Sound of Music, Gone with the Wind, South Pacific, Wizard of Oz. Then I did what any good math student with education obsessed parents would do and chose to look at Pre-Med and Pre-Business programs.
I went to The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. My first job was on Wall Street at JPMorgan in NYC but I always wanted to act! My first audition and casting call in NY was the same day as a certified public accountancy exam. I skipped the exam - which I passed later - so I could audition for an agent. Many years later my mom got aggressive stage 4 sinus cancer. She is one of only 10 percent of people who have survived as long as she has with this cancer - a true miracle! I lost my safety net at that time and realised there is no more waiting before following my dreams and took my big jump. I quit my senior job at an investment advisory firm, started my own hotel/construction recruiting firm so I could have flexible hours and work from anywhere including a TV/film set and returned to my long desire of acting.
BN: Where do you think is the best place to be as an actor and why?
Stacey: Well in America at least New York City and Los Angeles are still the most prolific in terms of productions, resources and actors by numbers. However, Atlanta, London and a number of other big cities are becoming huge TV/film meccas. Getting the right professional training - Guild Hall, Juilliard or the like or just a great acting class.
An actor can live anywhere if they can travel. Talent, networking, social media and persistence are significantly more important in this business than geography.
BN: What are your best projects to date?
Stacey: The film being released Christmas 2017 about P.T. Barnum's life, The Greatest Showman, was pure magic. I played a theatergoer and middle-class circus patron.
It wasn't the biggest role I've had but the most wonderful cast and crew whom I've ever had a chance to work with. I truly believe this will be a classical hit of all time like The Sound of Music. The music is wonderful and amazingly fun and catchy, and Hugh Jackman, who also produces the film, seemed to be one of the finest and hardest working actors and people I've ever had the chance to observe in action. He rehearsed dance steps, singing, even flipping his top hat dozens of times before he was satisfied. I had never seen that level of perfection and he was a true gentleman to everyone working on the film from Craft Services to Supporting Artistes/Background Actors. Everyone smiled the whole production and didn't want it to ever end.
We all got along so excellently even through a fire on set in Brooklyn and some very long filming days. The mid-1800s costumes with a twist were incredibly beautiful as well and I think will influence fashion for many years to come. Also, the history of Barnum including his oddities who he turned from awkward hoaxes and curiosities into famous celebrities at a time of censure was fascinating. I acquired some of the Barnum trading cards of the oddities while working on the film and several of his novels and political letters when he was in Connecticut state office since I became so interested in the history of the circus in this very same year Barnum's circus went dark.
BN: How did acting change your life?
Stacey: It made me look at the world entirely differently - much more openly and creatively. After meeting other actors who share my passion /quest and undeterred like me by 99 percent rejection, I've learned to take risks and make bold choices instead of following what society says is "normal". This job has made me feel from the inside out the happiest and freest I've ever felt.
BN: Do you have any interesting film or TV projects coming up?
Stacey: There may be some Greatest Showman reshoots in the fall and I'm hoping to work again on some more Saturday Night Live episodes and a few big films starting in the fall in NYC. I also may be playing a new role in a comedic film called Catering Man which is in Pre-Production.
Another film is being edited currently set in the 1800s called Wild Nights by director Madeleine Olnek. It's a comedy about the life of Emily Dickinson. Lastly, I am writing television shows with a team in the comedy/fantasy genre.
