Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Victoria Gates

Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Victoria Gates

“Award Winning actress Victoria Gates hails from “Wild & Wonderful” Charleston, West Virginia. She left home at the age of 17 to attend the world renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth ballet to pursue her dream to be a professional ballerina. After graduating High School she danced professionally with the North Carolina Dance Theatre and then with one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the United States, the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Acting found her in 2010 and she was instantly hooked and by 2011 was already making a name for herself. Her natural talent in combination with her fierce work ethic has caused her to be one of the most sought after actresses in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Victoria is often referred to as “a blonde bombshell throwback” to classic Hollywood and has received praise for her exceptional acting range of Horror to Sketch Comedy. She has accumulated over 40 Lead and Principal roles in Hollywood and Independent Films and more than a dozen Stage appearances.

She can be seen in two episodic Television Shows “Deadly Affairs” and “Evil Twins” airing on the Investigation Discovery Channel.

Recent Film credits include: A principal role in Shemie Reut’s (Dir) and Gus Van Sant’s (Exec Prod) Sci-Fi blockbuster “City of Gold” a trophy wife assassin in the Horror/Thriller Film Nolie “Arrangement” which will broadcast on the BBC in England, Spain and Brazil; a brutal serial killer in the upcoming feature Film “Jane” a mentally and verbally abusive doctor in “Lost in the Shadows” (Best Actress Award); a femme fatale in “Loyal Betrayal ” (Best Actress Nominee); a mother dying from cancer in “Sea of Tranquility” (opposite Mark Borkowski of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire); a flirty, sexy and funny diner waitress in “Hobo Heseus” and in “Off-Time” (opposite Adam LaVorgna of 7th Heaven); and as a heroin addicted prostitute in “Comfort” (Nominated for Best Film at the Diamond Screen Festival).

She is also featured in 4 Hollywood blockbusters; a ballerina in “Our Idiot Brother” opposite Paul Rudd, “Sex and the City 2”, “Limitless” and “The Adjustment Bureau”.

Technically her very first acting role on stage was back home in Charleston, West Virginia as Anita in a small scene from “101 Dalmatians” at a summer arts camp at the age of 12. All campers were required to audition for the big Show they have at the end of the season. Loving the Film she knew the part of Anita was the one she wanted and by golly she got it.

Her first performance on stage as a professional was in the summer of 2011 in a production of two One Act Plays staged at the Walking Fish Theatre in Philadelphia . She was the only actor cast in the leading role in both Plays. Victoria portrayed a suicidal waiting to jump in front of a New York City subway in “Within the Skins of Saints” and then as Veronica in “Neighbors” an alcoholic newlywed and mother who almost kills her newborn baby.

She’s gone on to perform in several other roles including John Graves “Psychosis 224” as Mya Daye, a patient suffering from the mental illness (Intermittent Explosive Disorder) and recently with the Sketch Comedy company Made 2 Laff Live as Lindsay Lohan in “Celebrity Sitdown” and the scandalous Ruth Ann in “Housewives of Utah”.

Holding her standards high, when not booked, Victoria continues to study…refining her skills with master teacher Kenneth McGregor at the Affordable Acting Class in Philadelphia. She plans to attend the famous Upright Citizens Brigade in the near future.”* (From Victoria Gates IMDB Page)

Location: Philadelphia, Pa but I’m originally from Charleston, West Virginia. I work in NYC a lot so my time is often divided between there and Philadelphia.

1. How did you get into the industry?

It was the summer in 2010 when Acting found me. (Ballet found me too at 12 yrs old but that’s another interview/story) I had hung up my toe boots (aka pointe shoes) leaving my professional career as a ballet dancer behind a few years earlier and was going through quite the identity crisis. I was passionless.

An agent I was meeting with regarding modeling work asked me if I had ever considered acting. I never had. She had me perform a few readings for her. Afterwards she stated ” I don’t remember the last time I said this and I don’t say it often… You have something that can’t be taught”. That statement peeked my interest a little and I took my first acting class recommended by her. I was completely blind sided. I knew instantly in that moment exactly what I wanted to do with my life. It was the coolest feeling in the world.

I have come to the acceptance & realization that there is a trend in my life. A calling to be in the limelight, center stage and I don’t have a choice in the matter… I never aspired to be a professional actress or professional ballet dancer. But here we are. Pretty cool if you ask me. I owe it all to the man upstairs, to God.

2. What Scream Queen inspired you most?

That’s easy. Janet Leigh

3. What are the next couple projects you are working on?

A LOT. “At this point in your career all you need is that One Role”…. A filmmaker said to me a couple weeks ago.

Every single Film I have booked has been without the assistance of an agent (W/ the exception of one thanks to JT Talent). Ballet gave me an insanely sick work ethic. If you work hard, people will see it. A lot of the work I get is by others seeing my work and by word of mouth.

The past year has been seriously amazing. I have worked on and starred in 8 or so Films (I’d have to sit down & count them), I was a Guest Star on 2 episodic Television shows, several Theatre productions…. Every year just keeps getting bigger & better. Oh & I picked up an award for Best Acting for my lead role & the rest of the cast in Philadelphia filmmaker Mihir Pathak’s short Film “Lost in the Shadows”.

As far as Horror goes I will be starring in my first title role as Jane, in the Feature Film JANE (Currently in development). Many actors don’t get the opportunity to play a title role so it’s very cool. The story of Jane focuses on a woman who’s broken, her life shattered, her mind scarred by an abusive father ultimately leading to the creation of a brutal serial killer…

Off the top of head, here are a few more Horror genre Films I’m attached to….

THE PRISON: A group of friends reunite in their hometown upon graduation from college and decide to party at the local abandoned prison that is suspected of being haunted. They soon find out the truth and terror that lies behind the walls of the prison. There are no ghosts, but the reality with which they are faced is much more terrifying.

THE CHURCH: After agreeing to sell the church to make way for a new development, the church board and the development team are met with supernatural disapproval.

You can always keep up to date with my latest news on my Facebook Fan Page! I’m always posting updates on there.