We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabrielle Wedderburn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabrielle, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My entire life up until now has involved me taking enormous risks. I moved to Tennessee when I was eighteen never having seen the college I was to attend and never having been past the state of Pennsylvania. I literally packed up my clothes in some duffels and garbage bags and moved thirteen hours from where I grew up with my family. I didn’t know anybody and didn’t even know what courses the college offered. I had simply prayed and knew it was were I needed to go. Like many artists, I have always felt different. Aside from being one of the only people of color in an all-white school my entire life, I always felt like like my mind worked in a way that most people’s around me didn’t. Eventually I came to a place where I was able to fully lean in and honor that “tug” in my heart to pursue a career in acting. I was still living in Knoxville, TN at the time when I made the decision to relocate to Atlanta. I decided March of 2018 that I was going to move and be living in Atlanta by June 1st, I broke my lease, cancelled my utilities, quit my job and just decided. I think God and the universe really tip their hat to people who make bold choices against all odds and logic. My entire career in the tv and film industry isn’t guaranteed. I have auditioned literally hundreds of times. I am aware that there is a serious risk that I may never “make it.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a dancer with a ten year career specializing in salsa and bachata Latin dancing. I incorporate my dance technique into my acting! I believe that when you are acting out a scene, it is not the words that are spoken that convey a message; most of our emotions and thoughts are being conveyed via body language and what is unsaid! It is through my dance training and experience that I fuse energy into the characters I portray! I am actually very excited about my newest creation! I am in the process of creating an at-home Latin dance course for non-dancers and beginners with an on -camera option for my actors! Movement and dance has profoundly shaped my life and who I am as a person in such a positive way and I want to be able to bring that gift to others! I have created a merchandise line called “Instructed by GW” that is full of edgy, inclusive street apparel that is super comfy for dancing and everyday wear!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ah! What a great question as my best friend does not live in Atlanta! We are both dancers so I would have to take her to Latin dancing on Wednesday at Tongue n Groove as well as Friday night at Sanctuary Nightclub! The beltline is an absolute must! I love the food at Bar Mercado! Barcelona on the beltline is also great! I completely fell in love with the “Bamboo Forest” which is this incredible hidden treasure outside of the city! I am a pretty go-with-the-flow type of girl!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
That is such a challenging question as I’ve had so many different kinds of people impact me both artistically and personally, I feel it necessary to start by thanking my support team. I am insanely blessed in the friends department. I have my best friends who are not in or close to the industry and I find that they really ground me and help me to keep perspective on what really matters at the end of the day which is friends and family. I most certainly need to shoutout my “3HQ/LOSATL Chat” communities of fellow actors and artists based in Atlanta. It’s important to have a group of people who understand the process and what you’re going through in such a bizarre industry! I am very grateful for their artistic support! As far as novels go, “You Are A Badass” by Jen Sincero absolutely changed my life in 2018. It was after reading her book that I was able to really accept and embrace being an artist; it allowed me to fearlessly plunge into moving to Atlanta and beginning my artistic career! My family is my blood and mean everything to me. I have my Mom and Dad and my two sisters Lex and Chel and a brother Migell. We siblings are all incredibly close!

Website: www.gabriellewedderburn.com
Instagram: @gabriellewedderburn , @instructedby
Facebook: Gabrielle Wedderburn
Other: The Instructed By line can be viewed and purchased via: https://teespring.com/instructed-by?pid=934&cid=103880

Image Credits
Hannah Keith Photography Jay Musselwhite

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