Lauren Buglioli on 'Beyond the Gates', Embracing Purpose, and Trusting the Journey

In this exclusive interview with Miami Living Magazine, we sit down with the multi-talented actress Lauren Buglioli.  Known for her standout roles in Apple TV's "Bad Monkey" and the upcoming CBS series "Beyond the Gates", Lauren Buglioli is carving out a space in Hollywood with both her powerful performances and her dedication to meaningful causes.  As she prepares for the premiere of "Beyond the Gates" on February 24th, Lauren opens up about the personal and professional milestones that have shaped her journey, including her passion for mental health advocacy, her dedication to empowering women through the organization "Shine", and the importance of trusting the timing of one’s life. With a diverse portfolio of roles, from "Florida Man" to "A Jazzman’s Blues", and a deep commitment to animal rescue, Lauren is a star whose influence extends far beyond the screen. Join us as we get to know the woman behind the roles, her dreams for the future, and the causes that drive her.

Miami Living (ML): “Beyond the Gates" is such a big moment in your career, and the show marks some groundbreaking firsts in television. How does it feel to be part of something that is pushing boundaries, and what can audiences expect from your character "Vanessa"?

Lauren: Thank you! I’m so grateful to be a part of this historic production. Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture partnered with Proctor & Gamble studios, to create "Beyond The Gates", the first-ever one-hour Black daytime soap opera and the first daytime drama to premiere in over 25 years. I’m thrilled that CBS is prioritizing diversity by telling the story of the Dupree family! Our incredible showrunner, head writer, and executive producer, Daytime Emmy Award winner and soap veteran/icon, Michele Val Jean, is the first woman of color to create a daytime soap opera and seeing her realize that dream with Sheila has been a gift. Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley are the core members of the prestigious Dupree family at the center of "Beyond The Gates" and I play Vanessa McBride who is Nicole Dupree Richardson’s (played by Daphnee) best friend. Vanessa is a high end real estate agent who is unfulfilled in her marriage and as a result makes some… questionable choices. I’ve really loved bringing her to life and finding her humanity. The team of writers are absolutely incredible and have given us so much to work with as actors. I’m excited for audiences to see these characters get MESSY! In addition to the brilliant work of Tamara, Clifton, Daphnee, and Karla, I can’t wait for the world to meet the rest of this incredible ensemble of characters played by the wildly talented Alex Alegria, Brandon Claybon, Timon Kyle Durrett, Sean Freeman, Ben Gavin, Marquita Goings, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob, Maurice Johnson, Trisha Mann-Grant, Mike Manning, Rhonni Rose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad and Arielle Prepetit. 

ML: You've spoken about the importance of trusting the timing of your life. Could you elaborate on that philosophy and how it has influenced your life?

Lauren: Oof! Being a part of this show exemplifies that philosophy for me. I moved from London to New York at age 18 and screen tested for a contract role on a soap opera and it went to another actress. I created a story around that experience of “almost having had made it” and subconsciously started telling myself that I’d failed somehow. While I’m sure that would have been an incredible experience, everything I’ve gone through since that audition has conditioned me to be fully in this moment and appreciate the privilege of getting to do what I love, with this phenomenal team that I adore and admire. It’s easy to look back and connect the dots, but I wish I could reassure my younger self that I’d one day be living my dream and that for the first time I’d have a deep understanding of what it means to truly trust the timing of my life. I think part of my purpose is reassuring others that no matter how winding the road may be, we are right on time and the roadblocks along the way truly give us a deeper appreciation for the opportunities that do work out. When I was younger, I didn’t understand the value of a slow burn and the vital knowledge you gain while working toward your dream. 

ML: Mental health is a topic you’re passionate about. How do you maintain your mental well-being while navigating the pressures of the entertainment industry, and what advice would you give to others in similar high-stress careers?

Lauren: I love this question! I really believe prioritizing mental health and our overall well-being is everything. Part of the journey for me has been learning how to be healthy and happy within the entertainment industry. A few actionable items in my tool kit are going to therapy, focusing on process over results, and writing down my wins (no matter how seemingly small) to condition myself to scan for what’s going well and celebrate my effort and hard work. Being on a soap opera has been such an incredible and rewarding challenge and I’m seeing why I was being conditioned to have these tools in place to meet the demands of the job, take care of myself, have balance, and enjoy every moment. My biggest piece of advice to anyone in a high-stress career is to practice talking to yourself like you would a friend. I used to be SO critical of myself, and the more I started practicing giving myself the love and empathy I freely give others, my whole life started to change. This is an imperfect practice, but life is too short to be our own enemy in any capacity. 

ML: You’ve become actively involved with “Shine”, an organization that empowers women in shelters. What is it about Shine's mission that spoke to you, and how has your volunteer work impacted you personally?

Lauren: Yes! I was telling my incredible hairstylist on "Beyond The Gates", Christy Miller, that I was looking for somewhere to volunteer on Christmas. She mentioned that her son, Scott Miller, (also a hairstylist on "Beyond the Gates") started an organization with his dear friend Lindiwe Famodou, "Shine", and they work with women who have experienced domestic violence. When she told me that they’d be volunteering in a shelter on Christmas Day I asked if I could contribute by offering childcare services for the residents of the shelter.

Their mission is “to bring joy and confidence to women’s lives through pampering. All year round, they connect with safe houses, women’s centers, and households throughout Metro Atlanta, gifting women with a day filled with beauty, self-care and empowerment”. Witnessing the powerful work they do this last Christmas made it the most meaningful holiday I’ve had yet and I look forward to continuing working with their organization and low-key being their publicist to celebrate the incredible work they do. You can learn more, donate and sign up to volunteer at shineforme.org. It has always been a dream to do what I love as an actor and have any kind of platform to celebrate and share the mission of organizations like "Shine" and champion phenomenal human beings like Scott, Lindiwe and Christy. 

I’m passionate about volunteering because I had a near-death experience after being admitted into the ICU with bilateral pneumonia. A volunteer with "The Good Dog Foundation" visited me with their therapy dog while I was hospitalized. The impact that experience had on my own recovery led me to get my first dog, Marilyn, and volunteer with "The Good Dog Foundation" for 10 years while I was living in New York. I always think about volunteering as a way to pay the impact that volunteer (and their pup) had on me forward. They didn’t have to take the time out of their day to show up for me, but the fact that they did truly changed the course of my life and instilled a love of service in me. Volunteering also keeps me rooted in perspective. I have a Post-It in my office that says “I’m not in a hospital today” because it’s easy to forget what really matters when the stress of adulting creeps in. 

ML: Flexibility plays a significant role in your approach to maintaining overall well-being. How do you balance your demanding career with self-care and flexibility?

Lauren: Learning to give myself grace and show up imperfectly has been key! This is an ever-evolving process, but my schedule (shoutout to old school planners!) is really key to making sure I give myself down time, schedule time with friends and loved ones and treat myself to self-care to maintain my physical, mental and spiritual health. If I don’t write it down, it doesn’t happen. I will schedule my workouts, meditation, journaling, breath work, NAPs, etc…. and I think reminding myself that 2 minutes of meditation is better than nothing has saved me. It doesn’t have to look like a glossy, perfect morning, daily or evening routine, but simply taking the next right action to show myself some love and prioritize joy has really served me in this season. Sometimes that means watching reality TV or listening to a podcast. Taking care of ourselves is part of the job and prioritizing that has been a non-negotiable for me. Having a list of things that help me feel my best and accomplishing a few of them a day is enough for me and reason to celebrate myself. Can we be kinder to ourselves this year please? Being alive is TRICKY and we’re all doing our best. 

ML: You’ve worked on a variety of projects—from “Bad Monkey” to “Dynasty” to “A Jazzman’s Blues”—and each seems to offer a unique creative challenge. What’s one role you’ve played that’s particularly close to your heart, and what did you learn from that experience?

Lauren: That is truly like asking me to pick a favorite child! Every role has been a gift and contributed to my evolution as a person and actress so I’m really grateful for that but honestly Vanessa is so close to my heart. I’m so thankful to get to play a woman who on the surface could be easy to judge, but is wrestling with and working through her own pain. One of my favorite things about being an artist is when you can process and understand a character’s choices (while they are different from your own) because on some level, you share similar wounds. Vanessa and I are VERY different people, but I like to think part of the reason I have been given the gift of playing her is because I understand what drives her. I’ve been nerding out about really understanding and having compassion for her in an effort to honor her story, and hopefully audiences will be able to see some part of themselves in her as a result. While how we cope with pain varies, we all have the desire to be loved and have our needs met. Vanessa is a flawed, complex, fun and complicated woman who is doing the best she can and I’m in heaven getting to bring her to life.

ML: You're an advocate for several causes, including animal rescue. How did you come to adopt your dogs, Vixen and Beverly Hills Cop II, and how have they changed your life? Any funny or heartwarming stories to share?

Lauren: My friends Jason MacDonald and Catherine Dyer introduced me to Lifeline Animal shelter here in Atlanta and I adopted my sweet pups Vixen and Beverly from them 5 years ago. They bring so much joy to my life. When I adopted both of them they were terrified of everything and had clearly been mistreated. So, to see them so happy, safe and loving towards everyone they meet is so meaningful. Spoiling them brings me so much happiness and we’ve created our own little codependent family. I really suggest being reincarnated as a millennial woman’s dog. It’s a nice life. Seeing them so content and full of love is honestly my constant reminder to appreciate the day and remember what’s really important. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and have my health so it’s a very good day. They’re a reminder to appreciate the little things, that are actually the very big things. The most heartwarming story I can share is that Beverly and Vixen jump out of bed every morning, PUMPED to be alive and it really sets the tone for every day. 

ML: As you continue to build on such a diverse and impactful career, what are some of your dreams or goals for the future—both professionally and personally?  How do you envision the next chapter of your journey?  

Lauren: Thank you! My dream was always to be a working actor, so I am fully soaking in this moment. I envision and am consciously crafting this experience on "Beyond the Gates" to be about enjoying the process and continuing to grow and evolve alongside this remarkable cast. I worked so hard for this moment, that I want to take it all in and appreciate it and celebrate this incredible cast and crew that I’m lucky enough to be on this journey with. I hope we get to continue telling this story together for many many years. 

Personally, I’m continuing to make memories and spend quality time with friends and family and am hoping to go back to visit London after we wrap season 1 of "Beyond the Gates". It’s a goal of mine to teach an acting class with my high school drama teacher, Buck Herron, at my alma mater, The American School in London. Buck instilled so much of the work ethic that is allowing me to have reverence for the process and intensity of working on a soap opera. I would also love to go back to London to perform on the West End one day. I’m holding the vision for that because if booking "Beyond the Gates" has taught me one thing, it’s that anything is possible if you just keep going.   

Follow Lauren on Instagram

Photo Credits

Photographer: Ben Cope

Stylist: Chelsea Lunceford 

HMU: Anne Marie Kennedy 

By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Ben Cope