Meet Kelly Murtagh | Actor, Writer, Singer & Children’s Book Author

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

Hi Kelly, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I used to think of “balance” as this mystical destination that maybe I would reach some day after I did ALL the work, which, I of course, never reached. As I’ve gotten older and become a mother, I’ve realized how holistic, fluid and delicate it really is. It feels like a conscious choice of being present, having boundaries, and of prioritizing my mental health so I can show up presently as a mother. The to-do list never ends, work follows you home (or is AT home) and there’s always one more email, one more phone call, or one more load of laundry to do. Even when I get a break, I sometimes feel like I don’t deserve it because of something haunting me from the previous sentence. Balance comes in choosing to carve out intentional moments to put it all down and surrender to the present.

I used to be a perfectionist and workaholic and I pinned my worth to my accomplishments and never allowed myself a break. After having my daughter Fallon, everything shifted. I began meditating every day and creating a conscious time and space to put towards my mental health and in loving myself so I could show up for my daughter. From that space, I began to learn in baby steps that I am not my thoughts or feelings and that I deserve to give myself a break.

I believe life is not about work, it’s about love. When I remember that, everything feels a little less scary.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a creative person, I often look to art to process the world around me and my world inside. When I went to treatment for severe bulimia 12 years ago (a mental illness I’d struggled with since I was fourteen) I looked for movies and TV shows to help me process what I was going through. My search left me discouraged and empty-handed. I found that when eating disorders were spoken about in the media (which was rare), it either scratched the surface of what it was really like, or was often the butt of a joke. It was then that I had the seed of an idea for my film “Shapeless” – a film that depicted the reality of an eating disorder told in a surreal way. I dreamed of writing, producing and acting in a film like that one day, but that dream felt unrealistic at the time.

A lot of life and countless baby steps later, I’m so thankful and proud to say that with a team of incredible New Orleans filmmakers, I produced, co-wrote and starred in “Shapeless” which had its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival in 2021. I felt a calling to bring my personal struggle to the screen because I believe in the power of personal stories in normalizing uncomfortable conversations and I believe film can be a great gateway for those conversations. Through the process of bringing this film to life, I became more vulnerable than I’d ever been before. The more truthful and vulnerable I became with my collaborators, the more my shame lessened. Shame kept me silently struggling and I realized through those vulnerable conversations, that I was not alone. Shame is something we all experience no matter how it manifests. I believe vulnerability is the bravest you can be and can also be a path to freedom. Through vulnerability, I felt the grips of an eating disorder loosen.

“Shapeless” is set in the New Orleans music scene and my character is a singer losing her ability to sing because of bulimia. This is also something that happened to me in real life. While in pre-production, I had to start singing again in order to portray my character. I was terrified at first, still suffocated by the shame of “ruining” my voice. Under the guidance of a loving voice teacher, I began to sing, softly. The more I actually sang and accepted my voice for what it is today, the more I healed and remembered how much music was a huge part of me.

Around the same time, and inspired by my book-loving daughter, I felt called to write a New Orleans children’s book for kids aged 0-5 years old. Samantha Aldana, director of “Shapeless”, is also a magnificent visual artist and illustrator and I asked her to illustrate the book. So, while we were working on “Shapeless”, we were also working on “Zoo Krewe”, our children’s book. Though it was a lot to produce both at the same time, there was something poetic about balancing the dark surrealism of “Shapeless” with the lightness and whimsy of a children’s book.

My singing journey has continued after “Shapeless” and it is something I hold so much gratitude for. When I sing, my throat still sometimes closes up or I get caught in beating myself up. But, when I get out of my head and allow myself to sing, I feel alive, playful and free. Music is inherent in all of us and something I know I can take way too seriously. II love what my dear partner who is an accomplished musician says, “It’s called ‘playing’ music for a reason. Play time is supposed to be fun.”

For those who struggle with an eating disorder, I hope “Shapeless” helps you feel seen, heard and understood. For those on the outside of this addiction, I hope “Shapeless” can provide a window of empathy in to understanding what it is really like. “Shapeless” is streaming on Tubi and available to rent/buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. “Zoo Krewe” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and in local New Orleans Book stores and makes a great baby shower gift.

Also, you can catch me & my partner Will Dickerson performing together frequently in the New Orleans and L.A. area. We have a show at the Hotel Cafe at 7pm on Friday Jan. 13th, 2023! Link for tickets https://new.hotelcafe.com/event/will-dickerson-feat-kelly-murtagh/

Thank you for your support!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I used to live near Franklin Village and it is one of my favorite spots in the city to visit. I used to love getting coffee and a treat from Bourgeois Pig (RIP), grabbing lunch at Birds and perusing old books and records at Counterpoint Records and Books. I used to take Upright Citizen’s Brigade classes so I also love catching shows at the UCB theatre there too.

I also love to find pockets of space that make me feel like I’m not in the city. I love to hike and one of my favorite in-town hikes is Fryman Canyon because it feels secluded and more forested than other hikes in the city. I also love going to Rosenthal Wine Bar and Patio right off the PCH across from the Beach in Malibu. They have delicious wine, the staff rocks and the views from the back patio are stunning. They also have live music, food trucks and other vendors on the weekends.

If you find yourself all the way in the Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village area, you can catch me teaching Yoga Barre at Westlake Yoga Co. This place is a yogis dream. The instructors are excellent and provide a ton of variety in classes, both heated & non-heated, as well as meditations and sound meditations. I also love going to the Gardens of the World Botanical Garden. It is free to visit, has beautiful scenery, and is a great place to bring kids. One of my favorite hikes in the area is Paradise Falls, a picturesque, easy to moderate hike that leads you to a waterfall area that looks like it’s straight out of a magical fantasy. Then you can head over to mom-owned & operated local brewery Naughty Pine Brewing Co. in Westlake Village. The staff is awesome, they have delicious beer, and they host all sorts of fun events and live music including an open mic night on Tuesdays that has a warm and supportive atmosphere and hosts incredible musicians and artists.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to shoutout to my 5-year-old daughter Fallon. She has a fierce spirit and giant heart and she is unapologetically herself. She teaches me every day about love, fun and embracing myself. I’m beyond thankful to be her mom and I love her just the way she is. I’d also love to shoutout my wonderful partner, and remarkably talented singer-songwriter & musician, Will Dickerson. He is incomparably loving, wise, and generous and is supports me in being authentic. Through his love, I’ve felt safe enough to sing in front of other people and even write some of my own music as well as write music together. Check out his incredible debut album “Welcome to Rocktavia” on all major platforms. I also want to send a shoutout to my ex-husband and co-parent, talented actor and producer Bobby Gilchrist. He is an incredible person and father and I feel so lucky to co-parent beside him and thankful we can all treat each other with love and respect.

I would also like to thank the friends, family and inspiring film community of New Orleans for your support and involvement in bringing my art to life. Thank you to my awesome, hard-working reps, agents Angie Moncrief at Action Talent Agency and Lindsay Mass at DPN and my dear manager, Kristina Sutton at Citizen Skull & Focused Artists who works so hard for her clients and has believed in me since early in my career. I’d also like to shoutout my acting teacher & mentor the late great Chick Vennera, who helped me to lighten up, get out of my head, and trust that I’m enough.

Instagram: @kellymurtagh @shapelessthefilm

Twitter: @kellymurtagh

Other: Link to Shapeless: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/shapeless/umc.cmc.w1j9mvqtv7amhur9oqxsaf6o Ticket Link for Hotel Cafe Show: https://new.hotelcafe.com/event/will-dickerson-feat-kelly-murtagh/ Link to Zoo Krewe: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zoo-krewe-kelly-murtagh/1139421099

Image Credits
pic 1 – BTS of Shapeless: credit: Nick Shamblott pic 2 – Will Dickerson & Kelly Murtagh singing: Credit: Tenea Intriago pic 3- Zoo Krewe book signing: credit: Will Dickerson pic 4 – editorial shot: credit: Lilly Anne Photography pic 5 – personal shot of Kelly Murtagh & Daughter Fallon Gilchrist: credit: Will Dickerson pic 6 – Kelly Murtagh and director Samantha Aldana on red carpet at Shapeless World Premiere at Tribeca 2021: credit: Arturo Holmes