Meet Cecily Baring-Gould | Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cecily Baring-Gould and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cecily, what was the thought process behind leaving your previous career to start acting?

There wasn’t so much of an active thought process, but more of an intense feeling of resistance toward continuing to work in my previous career. I worked in public relations in the fashion industry for over 10 years, overseeing strategic communications for a diverse portfolio of luxury and contemporary fashion designer and department store clients in New York, London and Paris. That’s what brought me to the US in the first place; and I loved the job, for a while.

I recall saying to a coworker one day, “imagine if we put the same amount of time, energy, commitment, and care into ourselves, as we do our clients.” It was a mind-blowing thought, and a very abstract one, as I didn’t yet know what else I wanted to do. Becoming an actor certainly hadn’t entered my mind yet. When Covid hit, I lost my job and had to fly back to Australia. For the first time in a very long time, I was confronted with time and space. A lot of it. This allowed more time to reflect and notice what parts of my life I felt resistance toward and the parts that I wanted to enhance. I noticed the things I gravitated to naturally. I painted and planted and created and sang every single day. I rediscovered art and creativity, because I had the time and freedom to do so. The idea to try acting quite literally came to me while I was painting one day. I’d never thought about it before and when the thought came, it was quite terrifying. Part of me wished something easier or more logical or attainable had presented itself. Something that was so invisible to me before, was suddenly the most crystal clear path forward. Time and space allowed me to uncover that path.

What’s one thing about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?

Something that I certainly believed to be true, was that to be an actor you had to be an extrovert. Someone who was very confident and loved to be in front of a camera and the center of attention. I’ve since realized that this is rarely the case.

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

A huge role. If I hadn’t taken big risks, I would have never moved to New York City in the first place. I would have never had the career that I had, worked with the incredible people I have, traveled and worked in the places I have, found the best friends that I have. I used to look back on the risks I took at the beginning of my career as brave and perhaps a little naive; being too young to know how to think small. I didn’t think I’d be able to take such a brave risk again. I now realize that you just need to know what you want in order for the risk to present itself as justified. Then you need to be brave enough to take it. Very cool things happen in life when you’re brave enough to let them.

What was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?

When I realized I wanted to try acting, I enrolled in a one-week screen acting intensive in Australia with The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) to test the waters. I was absolutely petrified. Everything about it made me sick to my stomach but I had to try it. After one class I knew, right to my core, that I had found my new path. I was then accepted into The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and moved back to NYC to start my studies. The best decision I have made in my entire life. Deciding to abandon a successful and predictable career and start fresh in a completely new one – an incredibly fickle one – was a risk. I wondered what people would think. Has she lost the plot? Haha! A few probably raised their eyebrows, but some of my closest friends and family said “oh yes, I can see that.” Once you take the risk and get on the other side of that fear, incredible things come. I could never have dreamt up the opportunities and miracles that have happened for me over the last two years.

What’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?

I can’t think of one specifically. I think life is made up of lots of difficult decisions. I do know that the most difficult decisions I never made were made for me. When you avoid or delay decision making, the universe will ultimately make the decision for you.

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

It’s so important. In my previous career I did not have any resemblance of a work life balance. I worked and traveled all year round. On my yearly 10 vacation days I would fly back to Australia to see my family. It was non-stop, and my nervous system was shot.

Having all of that pulled away during Covid allowed me to completely recalibrate. Through that rest, I was able to notice my gut instincts and intuition, which led me to my new path. I now know that my best, most productive, impactful, and authentic self will come from a well-rested and cared for mind, body and soul, so I prioritize it.

Do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? What does it mean to you / what do you like about it?

I have so many. On my mirror at the moment I have a post-it that says “a great actor is a relaxed body with a volcano inside it.” I like that.

“Dig where your tears fall” is also a goodie. I read it many years ago in Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist, but it only made sense to me once I discovered acting.

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

It came to me when I slowed down and removed the noise.

What do you want your legacy to be? What do you want people to remember about you?

I don’t know about legacy, but I’d like to be remembered as someone that people feel good around.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cecily.bg/

Image Credits
Cecily plays Carol in Anatomy of a Suicide by Alice Birch; Directed by Olivia Songer; November 2022; The Irma Sandrey Theatre, New York City