Meet Gigi Dia | Actress

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

Hi Gigi, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been very creative, since I’m a child, so it was natural for my to pursue an artistic career! I love art! It can be music, paintings, films. Art is part of my daily life and I can’t live without it!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
A pivotal moment that made me realize acting was my true passion, It was in 2016 in Paris, when I met a director and his wife casting director. They told me they were looking for an actress like me, but for me there was no such thing! I was like, what? Me, an actress? I always loved watching movies but I wasn’t seeing any actresses looking like me. Or it was very rare! So I said no, I probably taught it was a joke. But a few weeks later the director invited me on his set, I remember it was in the streets of Paris, with a view on the Eiffel Tower and that’s when I fell in love. It was so cool to see all those cameras, the crew, and theses beautiful actresses! And there was even food! So I was like that’s it, that’s what I want to do!

So, I started acting in 2016 and quickly after I moved in Los Angeles to Study Acting at UCLA. I love challenges and I knew that if I wanted a successful career, I would have to get out of my comfort zone. I believe being out there in an almost-foreign city would train me and give me skills that would help me to survive in this business. And it did!

Since I graduated in September 2019, everything went by very fast. I booked my first major commercial for BEAUTY BLENDER and SEPHORA. I also booked a part as a vendors on the HBO show INSECURE with Issa Rae and finishes the year playing the main role in the film EATING LISA. Eating Lisa is the story of Gamalielle, who goes on a mission to steal and eating the famous painting Mona Lisa. It was very funny to play this to me has a French person. And I literally had to eat a picture of Mona Lisa, so that was also a great experience.

I got the opportunity to play a reporter for ABC in the movie The Prom, directed by Ryan Murphy and for the network Netflix. I got to be on set and act in front of him, Kerry Washington and Meryl Street!

I kicked off 2021 with a national commercial for Hennessy “dear destiny”, with NAS narrating, the commercial premiered at the NAACP awards in march 2021 and was on cable for several month. It was also screened at the BET awards and on BET TV channel in June 2022.

I also started in commercials for Grande Cosmetics, PayPal, Ally Bank, Amazon and a second add for beauty blender.

The same year, I played Celeste in a music video for Counting Crows, directed by Bill Fishman and starting Clifton Collins Jr. and Josefine Lindegaard.
And I also played Gigi in the French feature film L’enfant du Paradis, directed by Salim Kechiouche and also starting Kechiouche with Nora Arnezeder, which premiered at Angoulême Francophone Film Festival in France in august 2022.

I joined the BAFTA newcomers program in 2021. The Newcomers Program is a four-year new talent initiative, recognizing and supporting international rising stars who are non-US citizens who have recently moved to Los Angeles or New York to further their development and career. I’m currently in her second year. Will go into her third year in October 2023.

I conclude 2021 by starring in the video “the hottie commandments” for Glamour Magazine, championing Megan Thee Stallion as women of the year.

In early 2022, I started in the music video ‘little story” for Kehlani.

I’m a model for Lady Gaga’s cosmetic brand Haus Labs, Lady Gaga handpicked me herself! I was featured in all the Sephoras in the USA with Lady Gaga to promote the fondation and other product of the brand. In September 2023, I will be part of the new ad to promote the new concealer from Haus Labs in sept 20223.

In 2022, I raised more than $30,000 dollars for my short film project. After successfully raising the money, I could produce Our Boat. I’m also the director and the main actress of the Short film Our Boat.

Our Boat had its world premiere at the 2023 LA Shorts International Film Fest, a qualifying film festival for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA has some of the best food in the world! I would def take them to Urth Cafe on Melrose for a brunch. They have the best Matcha Latte ever. I’ll take them to Tastu Ramen as well cause they have to try that Chicky Ramen! Next, we’ll go to Catch LA to have a nice drink with a view. And of course at some point I’ll take them to Nobu Malibu.

For Places to visit, some of my favorite spots are Universal Studios, Laguna Beach, and Griffith Observatory.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family and friends have the most profound impact on my career and acting pursuits! Without their support I don’t think I could make it!

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9392256/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gigidia/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gigi-dia-9a0030a7/

Image Credits
Image Credits: Afton, Kajal