Lauren Buglioli has made her mark in the spotlight as the memorable “Heather with the Weather,” from AppleTV’s BAD Monkey, as well as in other memorable roles like Tyler Perry’s A JAZZMAN’S BLUES, Netflix’s Florida Man and many others.  Now she currently stars as “Vanessa” in the groundbreaking new CBS series BEYOND THE GATES.  We caught up with Lauren to learn all about “Vanessa,” the importance of rituals, her go-to skincare routine, and how she’s helping other women to SHINE…

You’re currently starring as Vanessa in CBS’ new series BEYOND THE GATES. What can you share about the series, and what’s it like to play this new character?

I’m so grateful to be a part of this historic production. Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture, partnered with Procter & 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. 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.

How would you say the hair and makeup differs with “Vanessa,” as opposed to others you’ve played? 

This is the most glam I’ve ever had for a role. It is FULL OUT and makes my job so easy! I am so grateful for the hair, makeup and wardrobe team on this show. They are pulling out all the stops. I’ve got hair extensions, a full beat, and the most stunning clothes I could dream of. Christy Miller is my incredible hairstylist, Reese Lee is my amazing makeup artist and Jeresa Featherstone is our phenomenal costume designer on the show. Hair, makeup and wardrobe truly help me bring a character to life and this team has me SPOILED. Vanessa is accustomed to luxury and these ladies make me feel like a million dollars so I can show up to set and embody Vanessa and her lifestyle.

Speaking of glam, your on-set hairstylist introduced you to SHINE.  What can you tell us about this incredible organization?

I began volunteering with Shine this past Christmas. 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, called 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 child care 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 to champion phenomenal human beings like Scott, Lindiwe and Christy.

How do you think self-care and pampering factor into helping with one’s confidence? 

I know for me, self-care and pampering allow me to remind myself that while it’s so important to pour into others, taking the time to take care of ourselves and feel our best allows us to give from a place of fullness rather than lack. It can be so easy to put ourselves last, but when I take the time to take care of myself I’m able to do my best work and give back to others. I’ve had to learn the joy of missing out (JOMO over FOMO, baby!) in order to take time for self-care and to avoid burn out!

If we asked you to pick your top three products in your makeup bag, what would they be and why do you love them? 

I swear by Laneige lip sleeping mask. I actually have roughly 10 of them (I’m obsessed) stashed all around my apartment and my rule is when I see it, I have to put it on. I used to have perpetually chapped lips and this is the only thing that works for me! The Skinny Confidential’s Caffeinated Sunscreen is a non-negotiable for me every day. It’s got a nice tint that allows me to go without makeup when I’m not on set. I also swear by The Skinny Confidential’s Brow peptide serum. It’s castor oil that I use on my brows and lashes daily. When I’m not working, I try to wear as little makeup as possible and I find these 3 things make me feel put together without needing to make myself up.

You’ve spoken recently about rituals… How would you describe your typical start to a day, and what advice do you have for someone who is looking to live with more intention? 

My typical start to a day involves waking up early to give myself at least an hour to complete a morning routine. I keep it flexible but it always involves having water with electrolytes, cuddling and walking my dogs, my 5 minute journal, breathwork or meditation, and coffee. My advice regarding living with intention is to remind yourself that it is an ever evolving imperfect practice. The more I give myself visual cues to do what works for me, the more effortless my routine becomes. For example, I keep my 5 minute journal by my alarm clock, so I have the reminder to do it first thing in the morning. When I start my day with gratitude and intention setting, I set myself up for success. I also wear a bracelet daily that says “be the light” as a reminder of my mantra/value system. Finally, I love listening to content that inspires and uplifts me. I love the work of David Ghiyam and his podcast. Spiritual Wisdom for the soul is incredible. Any effort you put into improving your life is worth celebrating! If we focus on getting 1% better daily over time, that effort compounds into HUGE results rather than overwhelming ourselves with an impossible 20 step morning routine and endless to do list. Be nice to yourself. You’re always doing better than your brain wants you to believe you are!

When not filming, what’s your favorite way to recharge?

My favorite way to recharge with friends is to host a girls night in. My girlfriends and I get together once a month to catch up over take out and wine. We sit and talk for hours and it’s been a game changer to have a standing date night and make sure we prioritize quality time together regularly. I also love to have a solo self-care night where I use my sauna blanket, watch a movie, cuddle with my dogs, and catch up on sleep.

Lastly, what’s next on the horizon for you? 

This week, I’m filming episodes 74 and 75 of Beyond the Gates, and we film through the end of August! The rest of this year will be focused on filming, being a dog mom, spending time with friends and family and then taking some time off this summer, hopefully at the beach!

Credit:
Photographer: Ben Cope
Stylist: Chelsea Lunceford 
HMU: Anne Marie Kennedy