Multi-hyphenate actor, singer, writer, and producer, Zibby Allen, is a creative whose work spans from broad comedy to heartfelt television drama. Currently she stars as Brie Sheridan in the hit Netflix series “Virgin River,” returning for its fourth season July 20th. You’ve also seen her in a myriad of other projects such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” “The Flash,” and “Bates Motel,” amongst numerous others. A chameleon when it comes to her craft, Zibby is certainly one that loves to keep you guessing… she’s not one to be labeled—in fact, she tends to defy them. We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Zibby about her many layers, her devotion to health and wellness, and of course, what her secret is for having such beautiful skin!
You star in the hit Netflix series Virgin River as Brie Sheridan, who has some pretty serious subject matter to deal with… How did you prepare for the role and is there anything you’ve taken away from exploring those layers as an actress?
I prepared for the role of Brie like I do any of my roles; I look for the ways in which my character and I are different, and then I look for the ways in which we’re similar – where our sensibilities might intersect. I like to think every character I get to play has something to teach me, and vice versa, which makes it fun and it keeps me curious.
It’s true Brie deals with some really heavy stuff – sexual assault, a miscarriage, and the PTSD that comes with both. And while we’ve seen Brie work hard to avoid her pain so far, (a true Sheridan family trait) what I came to admire about Brie is her refusal to feel like a victim. Even in the avoidance of dealing with her pain, she still fights for herself, for her dignity. In season three she’s definitely the more aggressive instigator in her relationship with bad-boy Brady. At first that was hard for me to understand, considering she was just coming away from her assault. But the more I leaned into learning about the differences between the two of us, the more I understood that Brie was actually, quite admirably, fighting to reclaim her sexual power. She was refusing to give her abuser power over that part of her. I think that’s so beautiful. So yeah, finding that line of understanding is always a strong and meaningful way-in to any role for me.
What can you share with fans about the upcoming new season?
I mean, the last season left us all with such a cliffhanger, didn’t it!? Needless to say, this coming season covers a lot of ground. There will definitely be more Brie and Brady (or “Briady,”as the fans have coined them.) But in season 4 Brie’s going to put on her lawyer hat to get involved with Brady’s case. And in doing so, Brie will find herself inadvertently caught up in Calvin’s criminal web, as well as forming a closer relationship with Mike. It’ll be juicy to say the least! As for the other wonderful Virgin River characters, there’s still Jack’s question of paternity, a handsome new doctor comes to town who’s in the market to start a family of his own, Hope and Doc have to navigate the aftermath of Hope’s car accident… and much more. I mean, it’s a lot! But that’s Virgin River! It may be a small sleepy town on the surface, but stuff is always going down with the good people of VR. I’m excited to share this coming season with everyone.
When it comes to your work you’re quite a chameleon with the roles you’ve taken on… Do you intentionally seek out roles that keep people guessing, or is there a certain genre or type of role that you prefer to play?
To be honest, for most of my career I didn’t have the luxury of seeking out particular types of roles or projects. For a long time I just wanted to work and would take it wherever I could get it! I think those years of hustle contributed to my versatile resume. But also, I’ve never been easy to typecast (in life, or in my work) and while at times that left me feeling directionless or ‘uncool,’ I’ve come to really like that about myself as an artist and I’m super grateful for the variety of creative opportunities I’ve had thus far. I think I’d get bored very quickly if I stuck to just one genre. (That said, I do miss comedy!) These days I think more about the creatives I admire and would absolutely love to work with someday. There are so many but lately I’m really appreciating the work of Lesley Headland (Russian Doll), Director Paul Andrew Williams (A Confession), Patrick Sommerville (Station 11), Nick Antosca and Robin Veith (Candy), Jay and Mark Duplass (Somebody Somewhere, Togetherness), Sarah-Violet Bliss (Search Party)…
Aside from the project front, you’re a tremendous advocate for health and wellness, and have been able to combat some health issues by changing your diet. What were some of the benefits you saw from shifting more towards clean eating?
Several years ago I figured out I had an autoimmune disease called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which is essentially a very low tolerance to histamines (which you may be surprised to know are in so many foods.) Autoimmune stuff can be really difficult to diagnose because it manifests incredibly differently from person to person (if you know, you know.) Until I figured out it was the histamines, I was one of those people who always seemed to have random symptoms that came and went, didn’t really seem connected on the surface, but always had me searching for a connection out of pure desperation. I had chronic daily hives for years, a complexion that would change drastically week to week for no apparent reason, cycle/reproductive issues… I could go on but you get it. Nothing was ever drastic enough to raise much concern with doctors… but I was just so frustrated by not knowing why my body was doing what it was doing, when it was doing it. After loads of research for a good dedicated year, along with diet adjusting and supplement experimentation, I finally figured out what my body was responding to. With the knowledge that I empowered myself with, I could finally start to build a baseline of consistent health and today I remain nearly entirely symptom-free. Cracking that code for my own health was so cool and freeing I can’t even tell you. I also got really into herbs as a result. In fact, I took a few herbalism courses during lockdown, and now make my own infusions and tinctures at home, which has also made a big impact on my skin and my cycle. There’s so much to learn when it comes to herbs but if I ever had to change careers, I think I’d go into herbalism! So yes, I’m definitely an advocate for wellness and taking the reins when it comes to learning your own very unique body and it’s needs.
You also have GORGEOUS skin! What’s your go-to routine? What products are you using?
Gah! Thank you! I’ve had to work really hard to get my skin to where it is. And I still feel like I have a long way to go. But for me it’s been a combination of the food/supplements, quality skin products and regular facial treatments.
Favorite supplements: TruMarine Collagen powder, Omega 3, DAO enzyme (to help my body breakdown histamines), my homemade Raspberry Leaf + Calendula + Sage tea infusion, Zinc, Oregano Oil, Vitamin C, D and CoQ10
Current favorite products/tools: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser, Shani Dardan’s Texture Reform, Clinique Moisture Surge, NuFace Trinity Wand, and Ulta MD Sunscreen, Lancome’s Skin Feel Good foundation
Current favorite treatments: Light stimulation, Fraxel, BBL, and when I’m working up in Vancouver I love getting treatments at two of my favorite spots: Project Skin MD or Fig Face!
Also, I am obsessed with this website called Skincharsima that helps you find and analyze products based on your detailed skin type. I literally do not buy a single product (including makeup) without running it through Skincharisma’s product analyzer tool. There are just too many options for products these days and so it’s helped me tremendously in narrowing down my options based on my sensitive skin!
Shifting gears a bit, what would you say has been your greatest life lesson? Oh man. I think it’s to make sure I always keep a line of access to my inner sense of things. By nature, I’m very suggestible. That’s okay – suggestibility is important and valuable for my work as an actor- but if not careful, it’s easy to forget to listen to myself first. The practice of always taking a beat to just listen to my own thoughts, feelings, and intuitive nudges has built up a kind of trust in myself that I’ve come to rely on, to the great benefit of nearly every aspect of my life.
What has brought you the most joy?
My husband. My dog. My work as an actor. I’m obsessed with all three and I require nothing more in this life! Ha! But seriously. They give me more joy than I can even put words to.
Lastly, what’s next for Zibby Allen?
Well, we’re back to filming Virgin River season 5 soon and I’m really looking forward to diving into Brie’s continued journey. And over hiatus I starred in a thriller for Lifetime called Daughter Danger that should be coming out in the next few months so keep a lookout for that.
To keep us with Zibby follow her on IG @Zibbyloo
