Alison Chace: Hollywood Dreams & Empowerment

Original Article: thelanote.com

Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?

Hi, I’m Alison Chace. I’m an actress, women’s empowerment entrepreneur, and I’m chasing my Hollywood dreams at the vibrant age of 55, now that my sons Finn and Callum are in their 20s.

I recently took on the role of a high-powered lawyer ensnared in a web of cartel connections in “Rancho Humilde’s Cosa de la Clika,” a collaboration with Rapper Master P and Mexican sensation Jay Dee. I also got the chance to play the antagonist, a governor brushing off an earthquake disaster, in “Continental Divide,” brought to life by The Asylum.

And I just landed a role in “The Gringo Hunters,” Netflix’s newest darling produced by Imagine Television and Redrum and directed by Adrian Grunberg.

I’ve also guest starred in Succession, Law & Order, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, to name just a few.

When I’m not acting, I’m connecting women. We all hold so much wisdom, and today more than ever we have access to creative platforms to share that wisdom with each other. My entrepreneur journey started with my website Wake Up To A Breakup, and blossomed into Pink Wisdom.

Both are inspirational sources of validation and community for women seeking more fulfilling relationships and careers. Pink Wisdom shares short videos from an all-star panel of experts, from filmmakers to psychologists to seduction teachers to CEOs to dating coaches.

I also created a flirty app called Pink Kisses, a daily affirmation app that sends you a sweet message every day, coming from a name you choose. It’s a smooch for your screen.

And I just co-founded an independent studio, LMC Productions. Think Hello Sunshine vibes, but we’re just planting seeds right now. So I’ll continue my work of boosting women’s stories…stay tuned!

On top of all that, I’ve self-published two books, hosted an award-winning podcast, launched a comedy enterprise called The Dinger featuring up-and-coming comedic talent, and co-founded three women’s groups: Hollywood Studio Club, Cafe Femmes, and Neurotica Productions.

When I catch a spare minute, I love listening to live music and exploring spiritual growth.

What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?

What sets me apart is that I’m finding success fashionably late. I’m just like aging wine — I get better with time! Just like life experience adds richness to our personal stories.

I’m also passionate about authentic positivity. Through the work I do with Pink Wisdom, I create uplifting and fun spaces for women. Empowerment with a side of giggles — that’s the secret sauce. I hope people realize they can tackle anything and find a good laugh even in the worst times.

My work reflects my passions. During the pandemic, I executive produced an award-winning documentary called “Under The Same Sky,” which featured women from China to Australia to Mexico to the Netherlands sharing their wisdom on sex, self-doubt, race, feeling stuck, love, and finding the skills you have to offer the world.

Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.

Picture this: a latchkey kid in the ’70s, divorced family drama. My TV was my babysitter. Shows like The Brady Bunch, MAS*H, The Odd Couple, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Happy Days, All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat, and Charlie’s Angels were everything to me. The actors, particularly the child actors, had me dreaming about acting too.

I started crafting comedy skits with my cousins, acting in school plays, and attempting (and failing) to master my TV hero Carol Burnett’s genius. The dream got real when I enrolled in acting classes at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. My first TV audition was at age 12 for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I still remember my one line: “Plus the Colonel’s new and tasty coleslaw!” I must’ve recited it no fewer than 200 times before the audition! Sadly, it was also my first taste of rejection, a feeling would become a lot more familiar. But I didn’t give up, and I landed my first acting role in a school play in 7th grade as Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?

Although starting this whole acting thing late in the game sets me apart, it’s also been my biggest challenge. I mean, I did the mom-friendly gigs — commercials, voiceovers, hosting — stuff that didn’t mess with my mom duties too much. Quick bookings, no need to memorize Shakespeare, and definitely no jet-setting away from the kids for weeks.

In 2019, right after my oldest left for college, I finally dipped my toe into film and TV. But the pandemic threw me another curveball. Studios hit pause in 2020, and when they hit play again, it felt like every seasoned actor wanted those ‘five lines and under’ roles I was gunning for.

Rebuilding momentum in this cutthroat scene was a challenge, but I didn’t slow down for anything. With my other creative projects, I created my own momentum. And I’m pushing until my name’s up there in the big credits. Watch out, world — I’m making my mark, one late bloomer at a time!

Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business?  Why these specific individuals?

Envision this: a glittering soirée at Nobu Malibu under a Pacific sunset. At the table? Alison Chace, weaving her charm and hilarious stories; Reese Witherspoon, kickass entrepreneur and kickass actress; Shonda Rhimes, bringing her game-changing storytelling spark; and Jennifer Garner, funny and consistently hustling.

And now I’m going to cheat just a little…we are supposed to dream big, right darling? The camera pans out as Laurene Powell Jobs, conjuring the entrepreneurial spirit of Pink Wisdom, joins the party; and Ava DuVernay adds her directorial flair to the mix.

Hollywood stars Connie Britton and Sandra Bullock swing by to express their excitement for our audacious film in the works. And guess who waltzes in? Blackstone, fresh off investing in Reese’s Hello Sunshine, offering a deal for LMC Productions. Can you feel the seismic shift in Hollywood? But that’s not all.

As we clink glasses, in walks Emma Chamberlain, Gen Z’s influencer sensation, capturing a selfie to spotlight our freshly funded project: a cinematic masterpiece celebrating women’s stories. And because we are dynamite women who get things done, we all decide to donate a million dollars to Moms Demand Action.

It’s not just a dinner; it’s a Hollywood powerhouse explosion right at our table, a symphony of vision and collaboration. You never know what magic could unfold at Nobu Malibu. Cheers to daring dreams, darling!