By Susan R. Wenner
Herald Publisher
Lake Mary residents, Denise Gossett and her daughter, Riley share a common love of acting. The duo have also been fortunate enough to be featured in several movies and live out their dreams together.
Since she was a child, Denise has always wanted to be an actress. She cited that she just always felt like it was something she should be doing and feels so alive when acting.
Denise got her start in acting while still in school in small performances through her academic studies but it was in high school that she truly blossomed and fell in love with the art, working professionally in college.
On working with her daughter, Denise shared how amazing she feels when being cast together. In fact, they two have shot five movies together. Their most recent, “Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries,” that recently premiered on UPTV on April 20, was the first time that they actually starred as mother/daughter Amish characters.
“We had so much fun, we were in Sugarcreek, Ohio for almost 4 weeks,” she said. “It was like a working vacation for us. It's so beautiful there and the Amish people are so lovely, kind, down to earth and inspiring. The way they live is so real, natural, and grounding.”
"Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries,” is based on a book series of the same name. Denise mentioned that she had to learn to drive the horse and buggy, which was a little nerve wracking at times, but, she was so excited to try something different.
Giving a bit more background about the show, Denise added, “‘Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries’ is a wonderful, wholesome story that I think every family will enjoy. It's a cross between ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and ‘Nancy Drew.’ A city woman moves to town and my character, Naomi, becomes fast friends with her and we start solving mysteries in the town. There are 32 books in this series and this movie is based on 2 of the books. We are very excited to be shooting more of the books this summer.”
Riley is no stranger to the bright lights and cameras. Her first movie was "Hope" by JC Films, starring the former Superman, Dean Cain.
It was such a meaningful experience and really opened the door for me into the world of acting,” said Riley. “I've been lucky to be part of some incredible projects, including ‘My Florida Home,’ ‘Migrants,’ ‘Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries,’ ‘Never Again Understand’ and ‘Maid Under Fire.’ Each one taught me something new and helped me grow as an actress.”
Her attraction to some of the movies she has performed was being drawn to stories that make people feel something, whether that’s hope, strength, or even just the sense that they’re not alone.
“I look for roles that challenge me emotionally or tell stories that matter,” she said. “When a script connects with me on a deeper level, I know it’s the right one.”
She did add that one of her favorite experiences so far has been working on “Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries,” not only because the set was something really special but she got to learn a lot about the Amish community.
“It was so cool, they live such a different, peaceful lifestyle and it was amazing to see how connected they are to their values, traditions, and each other,” said Riley. “I really respected how kind, humble and hardworking they were. Just being around that energy felt grounding and inspiring. There were also animals on set, which made it even better for me. I absolutely love animals, so getting to be around horses and other farm animals while filming was honestly a dream. The whole experience was amazing!”
As far as future plans, Riley shared that she just want to keep going and pushing herself with each role.
“I’d love to work on films that are powerful, character-driven and maybe even explore genres like horror or rom-com,” she said. “I’m also really passionate about telling stories that inspire others or start important conversations. Long-term, I hope to continue working with amazing people and never stop learning.”
Speaking of working with amazing people, Riley commented that working with her mom, Denise, was fantastic.
“Honestly, I loved it,” she said. “She’s always been my biggest supporter and getting to share the set with her makes everything even more special. It makes being on set even more fun.”
Denise shared some parting words to encourage those, who are interested in acting or just following their dreams, by saying, “For anyone out there that has a dream, please don't ever give up on it. If there is something that you can't go a day without thinking about, then you must not give up on it.”
You can also follow Denise Gossett in other films such as a Lifetime movie called, "A Reboot Gone Wrong,” directed by Haylie Duff and "Trapped,” about child trafficking, a thriller called "neVer" and the Faith Based TV Series "These Stones.”
For more information on Denise Gossett. www.denisegossett.com
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