“Don’t give up if it’s what you really want”: Lesa Wilson talks to Rival about her past, present, & the future.

“There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ path, so make mistakes and learn from them. Great storytelling can come from overcoming struggles. Just don’t give up if it’s what you really want!” Lesa Wilson tells Rival. Without a doubt, Wilson practices what she preaches. The extremely, multi-talented actress has not only won Miss GA, but she was a runner-up Miss USA, a semi-finalist on American Idol, and has just completed three incredible acting roles just this summer.

“There’s nothing in the world like acting, but if I’m able to be creative, I’ll thrive,” says Wilson. However, even with so many fascinating stories and experiences, if she wasn’t an actress now, Wilson would probably work either in marketing or start a production company. “I went to school for interactive development and graphic design, then ended up working as a project manager in a digital marketing firm for a while. I appreciate working with teams and being able to lead creative projects. There are so many roles within the digital marketing space that would allow for creativity.”

Growing up in Rome, GA, Wilson reveals that it is a “beautiful, quiet town” and is still home because that is where her family and friends reside. Growing up, Wilson laughingly tells Rival, “[My hair] started going gray when I was 12 years old. By the time I was 14, I started coloring it so I wouldn’t be embarrassed at school. Once I was in my mid to late 20’s, I was pretty much a white-haired lady.” She elaborates this is something her fans may not know and that she has accepted it. “I’m an old soul though, so it’s fitting.”

This summer, Wilson joined the DC Universe via her role as Bobbie Burman on CW’s Stargirl. She also became superhero Rhea Jones (Loadstone) on Doom Patrol, and made her film debut in two lead roles in the movies Coins for Love and Stars Fell on Alabama. Aside from spilling secrets to us that fans may not know, Wilson also dished out all the details on her past, present, and the future:  

Rival: So exciting that you have had such a busy July – with three different projects came out. Can you describe in your own words each project and how you got involved with each one?

LW: Stargirl is a DC Universe show, so it’s full of superheros and action scenes. I play a character named Bobbie Burman, the step mom to Shiv, the ultimate super villain. It’s a fun role! Coins for Love is a made-for-TV movie on TV One. It’s a story about love and family. My character, Shellee, is a disruptor who is coming in to shake things up. Then, finally, Stars Fell on Alabama is a wonderful, family film. I play Rachel, the high school sweetheart of Bryce Dixon. Bryce is the small town guy who made it to Hollywood and became a big time agent. His homecoming is the center of the story and it explores his hometown friendships and new love.

Rival: We understand that in each of these three projects you play three completely different characters— the complex, tortured step wife, the girl next door, and the girl that everyone loves to hate. Which of those roles did you love playing the most and why?

LW: It’s so hard to choose. Each role allowed me to explore different parts of myself. Shellee (Coins for Love) was probably the most fun because she’s the wildest of them all. You expect her to be outside of the box and crazy which gave me creative liberty to play her with a lot of sass. 

Rival: In the three different roles, which character did you think was most relatable to viewers and why?

LW: Rachel (Stars Fell on Alabama) is the most relatable. She’s the girl-next-door, everyone’s best friend, and the one you go to for advice. She’s a wife and mom who loves her community and wants to see everyone win.

Rival: What is it like being part of DC Universe and also part of Doom Patrol?

LW: It’s a dream come true! I never imagined booking two completely different roles within the DC Universe. I’m so grateful! The cast and crews of both projects were extremely welcoming and kind. They made me feel like I was a part of the family on both sets and that’s something I’ll always cherish.

Rival: You have had such a fascinating past – tell us more about being a semi-finalist in American Idol. What was that like? And how was it different to acting?

LW: American Idol was wild. It was my first introduction to being in the public eye, so it was overwhelming in the beginning. Overall, the experience was challenging, pushed me to my limits, and also opened doors for me to move beyond reality TV. Acting is different because it’s more about connection to your scene partner and authenticity. In a way, it takes the pressure off of the art. You can just live truthfully in the scene.

Rival: We would love to hear more about your pageant experience! Incredible that you won Miss GA and got runner up at Miss USA! Will you elaborate about what, if any, transferable skills you took from those experiences into your life now and acting?

LW: I loved being a pageant competitor. It was really fun and placing so high at the Miss USA pageant made it that much sweeter. As a titleholder, I did a lot of volunteer events and appearances, but the time leading up to the Miss USA pageant was intense with personal training, media prep and meal planning. I was in the best shape of my life for that competition. It also gave me a whole new sisterhood of friends and we stay in touch! What transferred over for me was the interview and media training and the body awareness I gained through walking classes. I’m much more poised and carry myself more gracefully as a result.

Rival: To date, what has been your favorite role to play and why?

LW: Bobbie Burman on Stargirl. I loved being a part of the show’s family. It was really special. Bobbie always wears designer clothes and by all appearances, she’s the perfect stepford wife. However, she’s complex. She’s hiding so much so she can survive. Bringing a character like that to life on screen is a lot of fun. I got to play a lot in that role and my scene partners were exceptional. Not to mention, being a part of the DC Universe is a dream come true.

Rival: Give us your favorite quotable quote from any of the roles you have had recently. Why is this your favorite?

LW: Rachel in Stars Fell on Alabama - “Your heart knows things that your mind can’t explain.”  I feel like this line is so true. It’s a matter of trusting your intuition.

Rival: More generally, is there someone (actor, actress, director, etc.) in the industry that you really want to work with? If so, who and why?

LW: Reese Witherspoon. I admire her so much for her business savvy and her body of work. She seems like she would be a very fun person to work with. I love how she lifts people up and empowers female storytellers.

Rival: What are you currently binge-watching?

LW: I’ve watched so much television in these last few months and have found some gems. Currently I’m watching Hart of Dixie starring Rachel Bilson. It’s such a feel good show and I’m really enjoying it.

Rival: Can you tell us about what you are working on next?

LW: Covid has slowed things down a lot, but I’m keeping myself busy with an environmental series that I created called Going Green. I launch a new episode every week and it’s focused on sharing small changes we can all make as individuals that will have a big impact on our planet. 

As if Wilson’s stories and experiences weren’t inspiring enough, she concludes by telling Rival her message to the world: “We are in this together. Our focus should be on lifting one another up instead of tearing each other down! We all make mistakes, and recognizing that as a human trait instead of a reason to be cancelled would make the world a much more empathetic place.” We could not agree more! For more on Lesa Wilson, you can follow her at @hellolesa. Be sure to watch her in Stargirl, Doom Patrol, Coins for Love, and Stars Fell on Alabama.

Sandy Aziz

Meet the writer: Sandy Aziz is a lawyer, author/writer, poet, creative director, content creator, fashion-fanatic, academic, and adventurer that believes that we should strive to become the best version of ourselves daily rather than just exist in "being." Her work has been featured online and in print across various publications including OURs, MOD Magazine, Mission Statement Magazine, OVERDUE, London Runway Magazine and Verdict. She is North-African (Egyptian) with a touch of Italian. While she is currently London-based, she will also always be a Texan through and through.