Elizabeth Gillies

Elizabeth Gillies – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life and career of Elizabeth Gillies—actor, singer, Broadway alum, Victorious & Dynasty star. Read about her early years, rise to fame, artistic evolution, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Elizabeth Egan Gillies (born July 26, 1993) is an American actress and singer whose dynamic talent spans stage, television, film, and voice work. From her early Broadway beginnings, she graduated into teen stardom as Jade West on Victorious, then matured into dramatic and musical roles like Fallon Carrington in Dynasty. With her vocal artistry and acting versatility, Gillies continues to evolve as a multifaceted performer.

This deep dive traces her background, career milestones, legacy, and the lessons drawn from her journey—plus a selection of her quotes to capture her voice.

Early Life and Family

Elizabeth Gillies was born in Haworth, New Jersey, on July 26, 1993. She is the daughter of Dave Gillies and Lorraine “Lorrie” (née McCarthy) Gillies. She has one younger brother, George, born in 1996.

Gillies has spoken of her mixed heritage: she has Irish ancestry and claims maternal Italian lineage (from her grandmother and great-grandmother).

As a child, she attended Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest for her freshman year, but subsequently left in order to pursue acting full-time and transitioned to an online high school program.

From a young age, Gillies began attending open casting calls and doing commercials. Her first television appearances included a recurring role in The Black Donnellys.

Her early immersion into performance—commercials, auditions, stage work—laid the foundation for her later breakouts.

Youth, Training & Early Stage Career

Although Gillies did not follow a conventional theatrical school route, her early choices showed ambition:

• In 2008, she was cast as Lucy in the musical 13 (by Jason Robert Brown). This production moved to Broadway, making 13 the first Broadway show with a cast and band entirely composed of teenagers. Gillies remained with it through its closure in January 2009.

• Through this experience, she acquired stage discipline, singing, and the demands of live performance—all before her major screen successes.

These early stage credentials gave her not only visibility but legitimacy as a performer who could act and sing.

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough & Nickelodeon Era (2010–2013)

Gillies’ breakthrough role came in 2010 when she was cast as Jade West in the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious, a show centered on students at a performing arts high school.

Jade West was portrayed as a “bad girl” or antagonist, though Gillies has remarked that Jade had depth—she was not purely malicious but capable of warmth and vulnerability.

While on Victorious, she contributed vocals to its soundtracks and EPs. Songs like “Take a Hint” (a duet with Victoria Justice) achieved commercial success. Gillies also wrote the song “You Don’t Know Me” for an episode, showcasing early writing ability.

She also provided the voice of Daphne for Nickelodeon’s Winx Club revival and sang the song “We Are Believix”.

During this period, Gillies appeared in guest roles on other Nickelodeon series (such as iCarly, Big Time Rush) and made small TV appearances outside that network.

This phase cemented her as a teen star with both acting and musical credibility.

Transition & Diversification (2014–2019)

After Victorious, Gillies began branching into more mature film and TV roles:

• Animal (2014) — She starred in this horror film.

• Vacation (2015) — She appeared in the comedy remake.

• Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2015–2016) — She starred as Gigi, an aspiring singer, in this FX comedy series.

• In 2017, she was cast as Fallon Carrington in Dynasty (The CW reboot). Later, she also portrayed Alexis Carrington in season 2, taking on dual roles.

• She starred in the film Arizona (2018).

• In 2022, she voiced Selina Kyle / Catwoman in the animated feature Catwoman: Hunted.

These roles illustrate her intentional shift from teen-leaning fare into dramatic, sometimes darker or more complex characters, often integrating her singing talent.

Return to Music & Stage, and Recent Work

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillies teamed with Seth MacFarlane to release an EP titled Songs from Home in 2021.

• In 2023, she released a holiday studio album We Wish You the Merriest (with MacFarlane).

• In 2025, Gillies starred as Audrey in an Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors.

• She’s also been more vocal about her solo musical ambitions. In 2024/2025 she began performing more live shows (e.g., at Café Carlyle).

In interviews, Gillies has mentioned how she’s opening “the floodgates” to releasing music more freely, after many false starts.

Her career thus far is marked by a balance between acting and musical pursuits, and by a deliberate evolution rather than a leap into singular stardom.

Historical & Industry Context

Gillies rose to prominence in a period when teen-focused musical-comedy series (especially on kids’ and family networks like Nickelodeon) were a dominant gateway for young talent to crossover into broader entertainment. Her Victorious era placed her among a cohort of performers who were expected to act, sing, and maintain cross-media visibility.

As she matured, trends in television reboots (like Dynasty) and streaming/animation opportunities have allowed actors with musical backgrounds to tap roles that require both acting and voice/singing. Gillies’ timing—bridging traditional TV, musical projects, and animated features—fits this evolution in the industry.

Also, the increased acceptance of multi-hyphenate artists (actors who also sing, produce, or write) has worked to her advantage, giving her flexibility and more pathways for creative expression.

Legacy and Influence

While still relatively young in her career, Elizabeth Gillies’ legacy is emerging in a few key dimensions:

1. Versatility as a performer — She has shown she can shift between stage, TV, film, voice, and music, rather than being boxed into a single medium.

2. From teen star to mature artist — Her career path demonstrates that a performer known for youthful roles can successfully “age up” without losing relevance.

3. Creative agency — By writing music, choosing complex characters, and taking stage roles again, she demonstrates control over her artistic direction.

4. Inspiration to multi-talented artists — For young actors who also have musical passion, her path shows that it’s possible to honor both crafts.

Given her trajectory and growing forays into music and live performance, her full legacy may yet be unfolding.

Personality, Style & Artistic Traits

From interviews, reviews, and her body of work, several traits stand out:

• Ambitious but measured — She has expressed long-term goals (e.g. wanting an Oscar) while being patient.

• Self-aware & candid — Gillies speaks openly about challenges of rejection, navigating public image, and the balance between artistry and industry.

• Dual identity as actor-singer — She frequently blends her musical and acting work, choosing roles that permit both.

• Resilience through transitions — She has adapted from teen roles to adult ones, and moved between media (TV → stage → animation → music).

• Grounded persona — She tends to keep her personal life more private, letting her work be central to her public identity.

These qualities have helped her navigate the often turbulent shift from child/teen actor to mature artist.

Famous Quotes of Elizabeth Gillies

Here are selected quotes attributed to her, reflecting her mindset, humor, and ambitions:

“The funny thing about voice over is you can go in in sweatpants and have your hair all messed up, and no one will see you, and you can still deliver the same great product.”

“If you’re passionate about something and stick with it, even if your friends aren’t doing it, it’ll pay off. It can be really rewarding to stick to your guns.”

“Hopefully after ‘Victorious’ has lived a long and beautiful life, I would like to go into movies. Ultimately I’d love to win an Oscar; that’s my big goal in life, so that’s what I’m going for.”

“I think dealing with mean girls is just a part of life. I never really took people like that too seriously.”

“My two big date deal breakers are someone with no sense of humor and someone who chews badly. … so if either of those things are detected on a date – it’s a total deal breaker.”

These quotations help illuminate her honesty, ambition, and personal priorities.

Lessons from Elizabeth Gillies

From her life and career, here are some takeaways we can draw:

1. Build early experience wherever possible. Her early auditions, commercials, and Broadway role gave her momentum before her screen break.

2. Don’t fear transitions. Moving from teen roles to adult ones (or from TV to stage) can be risky—but gradual, intentional shifts (as she has done) can succeed.

3. Cultivate multiple skills. Her dual path in acting and music gives her flexibility and resilience in a changing industry.

4. Stay true to your goals. Her quote about “sticking to your guns” reveals that perseverance matters even when others don’t follow your path.

5. Balance public ambition with personal privacy. She tends to let her work speak, rather than rely entirely on publicity or social media presence.

Conclusion

Elizabeth Gillies exemplifies a new generation of multi-talented artists who refuse to be pigeonholed. Starting from stage and teen television, she has evolved into roles requiring depth, musicality, and emotional complexity. Her artistry continues to deepen as she moves into solo music releases, stage returns, and mature acting parts.

Her journey offers encouragement to performers who aspire to wear many hats—and to audiences who wish to see a star grow, not fade. If you like, I can also curate a list of her best performances, full discography, or a timeline of her artistic evolution. Would you like me to do that?