Grace Phipps Bio
Grace Phipps (born May 4, 1992) is an American actress, singer, and dancer who performs professionally under the name Gracie Gillam. Born in Austin, Texas, she has built a diverse career in film, television, and music. Phipps rose to prominence with starring roles in Disney Channel Original Movies, including her breakout performance as Lela in Teen Beach Movie (2013) and its sequel Teen Beach 2 (2015). Beyond her Disney work, she has appeared in popular television series such as The Vampire Diaries, Scream Queens, and Z Nation. She is also a trained vocalist who has released music through film soundtracks and performed original songs.
Early Life and Background
Grace Phipps was born in Austin, Texas, to Kate Van Gelder and Gilliam Phipps. She grew up in Boerne, Texas, and San Antonio, Texas, alongside her younger brother Liam Phipps. From an early age, Phipps developed a passion for performing arts and began training in musical theater.
She attended Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio, where she majored in musical theater at the North East School of the Arts. Phipps graduated summa cum laude, demonstrating her dedication to academic excellence alongside her artistic pursuits. During her high school years, she starred as Rizzo in a theater production of Grease, a performance that would later help launch her professional career.
In 2010, Phipps won the prestigious Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, further establishing her as a talented young performer in Texas. Her success in local theater and competitions set the stage for her transition to professional acting in Los Angeles.
Path to Actress
After graduating from high school in 2010, Phipps made the decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue acting professionally. Within just seven days of arriving in the city, she landed her first significant role in the DreamWorks remake of Fright Night. This rapid success demonstrated her talent and screen presence, opening doors to additional opportunities in television and film.
Her early theater training proved instrumental in her development as a performer. An agent discovered Phipps after seeing her performance as Rizzo in Grease, signing her representation and helping her secure auditions for major productions. This connection proved pivotal, as it led directly to her casting in both Fright Night and The Nine Lives of Chloe King, her first recurring television role.
The transition from local Texas theater to Hollywood productions happened quickly for Phipps. Her ability to balance singing, dancing, and acting made her a versatile candidate for musical and family-oriented projects. Within her first year in Los Angeles, she had already secured prominent roles in major studio releases and network television series.
Grace Phipps Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
In 2011, Phipps made her feature film debut as Bee in DreamWorks’ Fright Night, a major remake of the 1985 comedy horror classic. That same year, she originated the role of Amy in ABC Family’s fantasy drama series The Nine Lives of Chloe King. The series showcased her ability to handle physical action sequences and emotional storylines, though it was canceled after one season.
Her performance in these early projects established her as a rising talent in the entertainment industry. Casting directors took notice of her screen presence and versatility, leading to additional opportunities in the rapidly expanding market for teen-oriented programming on cable networks.
Breakthrough (2013–2015)
The year 2013 proved to be a breakthrough for Phipps. She joined the cast of The CW’s supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries in its fourth season, playing recurring character April Young. She appeared in 10 episodes of the series, gaining exposure to a larger audience of passionate fans. That same year, she made her most prominent screen appearance to date as Lela, a fearless biker girl performing an Annette Funicello impression, in Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie.
Teen Beach Movie was a massive success, premiering to 13.5 million viewers and becoming the second-highest-rated cable movie in television history. Phipps shared the screen with Ross Lynch and Maia Mitchell and performed several featured solos, including the original song Falling for Ya. The soundtrack reached number eight on the Billboard 200 chart, with Phipps credited as a main artist on multiple tracks.
In 2015, Phipps reprised her role as Lela in the sequel Teen Beach 2, which premiered to 5.8 million viewers and became the most-watched cable movie of that year. She continued to expand her portfolio with diverse roles, starring in the horror film Dark Summer as Mona Wilson and playing lead character Kaitlin in Some Kind of Hate, a film that premiered at the Stanley Film Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival, and FrightFest. She also appeared in three episodes of Fox’s black comedy-horror series Scream Queens.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout her career, Phipps has demonstrated remarkable range across genres, from family musicals to horror films. Her portrayal of Lela in the Teen Beach franchise remains her most recognizable work, earning her a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Song from a Movie or TV Show in 2015 for her single Gotta Be Me. She has appeared in over 20 film and television productions, building a reputation as a reliable and versatile performer who can transition seamlessly between comedy, drama, horror, and musical projects.
Grace Phipps Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Grace Phipps has received recognition for her work in both acting and music. Her song Gotta Be Me from Teen Beach 2 was nominated for Choice Song from a Movie or TV Show at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards. The nomination highlighted her talents not only as an actress but also as a recording artist capable of contributing to successful film soundtracks.
Grace Phipps Family
Grace Phipps was born to Gilliam Phipps and Kate Van Gelder in Austin, Texas. Her father carries the surname Phipps, which connects to her professional stage name of Gracie Gillam, derived from her family name Gilliam. She has a younger brother named Liam Phipps. Information about her siblings’ professional pursuits, if any, remains private.
Personal Life
In November 2017, Phipps began a romantic relationship with actor Nat Zang, her co-star from the Syfy series Z Nation. In January 2022, she announced their engagement through social media. The couple married in May 2023 in a ceremony held in Arizona.
Prior to 2017, Phipps performed professionally under her birth name Grace Phipps. She has explained that the change to Gracie Gillam was motivated by her desire for a stage name, incorporating her family surname Gilliam. As of 2016, she was pursuing undergraduate studies at Columbia University while maintaining her acting career, demonstrating her commitment to higher education alongside her professional endeavors.