Kijsa Gifford has done it all in her young career, as an actor, entrepreneur, and athlete. She’s showcased her talents in many different ways and is now dedicated to telling stories and creating opportunities for women with her own production company. We got to chat with Kijsa to learn more about her background and upbringing, her special family connection, and the stories she hopes to tell in the future.
Kijsa started acting at just four years old, beginning with plays and commercials and has since starred as Maxine in the Lifetime film A Model Murder, in the short films The Coffee Shop, Myra’s Last Hope and The Time is Now, and more set for release later in 2024 and in 2025. In each project, Kijsa plays a different kind of character showcasing her versatility and range as an actor.
In addition to her life in entertainment, Kijsa trained in gymnastics, volleyball, and lacrosse, and is even a pole vaulter!
“I love pole vaulting and the feeling of flying through the air and making it over the crossbar.”
Kijsa also has a unique family connection that has encouraged her love of acting and storytelling — she is biological cousins with Marilyn Monroe. In honor of her connection to Marilyn, she named her production company Norma Jean Entertainment, Marilyn’s birth name. Her goal for the company is to continue telling stories and create scripts and projects that fully develop and empower female characters that young people can relate to.
“I want to create a different image of Marilyn Monroe and obviously I am still Kijsa, but I wanted to keep her legacy going and who I think that she truly was.”
“I want to create projects that are for women and to develop characters other than just seeing them as sexual objects and just really empowering women.”
Kijsa said she fell in love with acting because she was able to embody a character and incorporate her own personal experiences into telling a story. She enjoys prepping for auditions and loves the feeling after doing a perfect audition take.
“I love acting so much and I really like embodying a character and seeing the world through their eyes.”
Thank you, Kijsa, for chatting with Young Entertainment! Make sure to follow her on her Instagram at @kijsagiffordofficial. Make sure to watch the rest of the video where Kijsa talks more about her athletic career, what she loves about acting, her favorite songs, and which character she would love to play one day. Like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for the latest news in young entertainment.
Consider this:
- Tell the stories that are important to you. Don’t let anyone else try to influence the narratives or stories you want to create.
- Film and television can have large impacts on audiences. Know that the work you do is important and give it your all in everything you do.
