From Dance to Daytime: Arielle Prepetit on Finding Strength, Sisterhood and Stardom in ‘Beyond the Gates’
“I think people — and the world — just need to love more, in whatever way that means for you… Go toward the thing that loves you back so you can constantly feel that love… I’m very big on vibrations and energy, and keeping a high vibrational energy because it attracts so much good. I think all of that stems from love.”
I had the pleasure of talking with Arielle Prepetit. Arielle, a first-generation Haitian-American actress from Orlando, Florida, is emerging as a formidable new presence in daytime television with her breakout role as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne on the Paramount+ and CBS drama Beyond the Gates. The series, notable for being the first new soap opera launched in 25 years and the first hour-long drama centered on a Black family, has quickly positioned Prepetit as one of its central figures. Her portrayal of Naomi — a Washington, D.C., attorney grappling with familial legacy and personal ambition — draws from deeply personal roots and marks a turning point in Prepetit’s decade-long journey in the performing arts.
Raised in the suburbs of Orlando, Prepetit was immersed in the world of performance from an early age. The daughter of Haitian immigrants, she began dancing competitively at age five, a pursuit that would define much of her early life. Her interest in acting emerged later, during her final year of high school, when aspirations to perform on Broadway led her to voice lessons and a film and television acting class. That introductory course marked a decisive shift in her career ambitions. Realizing the enduring possibilities of screen acting, Prepetit pivoted fully toward television and film, setting in motion a gradual climb through the industry.
Based in Atlanta, she built her résumé with roles across a spectrum of genres and platforms. She appeared in the feature films About My Father alongside Robert De Niro and Kim Cattrall, The System with Tyrese Gibson, and Haunted Mansion, where she utilized her dance background on screen. Despite limited screen time in some of these projects, Prepetit points to such roles as formative, often citing the professionalism and kindness of more established actors as benchmarks for the kind of colleague she hopes to be. She has also lent her voice to national advertising campaigns and public service announcements, extending her versatility to voiceover work.
Prepetit’s role in Beyond the Gates represents a substantial escalation in both visibility and responsibility. The show’s rapid production schedule and voluminous scripts — sometimes requiring her to memorize over 30 pages of dialogue in a single day — demand rigorous discipline. Unlike traditional film and television shoots, the soap opera format allows for only one or two takes per scene, placing significant pressure on actors to deliver precise, emotionally grounded performances with minimal rehearsal. Prepetit describes the process as mentally and physically taxing but equally rewarding, likening it to a form of professional bootcamp that has strengthened her focus and resilience.
Her character, Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne, shares more than just surface traits with the actress who plays her. Both women are marked by a deep sense of loyalty, emotional intelligence, and a drive for justice. Naomi’s role as the family’s legal backbone and a steward of her grandmother’s musical legacy resonates with Prepetit, who has dedicated her performance to her own grandmother, a lifelong fan of daytime dramas. This connection adds a layer of personal significance to her work, one that she hopes audiences will feel through the screen.
Despite the rapid pace and pressure of soap opera production, Prepetit remains committed to maintaining balance through self-care and routine. She emphasizes the importance of physical upkeep — massage therapy, fitness, and skincare — alongside mental health support, including therapy and candid conversations with fellow actors. This holistic approach, she says, is essential in sustaining the demanding emotional and physical output required by her current role.
Reflecting on her career trajectory, Prepetit often returns to the notion of patience and endurance. It took over a decade of training, auditioning, and small roles before her current breakthrough. She attributes her success not to perfection, but to persistence — pointing out that even auditions she felt uncertain about, like the one that landed her Beyond the Gates, can lead to transformative opportunities. Her message to aspiring actors centers on resilience, the importance of community, and the acceptance of a non-linear path.
Prepetit’s aspirations reach beyond individual success. She expresses a desire to promote messages of love and energy, emphasizing the importance of pursuing relationships and goals that reciprocate support and vitality. That ethos, she believes, not only improves personal wellbeing but also fosters stronger artistic communities and social environments.
As Beyond the Gates continues to gain traction with audiences, Prepetit’s performance stands as a symbol of the genre’s evolving face — diverse, emotionally complex, and grounded in real-world experiences. While the show marks a milestone in her career, Prepetit views it as just one chapter in a larger narrative still being written.
Viewers can follow her work on Instagram @arielleprepetit and catch Beyond the Gates on CBS and streaming daily on Paramount+.
Yitzi: Arielle Prepetit, it’s a delight and an honor to meet you. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share with us a story of your childhood and how you grew up?
Arielle: Thanks for having me. It’s nice to meet you, too. I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. I am the daughter of immigrants; both my parents were born and raised in Haiti and immigrated when they were in their 20s. I have two older brothers. I grew up in the suburbs of Orlando, and my first love was dance. I started dancing when I was five and did that competitively, taking it very seriously my whole childhood. It was everything to me.
When I was in my senior year of high school, I decided I wanted to be on Broadway. My dance teacher told me, “Well, you need to take voice lessons and acting classes because there are people who have been doing theater since they were five years old, and you need to be competitive.” I said, “Great, let’s do it.”
So, I used my babysitting money to pay for private voice lessons, and I found an acting class for film and TV. That was my first introduction to film and TV. Once I took that class, I realized, “Oh wait, this is what I want to do. I want to do this because I can do this for the rest of my life. I can’t dance forever; my body’s going to give out on me, and I’m already feeling it. Anytime I take a dance class, it hurts.”
Once I took that acting class, I started taking it seriously. I joined the adult program and was all in on that. I think I started acting 10 or 11 years ago, and I finally hit, I guess, “the big break.” This show I’m on now is everything I was working for. So, that’s my journey into acting and the entertainment industry.
Yitzi: Amazing. So you probably have some amazing stories from your different experiences and different projects you’ve been on. Can you share with our readers one or two stories that most stand out in your mind from your professional life?
Arielle: Let’s see. It’s interesting that some of my smallest roles have been the best experiences. This is the biggest role I’ve had for sure, but one of the smallest roles I had was in a movie where I was literally named “Newlywed Wife.” It was an independent movie that’s actually coming out in August. It was with Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden. I had a small role, but they treated me like everyone else. I got to spend the whole day with Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden, who I love. I’m such a big fan of Tony Hale. The whole time I was like, “Just keep it cool, keep it cool.” They put us in a holding room in between scenes, and it was like this kid’s bedroom. It was just me and those two actors, and we were just chatting away. They were so kind and lovely to be around. At the end of the day, I got to tell Tony how much I love his work and how funny I think he is, and how honored I was to work with him and how nice he’d been to me. He was just so lovely to be around.
The same goes for another movie I did, Disney’s The Haunted Mansion. I was a dancer in that, which was my first role as a dancer in a film. I got to work with Rosario Dawson. I saw her energy and the way she lit up the trailer; everyone was so happy to see her. Then she looked at me, I had this crazy makeup on, and she said, “You look so beautiful.” She was talking to me, and I couldn’t believe it. When I looked at her, I thought, “That’s the kind of actor I want to be.” Someone that lights up a room, someone that people are happy to see every morning.
When I think about the show I’m on, Beyond the Gates, I think about everyone around me, the energy we all have, and the positivity we all have when we go into work. It’s exactly the kind of actors I wanted to be surrounded by, and it’s exactly the kind of actor I wanted to be — someone that radiated positivity. I get to see these people that I admired and meet them in real life, and they’re just as wonderful as I hoped they would have been. Those were really great experiences.
Yitzi: Beautiful. It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous mistake you made when you were first starting acting and the lesson you learned from it?
Arielle: I mean, when you’re a beginner, you’re constantly making mistakes. That’s the only way you can learn, through your mistakes. When I was starting out with auditions, I was constantly messing up and not knowing what to do. This industry is so unpredictable, and there’s no one right path to follow.
Sometimes, your mistakes can even get you the job. For example, with Beyond the Gates, I got the audition, and it was about nine or ten pages long. I really didn’t want to do it because it was so many pages. But I just focused, did the best I could, and turned it in. I remember thinking, “It doesn’t feel like my best. I know I could have spent more time on it. I know I could have done better.” I was kind of beating myself up, which is normal for me. I was disappointed because I felt like I understood the role and the character, and I knew I could do it, but I wasn’t confident in my audition tape.
So when I got the call a month later that I booked the job, I asked my agent, “Are you sure? Are you sure?” He said, “Yes, you got the job.” I think that just shows that what’s meant for you will not pass you by; what’s meant for you will find you. Even though I didn’t feel great about that audition, I still booked it because it was meant for me. They were able to see past any little flaw I saw and recognize me as part of the bigger picture we were creating. I’m so glad I turned that audition in. I’m so glad I did those nine pages, and I’m glad I didn’t let my own perfectionism ruin my chance of booking the show.
Yitzi: What has been the most challenging project or role you’ve taken on so far, and why?
Arielle: The show I’m on now, Beyond the Gates, is a brand new soap opera for CBS. It’s the first new soap opera in 25 years. I didn’t have any experience with soap operas before this. I grew up watching them, so I knew they were on every day, but I didn’t realize how much work this type of genre would require. It’s not easy, and it’s not for the faint of heart. The amount of dialogue alone is immense, and as I said, it’s every day. Sometimes we have monologues and pages and pages of lines. The other day, I had to know about 35 pages of my own material for one day of filming. We only get one to two takes for each scene because we have so many scenes to tape.
It’s very challenging. I love the challenge, but this is definitely the hardest I’ve ever worked in a job. Some days I go to set and think, “I don’t know it. I don’t have it. I can’t do it.” But somehow, I do it every time. I show up for myself, and it happens. So I think this is by far the hardest I’ve ever worked in a job.
Yitzi: Do you ever improvise, or do you always have to stick with the script?
Arielle: You have to stick with the script. If you improvise, sometimes you’ll hear, “We have to go back because you can’t say that.” Every now and then, you can slightly change the words to fit how you know the character would say them, especially since we’ve been filming for about eight months and have lived in these characters for a long time. So we have a little flexibility there, but what’s written on the page is pretty much what you have to say.
The mental aspect of it is also challenging. Every day after I come home from work, I have homework to do for the next day. It’s definitely making me mentally strong. I know for a fact I can do any job after this one; I am prepared to do anything because it has required so much of me. So I am grateful for this training, I really am, but it’s not easy.
Yitzi: I can’t imagine how difficult it is to memorize 35 pages in one day. Do you have any tips on how to memorize so many lines, not just for actors, but for anyone?
Arielle: It’s a muscle that you have to work, and for me, it’s gotten stronger and stronger. So it’s definitely a lot easier for me to memorize 35 pages now. But in the beginning, and even still now, it’s all about repetition for me, and knowing what’s going on. If you know what you are saying, if you know the story of what’s happening in those scenes, that can guide you through the scene. Repetition is key for me. Also, a new trick I’ve been using is recording my lines — recording the scene, actually — and listening to it while I’m doing dishes, stuck in traffic, or folding laundry. This way, the lines go into my body in a way other than just through my eyes. Listening to the scene has helped me learn it a little faster, at least by understanding the story of that particular scene. Again, it’s that repetition. That’s a helpful trick I’ve been using.
Yitzi: You mentioned that they only do one or two takes. What happens if it doesn’t come out good in two takes? Do they just use it, or does it always come out good in two takes?
Arielle: No, it doesn’t always come out good in two takes. But if there’s a big mistake or if someone forgets their line, of course, we’ll do it as many times as we need to ensure there are no mistakes. However, if everyone said their lines, if all the cameras were good, and if the producers feel good about what we taped, then they’ll move on.
That’s been the biggest thing: trusting that the director and producers are getting what they need, and so they’re moving on. As actors in other genres, like regular film and TV, where there aren’t multiple cameras shooting at once, you get so many takes. You get to do scenes over and over again, discovering things, trying new approaches, and having more opportunities. In a soap opera, four to five cameras film you at one time, so they’re already capturing all the angles. So, as the actor, you really only have one shot to perform it. You have to know your intentions and where you want to go before you do the scene. There’s no time to figure things out, play, or find it. You have to be ready, which is why the homework is so important before you get to set.
If everything goes well, they’ll take it and move on, and you have to be okay with that. That’s been hard for me as a perfectionist, because I want many opportunities to try and try again. So that’s been the hardest thing, I think, is trusting that the directors and producers like what they have, moving on, and having to let go of what you just did to get to the next scene.
Yitzi: Please tell us about Beyond the Gates and why, in your unbiased opinion, (laughs) we have to watch it.
Arielle: Beyond the Gates, as I mentioned, is the first new soap opera to premiere in 25 years. Many people, including myself, thought this genre was dying because no new ones had aired, and most of the existing soaps were going off the air. I believe there are only four or five soap operas on now, whereas at one point, there were 19 airing simultaneously. So the genre has definitely gone through its own transition, and this show is the first to bring it back.
Not only is it the first soap opera in 25 years, it’s also the first hour-long soap opera centered on a Black family. So this show is history in the making; we are the first of so many things. We are the first soap opera to be executive produced by a Black woman, and the first hour-long soap opera centered on a Black family. You are witnessing history, so you’ll want to be a part of it by watching. The show is about a wealthy Black family in the suburbs of Maryland, the Dupré family, and I am part of that family. It’s set in a gated community, which is why it’s called Beyond the Gates, and it explores all the secrets, lies, and drama that happen within those gates. It’s full of drama; you get everything you want in a soap opera with this show. The writers and our executive producer, Michelle Valjean, are doing an amazing job of recreating the soap and keeping it interesting for all soap lovers.
Yitzi: How would you compare and contrast your personal character, Arielle, with the character you play in Beyond the Gates? How are you similar, and how are you different?
Arielle: Honestly, my character, Naomi, and I are very similar. When I got the audition, I immediately felt, “Oh, I get her. I understand her. I can do this.” We’re both strong-willed, very passionate, and very honest; we are both strong characters. What I love about her is that she’s teaching me that you can embody so many qualities in one person. Not only is she strong-willed, but she’s also extremely empathetic, and I’m learning that about her. She will go above and beyond for the people she loves, especially her family, and she’s extremely loyal. I love that she can be both strong and soft. She genuinely cares about people, and I think that’s an amazing trait. Being able to be strong and empathetic, to say “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong,” and to forgive and move on — that’s something I’m learning from her, particularly her empathy and her desire to help people and fight for justice. I really love those traits about her. We truly are very similar. I guess some differences are that she’s the oldest sister, and I’m the youngest in real life, and she grew up very wealthy while I grew up middle class. But in terms of traits, we are very similar, so it’s not too far off when I’m acting and playing Naomi.
Yitzi: Amazing. This is our signature question. Arielle, you’ve been blessed with a lot of success, and you must have learned a lot from your experiences. Can you share five things you’ve learned that you wish you knew when you first started acting?
Arielle: Oh man, five things.
- Okay. I eventually did learn these, but in the beginning, knowing that it’s a marathon, not a sprint — I’ve been acting for 10 or 11 years now, and I finally just hit that break. I would’ve never thought, back when I was a teenager, that it would take this long or be this hard. So, first, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
- Second, not to be so hard on myself. I wish I knew that going in because once I stopped caring so much, that’s when I started seeing success. Not being such a perfectionist and not taking everything so seriously really helped.
- Third, the hard work never stops. You’re working hard now to achieve your goal, but that doesn’t end once you reach it. The pressure stays the same, the work keeps going, and you just have to keep pushing forward. It’s not like, “Once I make it, I can relax.” That’s not how it works.
- Fourth, it only takes one audition to change your life, to change the game. You have to keep going and not give up. And I didn’t. That’s why I’m here now.
- And fifth, the people in your life will come and go, and that’s okay. The people who come into your life will make it better, and the ones who leave no longer serve you. It’s okay to let them go and move on from it.
Yitzi: Okay, we’re getting toward the end. Can you share with our readers the self-care routines you use to help your body, mind, and heart thrive?
Arielle: That’s a really good question because, like I said, this genre takes a lot out of you. Self-care is so important. Physically, I need massages — I need one, like, yesterday. So taking care of my body with massages, going to the gym, staying fit, and watching what I eat helps me get through those 12-hour days and feel my best.
Skincare is another big one. Getting into hair and makeup every day can really affect your skin, so I stick to a solid skincare routine that works for me. Staying consistent with that is key.
I think having a routine is important in a job like this, even though it’s tough because your schedule changes constantly. I also have a therapist, so keeping in touch with her helps. Talking to fellow actors too — they’re going through the same things I am — has been amazing. They’ve been such a great support system. Being able to talk, learn, and grow with them has made such a difference. I feel really lucky to be part of a cast and crew I can rely on in that way.
Yitzi: Amazing, beautiful. This is our final aspirational question. Arielle, because of your great work and the platform you’ve built, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could put out an idea, spread an idea, or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?
Arielle: I think people — and the world — just need to love more, in whatever way that means for you. I really believe that love is love is love is love. To be loved in a way that makes you want to scream it from the mountaintops is such an amazing feeling, and I want everyone to feel that.
Whether that’s in a partner you find, a friend group you connect with, or the family you have, go toward the thing that loves you back so you can constantly feel that love. It’s an incredible experience.
That’s the movement I want. There are so many people who try to love something or someone, and they’re constantly fighting for it, but it’s not working and it brings them down. But if you love the thing that loves you back — if you go toward what’s calling you and making you feel brighter — it’s just going to make your life better.
I’m very big on vibrations and energy, and keeping a high vibrational energy because it attracts so much good. I think all of that stems from love. So that’s my answer.
Yitzi: Beautiful. Arielle, thank you so much for these amazing insights. How can our readers continue to follow your work? How can they watch the new show? How can they support you in any possible way?
Arielle: You can follow me on Instagram @arielleprepetit, that’s my full name. You can watch Beyond the Gates every day, Monday through Friday, on CBS. It also streams daily on Paramount Plus. Those are the different ways you can watch the show. And you can also follow the Beyond the Gates Instagram page @beyondthegatescbs. They post highlights and clips, so you can follow along there too.
Yitzi: Amazing. Arielle, it’s been so delightful to meet you. I wish you continued success, good health, and blessings. I hope we can do this again next year.
Arielle: Thank you so much for having me. This was so fun.
From Dance to Daytime: Arielle Prepetit on Finding Strength, Sisterhood and Stardom in ‘Beyond the… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.