BTG Exclusive: RhonniRose Mantilla on Chelsea's Sex Positivity — 'It's Vital'

1 month ago 10

On Beyond The Gates, Chelsea Hamilton is a model and influencer who’s seeking independence from her momager Dani as she enters the world of fashion design. Not unlike the character she plays, RhonniRose Mantilla made a creative shift when she left the stage for the screen and has a special insight into momagers. Soap Opera Digest caught up with the rising star.

Soap Opera Digest: Congratulations on the debut of this show! Chelsea’s sex positivity sure got fans talking.

RhonniRose Mantilla: I actually have been looking at the comments and stuff, and I love that people are taking it in. It’s such a privilege that I get to do that on a historical show. And I think it’s really, really vital for that kind of character, for Chelsea, to be seen, because it just reflects how our society is. I hope that other queer and questioning and poly people like Chelsea can kind of see themselves in the character. It’s important for people to see a plethora of stories. And, you know, these characters are human, and we are a wide group of people with different talents and skills and emotions. I think the moment that the episode came on, Chelsea left the bar with Craig, and his wife showed up. I was on Twitter snooping. The memes, the GIFs that they were sending. It was just so funny because I knew that it was coming, and they didn’t know it was coming.

Digest: I thought the wife was going to be mad, not join in. What characters or storylines would you like to see Chelsea interact with?

Mantilla: You know, Chelsea and Eva don’t cross paths. That would be interesting. But also more fun, as far as sex positive goes, Miss Vanessa. I’d like Chelsea and Vanessa to have a little cocktail hour or something.

Digest: What would people be surprised to know about you?

Mantilla: I think sometimes people are shocked by my age. I just turned 25. I think it’s just because this is my first on-screen anything.

Digest: Not unlike Chelsea, you’ve branched out creatively.

Mantilla: So I started as a dancer, actually. I was 4. And then I just did ballet, jazz, modern, tap. And then I started to do summer shows. I fell in love with musicals. Then, in my junior year of high school, I decided to pursue theater. I went to Baldwin Wallace. I graduated with my Bachelor of Music with a study in the music theater. I graduated school and then I joined the pre-Broadway show with The Notebook in Chicago. Then I was just kind of working here and there, doing hosting, waitressing, working as a nanny, and whatever type of job you can find in New York. And then I happened to book a Broadway show. It was Harmony, the musical, produced by Barry Manilow.

Digest: Do you think we’ll ever see your musical skills on the show?

Mantilla: I really hope so. I think that would be fun.

Digest: Do you feel that Dani accurately portrays a stage mom slash/momager? Given your background, have you seen that out in the wild?

Mantilla: Well, you know, my mom is a momager. My real-life mom is a momager, so I can relate. She won’t take my plate of meats and exchange them for veggies, but in terms of keeping me on my toes and just making sure I stay sharp, she’s really helped me to get to where I am now.

Digest: So what does she think about the storyline? Is she enjoying it?

Mantilla: She watches it twice a day, every day. She’s the momager. You know, she’s just taking notes. No, I’m just kidding. She watches it maybe one or two times, but that’s it.