CBS’s newest daytime drama Beyond the Gates is heating up thanks to the buzzworthy and unapologetically bold Chelsea Hamilton, played by rising star RhonniRose Mantilla. In a recent exclusive with Soap Opera Digest, Mantilla opened up about the complexity, controversy, and cultural relevance of her character — and how playing Chelsea has been both a privilege and a responsibility.
Beyond the Gates Star Dishes on Her Bold Character
CBS’s newest daytime drama Beyond the Gates is heating up thanks to the buzzworthy and unapologetically bold Chelsea Hamilton, played by rising star RhonniRose Mantilla. In a recent exclusive with Soap Opera Digest, The full interview here. Mantilla opened up about the complexity, controversy, and cultural relevance of her character — and how playing Chelsea has been both a privilege and a responsibility.
“Chelsea is on the verge of really becoming her own person,” Mantilla shared. “But she also has this secret lifestyle that challenges the norms — and I think that’s important.”
Indeed, Chelsea’s storyline has already caused a stir. The character is unapologetically sex-positive, queer, and exploring polyamory — and Mantilla embraces the impact this representation has.
“I love that people are taking it in,” she said. “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.”
For Mantilla, it’s about more than just drama — it’s about visibility.
“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. These characters are human. We are a wide group of people with different talents and skills and emotions.”
Of course, with high-stakes storylines come high-stakes reactions — something Mantilla welcomes. She recalled the moment Chelsea left the bar with Craig — only to be confronted by his wife:
“I was on Twitter snooping. The memes, the GIFs… it was just so funny because I knew it was coming, and they didn’t!”
Beyond the screen, Mantilla’s real-life journey is just as compelling. She started as a dancer at age 4, with training in ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. Her passion for musicals grew in high school, leading her to Baldwin Wallace University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in music theater. After graduation, she performed in the pre-Broadway run of The Notebook in Chicago, before landing various gigs — from hosting to nannying — while chasing her Broadway dreams in New York. Her big break came when she joined the cast of Harmony: The Musical, produced by Barry Manilow.
Now, with Beyond the Gates, Mantilla is making daytime history — not just with her talent, but with the bold, boundary-pushing character she brings to life.
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