Lacey Chabert doesn’t know me and I don’t know her, but I can recall her being there for a lot of benchmarks in my life. She’s a part of many memories in my life, because what she was starring in or working on was playing on my screen or was an escape from the chaos that was my life.
She was there when my Grandma introduced me to soap operas, and I would lay on the couch and my Grandma would tell me stories. She was there when my friends and I were obsessed with Party of Five, and we’d spend time talking about it each week at the lunch table. Her voice acting was a part of many moments with cousins, nieces and nephews. I did not know for awhile she voiced Young Anastasia, in the animated movie Anastasia, but hey as many times as I’ve karaoked that movie, she’s been there then.
I’ve never really thought about how many moments until I was offered a chance to talk to her.
The actress is hosting Celebrations, for the Hallmark Channel. She hosts the show, which “surprises deserving individuals by organizing heartwarming celebrations honoring their positive community impact.”
Lacey is soft spoken and inviting. You can just tell that what she does excites her. She has so much love for being an actress, but also a big love for giving back. When asked what she loves about Celebrations, “I love this show so much. It’s not scripted. It’s totally unscripted, which was a completely new experience for me. The first season, I remember the first day, I got so nervous because I was like, “Oh my gosh, I’m used to being interviewed,” and the tables had turned. I love it so much. I’m that person that, when I’m at the grocery store, I love talking to the cashier, and I end up getting their whole life story, usually by the time I’m done. I love hearing people’s stories. I love connecting with people. I get to do that on this show in such a deep and fun way.”
She went on to add, “There were unexpected surprises, happy accidents. In regards to the actual parties themselves, we had to be very flexible and go with the flow, and unexpected weather conditions and things, and we learned to pivot. The experience of getting to highlight heroes who are making such an impact in the lives of so many people and who are often not really applauded, and to have a moment to thank them for their hard work and their service to others, is such a special and poignant experience. I’m forever grateful for it.”
I am enamored by her way of talking about things that she loves. She has such a passion for this show and its message. The first season taught me about the importance of celebrating wins, of giving back, and respecting others. The first season, you could tell that Lacey was loving every second and really took a lot away from it. When I asked what she learned in the first season that she was able to carry into the second.
“I think for me personally, especially as an actress, and I’m used to having a script, and I’m used to attempting to perfect the words and find just the right tone of the scene, and really arc out those things, I’ve learned to be completely free in this medium where you have to go with it. I have questions and things prepared in my mind, subjects that I want to touch on, things that I’m personally curious about about our heroes. Then all of a sudden, I’ll be talking to a friend or a loved one of theirs, and they’ll reveal a story or something that was completely unexpected. The course of the conversation completely changes.” she said.
And then continued, “Then I end up getting to share something that in my own personal life that I may relate to. I get to share a little bit more about who I am personally. At first, that was a little intimidating, because it can feel very vulnerable. In the end, it was actually so fulfilling because it made me feel so connected to everyone. At the end of the day, I think we all just crave that connection with each other.”
There is something about Lacey that really just gets the way that the world is, but also how it can be. She wants to change the world. She wants to be there for people.
See the interview below –
