Beyond the Gates’s RhonniRose Mantilla on the Importance of Exploring Chelsea’s Sexuality
CBS’s new soap, Beyond the Gates, was already groundbreaking for its predominantly Black cast, but its commitment to representation goes beyond race to include sexuality as well. When the show premiered in February, it featured a married male couple with two children and in late May, the character of Chelsea Hamilton, played by RhonniRose Mantilla, came out to her mother, Dani, as queer. A month later, Chelsea and her new love interest were enjoying a romantic soap opera love scene that included the typical candles, close-ups, and musical soundtrack (“I’m Falling For You” by Haley Shaw and Katie Hargrove). This scene was uncommon for daytime because it was between two women — Chelsea and her new girlfriend, Dr. Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil). “It was really important that we have true representation on the show,” Executive Producer Sheila Ducksworth told The Hollywood Reporter, “and that’s across all lines.”
Got To Be Real
When BTG debuted, Chelsea was a successful fashion model like her mother, Dani, but soon found herself stepping out of her mom’s shadow to start a handbag design business with her cousin, Kat. Chelsea’s sexuality was first touched upon when she had a fling with a couple, and when she asked the female half, Alison, if she was interested in pursuing something separately, she was rebuffed. This led Chelsea to flirt with a beautiful woman at the bar, who she later learned was her father’s doctor, Madison.
Mantilla reported that Chelsea’s sexuality wasn’t part of the character description when the actress originally auditioned. “When the casting call first came out, I knew that she was a model,” Mantilla explained. “I knew she was young, closer to my age. I’m 25 so she’s 23, Gen Z, an influencer, and very into social media. I knew that she was trying to find her own way and figure out her own path. The subject of her queerness didn’t really come in until I met in person with [Executive Producers] Julie [Hanan Carruthers] and Sheila [Ducksworth]. And I was just so game for it.”
The daytime newcomer noted that she was happy to help tell a story that is very real for today’s audience. “I think art should be a reflection of the current times,” she said. “And personally, I’m figuring out my queerness as well. So it’s really been a fun journey to tell Chelsea’s story.”
While Mantilla did admit that she was “kind of terrified” of her very first on-camera love scene, she understands the significance of it in the grand scheme of things. “It’s important to show these stories,” she proclaimed, “because maybe someone who’s trying to figure out their queerness can see Chelsea and Madison and be inspired to live out loud or to make that jump into committing to someone that they’ve been eyeing for a while.”
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