Daughter of Haitian immigrants and born in Orlando, Arielle Prepetit is experiencing a defining moment in her career as she portrays Naomi Hawthorne in Paramount+’s new drama Beyond the Gates. In the role of an ambitious Washington D.C. attorney who carries her grandmother’s musical legacy, Prepetit blends talent, representation, and emotion—delivering a performance that reflects her own roots and pays tribute to the women who have inspired her since childhood.
Growing up in Orlando, immersed in the live entertainment world of Disney and Universal, certainly gave you a unique background. How have these experiences influenced the actress you are today and the way you connect with your characters?
Growing up doing live entertainment taught me a lot about discipline and hard work. It taught me that the show must go on and that kind of foundation has set me up well for the intense nature of soap operas. I feel like I was well prepared for this industry in general. Growing up as a dancer translated well into my acting career because I can memorize blocking really easily, I have control over my body and I always have a sense of my surroundings. Being a singer helps me with my vocal control and the ability to project when I need to. It all comes together when I need it to so I’m forever grateful for my early training.
In Beyond the Gates, you play Naomi Hawthorne, a lawyer who carries her grandmother’s musical legacy—something very personal to you. How did this family connection shape your performance and the meaning of the role?
It felt like this role was a gift from my Grandma in heaven. I had a very close relationship with my Grandma and we would watch soap operas everyday together after school. She is the reason I am familiar with that genre. Now I never thought I would end up being on a soap opera so it all feels very full circle. It was very easy for me to have that connection with my on screen Gran because that relationship is something that is very familiar to me. Not to mention my on screen Gran is the one and only Tamara Tunie and having her as an acting partner is such an honor.
You have smoothly transitioned between theater, film, television, and even voice acting. How do you handle this diversity of artistic languages, and what does each bring to your artistic expression?
I’ve never been one to just do one thing. I’m always looking for more and wanting to do everything. Being on stage and getting to dance and sing feeds such a different part of my soul than film and television do. Because I started dancing at such a young age, that artistry will always be inside of me and I will always love it. With film and television there is this authenticity and vulnerability that is so satisfying when you can get there. Performances like those are the reason I wanted to be an actor so I’m forever on the journey of trying to deliver that. Another thing I love about film and television is that I can do it for the rest of my life which is the plan.
The role of Naomi, an ambitious and strong woman, brings up issues of power and responsibility. How do you find inspiration to convey these complex layers in the character, and what challenges does this bring to you?
I was raised by really strong Haitian women. And through osmosis I have become a really strong woman. So to get to play Naomi, a strong woman, it didn’t take much for me to get there. The challenges that I tend to have is balancing her vulnerability with her strength. She can’t put up a front forever. So I love getting to play the moments where she’s not strong and when she’s messy and when her brain is on overload. I feel like I’m still finding new things about her and I love that I get to continue making a fully layered, complex, strong woman for the years to come.
Your career is growing rapidly, and you’ve worked alongside big names in cinema. How do you maintain your authenticity and focus amid so much recognition and opportunity?
By staying grateful everyday and reminding myself that this is everything I’ve been working for the past 10+ years. The community around me lifts me up and I can always count on my family, particularly my brothers to keep me humble. With soap operas the episodes premier as we are continuously filming and making more episodes, so the work never stops. I try to stay focused on my work because it’s a train that keeps moving so that helps with staying present and not getting a big head.
Finally, looking to the future, what do you hope to explore as an actress and artist? What stories would you like to tell that you haven’t yet had the chance to bring to the screen?
I hope to get to do projects that really bring people joy! I would love to work on a musical project where I can utilize my other skills of dancing and singing. I’m a huge musical theatre fan so I think that would be so much fun. I also would love to work on projects that explore complicated relationship dynamics because I find those so interesting. Projects that reflect life in an honest way but are still entertaining and fun to watch.
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