Pop-Culturalist.com

Gabrielle Walsh is a multifaceted storyteller who brings remarkable depth and nuance to her role as Lacey in the critically acclaimed series Found. In this upcoming season, Gabrielle continues to explore Lacey’s harrowing journey, skillfully blending vulnerability and strength as she confronts the complexities of her traumatic past.

As part of a dedicated team focused on finding missing individuals, Lacey navigates not only her own journey of healing but also the weight of Gabi Mosely’s (played by Shanola Hampton) chilling secret. With over 600,000 individuals reported missing each year in the U.S.—many of whom are people of color often overlooked—Found boldly addresses these urgent issues.

Pop Culturalist had the opportunity to speak with Gabrielle, who reflected on the emotional weight of Lacey’s journey and the ramifications of Gabi’s hidden truth on their relationship. As the team navigates the fallout from these revelations, Walsh delves into the intricate dynamics and moral dilemmas that arise.

PC: You’ve always made it your North Star as an artist and storyteller to be experiential, living in your character’s truth and circumstances. But when you’re playing someone like Lacey, who’s been through the unimaginable, how do you find where she sits within you and create the space to tackle both her vulnerability and her strength? Because you brought so much truth to that role, which is why she’s such an emotional core for both the team and the audience.
Gabrielle: Thank you for saying that. With any character I approach, I try to find my emotional truth within it. I look at the character, what they’re experiencing, and how I feel as I read it. I draw from my own life experiences, making personal choices to connect with the role. Of course, I’ve never been abducted or experienced the unimaginable trauma of going missing. But I do know what it’s like to face different forms of abuse and trauma, so I draw from those experiences and give as much as possible to match what’s needed to tell the story.

PC: You’ve succeeded in that. At the end of Season 1, Gabi’s secret comes to light, leaving the team in such a fractured state. Given that Lacey and Gabi share a traumatic history with Sir, do you think this will make the path forward easier or more difficult for Lacey?
Gabrielle: That’s a great question. Learning that Gabi has been lying to her is huge for Lacey. Gabi isn’t just her sister; she’s her hero. Realizing that your heroes are fallible, that they make mistakes, and aren’t on the pedestal you placed them on, can be heartbreaking. But it also leaves room for forgiveness. Hopefully, that will open Lacey up in some ways, though I do think it’s something she’ll struggle to come to terms with. However, the bond they share from being held captive by the same person is unbreakable.

PC: There’s also an interesting debate that arises among the team after the secret is revealed, where they question whether the work they’ve done is tainted. What’s your perspective on that, both personally and through Lacey’s eyes?
Gabrielle: You could argue it’s tainted because the abuser and kidnapper played a part in it. But personally, at the end of the day, people were found. Now, keeping someone in the basement and doing all that? I’m absolutely against it! [laughs] Let me just put it out there: I’m against kidnapping anyone and locking them in your basement, regardless of what they’ve done. But, at the end of the day, people were found. So, while I don’t condone the methods, you can’t ignore the outcome. That said—don’t ever do that again. [laughs] However, using someone’s twisted mindset as a resource can be helpful in a weird way. Not that I would kidnap anyone—I just want to put that out there again. [laughs] If I were a detective, I’d want to study criminals, get into their minds, and understand their psychology to help solve cases. You see that in detective stories and documentaries, where you use how these people think to find others. In the end, it’s about using the resources you have—just don’t lock them in your basement! [laughs]

For Lacey, though, she’s so committed to justice and the truth that this is a hard no. The fact that it involves her sister may shift her perspective a bit, but it’s still a no. This is something deeply personal to her, especially because it’s her kidnapper, which makes it even more intense. For her, it’s about Sir still having a hand in the work she’s doing.

PC: A hallmark of why this show is so great is that it sparks so many different conversations. You’ve also started writing recently. Have you found that aspect of your craft has influenced the way you approach your work as an actor and interpret scripts for Season 2? How has your relationship with Nkechi [Okoro Carroll] and the writers’ room evolved going into this new season?
Gabrielle: I wish I could get into the writers’ room with them—maybe someday I will! I’m putting it out there. I’ve always loved writing and reading scripts. Books, I’m still working on, but I love reading scripts. I enjoy hearing the different characters’ voices and seeing how they relate to each other. I admire how Nkechi and the writers tell these stories, balancing the procedural elements with the personal ones, which is so difficult to do. I haven’t tackled that in my writing yet, especially since I’m not working on a crime-drama procedural. But what they do—delivering case information while keeping it engaging—is no easy task, and it’s challenging for actors too. The way they write helps us bring truth to our characters, while also keeping the audience connected. It’s definitely teaching me a lot.

PC: The writers are really putting Lacey through it this season. What was your initial reaction when you got those first couple of scripts?
Gabrielle: As an actor, I was like, “Yes, I love this.” But at the same time, I thought, “Holy cow, I have a lot to bring,” which is both exciting and a little scary because the situation is so intense and daunting. Still, it’s thrilling. I’ve been waiting for this moment as an actor—to have the opportunity to showcase what I’ve been working on over the last decade, to bring that emotional depth to the character. Portraying what someone who has been through an abduction experiences is a huge responsibility. It’s an honor to be part of these stories and to help raise awareness that these situations are real, and we need to pay attention to what these people are going through.

PC: Beautifully said. Without giving any spoilers, this season we’ll see flashbacks of the innocence stolen from Lacey and what her life looked like after her kidnapping and return. Even though you’re not in those scenes, how do those flashbacks deepen your understanding of the character and influence how you approach her in Season 2?
Gabrielle: Immensely. Jasmine [Washington] is such a talented young actress. When you learn more about what your character has been through, it all becomes a thread woven into the present, even the things they’ve overcome. Those experiences run deep, and that underlying chord is always there. As an actor, you can find moments in the writing where that chord is present and infuse it into your performance. It affects how your character talks to others, relates to situations—in our case, the different cases and people—even if it’s not explicitly written. So, it’s helped me develop Lacey even further. We don’t always get to explore the childhood aspects, so seeing that was a blessing. As the story unfolds, you learn more and add to what you’ve already built. Having that insight into her childhood is a real gift. It made me realize, “Wow, Lacey has endured so much.” It’s far more visceral when you can see and feel that on screen.

To keep up with Gabrielle, follow her on Instagram. Season 2 of Found premieres on October 3rd. Stream it the next day on Peacock.

Photo Credit: Kwaku Alston/NBC