Ana Gatchell

Ana was born and raised in the Mid West where it gets freaking cold in the winter and sticky muggy in the summer. However, once graduated from college she ventured to California in what started out as a three week vacation, and just never went home. This was definitely the start of a new chapter in her life living in the scrumptious perpetual heat and sunshine of California, the one place on earth she never imagined she would be. Those two words, however, heat and sunshine are music to her ears, and salve to her bones. Sports has been a love of Ana's from the very get-go. Essentially 'born with a baseball glove in her hand' as she puts it, sports was a way of life from the moment she took her first step. Grade school through college and beyond she played competitive sports; everything from volleyball, basketball, and softball, to outrigger canoeing (which included racing from Long Beach to Catalina Island), kayaking & sculling, and believe it or not competitive indoor rowing via Ergometer racing. Indoor rowing did her well as she took first place in the World Championships held in Boston shortly after being introduced to the sport, which was brought about after having gotten "the call to go in the direction of the Olympics". Much to her surprise, moments after her victory in Boston, in the light weight category, she was informed of having qualified to race in the heavy weight category as well. That was more than she bargained for.... '"What a trip! Sooooo much to say.... an awesome experience indeed!" As a child, Ana has had the privilege of domestic traveling on a regular basis with her family. Later as an adult she had the blessing of cycling across the US in 30 days, traveling to Hong Kong, China, Grenada, and Russia all for ministry sake. Logic said that because she had no money these trips were inconceivable; impossible. However, without ever asking for a dime from anyone, provision was somehow always made in nothing short of miraculous ways. Sometime wayyyyy beyond her college years, like at the ripe ole age of 40, Ana ventured back to school to learn how to dance Hip Hop. Ana's journey into the film industry began in 1999 as a boom operator. And though she thoroughly enjoyed booming, every time while working onset the desire and drive to act intensified. Years down the road while at an actors event, she heard a voice in her head and heart saying, "This is it, Ana, it's time to put the pedal to the medal and get rolling!" That was her green light that began her journey into and embracing the art of acting.