Xmag Teen

Kijsa Gifford: Embracing Diversity in Roles and Honoring Family Legacy

[as originally published on xmagteen.com]

Meet Kijsa Gifford: A dynamic actress with an athletic foundation, Hollywood heritage, and a commitment to diverse roles in entertainment.

Kijsa Gifford, an actress with a diverse background in gymnastics, volleyball, lacrosse, and collegiate pole vaulting, shares insights into her career and the influences that have shaped her journey. Her family connection to Marilyn Monroe and her production company, Norma Jean Entertainment, add a unique touch to her story.

Athletics and Acting: A Symbiotic Relationship

Gifford’s extensive training in gymnastics, volleyball, lacrosse, and collegiate pole vaulting has instilled in her a profound sense of time management and discipline. Drawing parallels between sports and acting, she passionately declares, “As an athlete, you learn time management from a young age because of the amount of training involved. Acting is very similar to sports. You get a ton thrown at you, and you have to organize it, prioritize it, and stay on top of it.”

A Hollywood Legacy: Marilyn Monroe’s Influence

The revelation of Gifford’s familial connection to Marilyn Monroe adds an intriguing layer to her story. Marilyn’s biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford, links the two women through a shared ancestry. Gifford pays homage to this connection by naming her production company Norma Jean Entertainment, reflecting her admiration for Marilyn’s talent and their family ties. With a sense of pride, she states, “I named my company after her as my ode to her amazing talent and our family connection, recently confirmed by DNA.” … READ MORE