Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Goss.
Hi Jamie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised primarily in Cobb County. I love coffee, animals, and classic black-and-white films, and I’m often described as having an “old soul.”
By day, I work as the Young Lawyers Division Coordinator at the State Bar of Georgia. Outside of work, I wear many hats—actor, acting coach, pet sitter, and playwright—collaborating with theatres throughout Metro Atlanta. I live with my boyfriend and his cat.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has taken many turns, and I’ve grown and learned a great deal along the way. Even when parts of my past look painful—or even ugly—now, I can honestly say I don’t regret many of my decisions. Each one played a role in making the life I have today possible.
I’ve struggled with mental health issues for as long as I can remember. At twelve, I developed an eating disorder, and by high school I had turned to several other self-destructive behaviors as ways of coping with life on life’s terms. Before the age of twenty-one, I survived five suicide attempts and multiple stays in rehabilitation. I never imagined I would live to be thirty-seven.
Therapy, sobriety, and time have brought profound healing. I never finished college because I chose to prioritize my mental health. At times, I still wrestle with guilt over that decision, but I know deep down that this path—though different from the “norm”—was the one I was meant to take.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am one of many actors working in the Atlanta area, surrounded by an abundance of extraordinary talent. Each of us brings our own backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives to the work we create, which I believe makes this community especially vibrant.
My passion lies firmly in theatre. I don’t enjoy seeing myself on camera; instead, I’m drawn to the shared air, energy, and immediacy of live performance with an audience. In addition to performing, I coach fellow actors in character development, audition preparation, monologues, and accents.
Last year, I wrote my first play, The Women of Willow Creek. Set over the course of twenty-eight days in a rehabilitation facility, the play captures a powerful moment in time as it follows Harper and five other women navigating the highs and lows of recovery. Through their intertwined journeys, the story explores themes of suicide, eating disorders, self-harm, substance use, sexuality, smoking, PTSD, and the often transformative impact of therapy. At its core, the play is about strength, resilience, and the unexpected humor that can emerge even in the darkest places.
While inspired by elements of my own experiences, all characters and settings are entirely fictional. A staged reading and talkback are scheduled for Thursday, January 22, at OnStage Atlanta.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned to give myself grace. No one is perfect, no matter what their social media feeds look like. It isn’t fair to judge myself against what I perceive as someone else’s accomplishments.
I’ve also had to let go of the “shoulds”—should be married, should have finished college, should be more successful. I try to hold onto the belief that I am exactly where I’m meant to be at any given moment and trust that things will work out in the end. Sometimes that simply means reminding myself—more than once—to pause and take a breath.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gossmjamie.wixsite.com/jamiegoss
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiemgoss/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamie.goss.5/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-m-goss/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/young-lawyers-division
- Other: https://linktr.ee/jamiegoss
