After years of hard work and keeping the faith, a local church leader’s daughter has appeared on a new hit TV show.
Actress Briana Watson, 32, recently played the role of a casino manager for two episodes of the CBS soap opera “Beyond the Gates,” a daytime drama series launched earlier this year on CBS — with the possibility of more appearances to come.
“I am very grateful,” said Watson, the daughter of Anthony Watson, the pastor of The First Baptist Church of Taylor, 300 N. Robinson St. in Taylor. “People say, ‘It’s a onein- a-million shot.’ And I say, ‘I am the one.’ I have always believed that, but I also knew it was going to come with a heavy price in that you are going to have to work really, really hard.”
Her father, who has led the church since 1998, said it has been gratifying for him and his wife, Michelle Watson, to see God’s work come to fruition in their daughter’s life.
The couple lives in Elgin. “We are very proud of her and her persistence,” he said. “Her opportunities are coming. She has refused to compromise herself and her beliefs. She was willing to wait and put her trust in God that the right opportunity would come, and it’s starting to come.”
The pastor added, “She takes acting classes even now, and she is very serious about the art of acting. She has an acting coach and participates in numerous workshops.”
His daughter got her start performing at the church, which she began attending at age 5, with speeches, praise dancing and more. She even landed a lead role in Austin’s Zach Scott Theater’s production of “Sweet Charity” at age 16, her mom, Michelle Watson, said.
“She has had that interest in performing her entire life,” the mom said. “When Briana was growing up, she was always playing pretend or acting out things, whether it was commercials or television shows.”
Since that time, Briana Watson has landed roles in commercials, movies and television shows, including “Monarch,” starring Susan Sarandon.
“She is very persistent about her craft and about opportunities,” Michelle Watson said. “She will enjoy the moment that she gets the booking, and then she is like, ‘OK, onto the next opportunity.’ She pushes herself pretty hard.”
Still, Briana Watson, who lives in Atlanta with her husband, Cedric Showles Jr., and their son, Levi, said “Beyond the Gates” is a historic opportunity.
“It is the first new soap opera in 30 years, and it also is the first predominantly Black soap opera,” she said. “I am just really grateful for what God has done, but I truly believe this is just the beginning.”
Watson said she is gratified by all the prayers and support she has received from the Taylor and Elgin communities, and she has advice for other young people looking to fulfill their dreams.
“I would say, ‘Keep going,’” she said. “When God puts something in your heart, it’s meant to come to fruition. So don’t take that lightly.”
“Beyond the Gates” is set in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., and relates the story of the Duprees, an affluent African American family living in a gated community.
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People say it’s a one-in-a-million shot, and I say, ‘I am the one.’”
— Briana Watson, actress
