Introduction
Grace Phipps, now professionally known as Gracie Gillam, built her career as one of Disney Channel’s most recognizable young stars before expanding into darker, more mature roles. From singing and dancing in Teen Beach Movie to starring in Syfy’s Z Nation, she has shown consistent range across genres.
This article explores her career, music, and personal life, including her marriage to actor Nat Zang.
Who Is Grace Phipps?
Grace Victoria Phipps, professionally known as Gracie Gillam, is an American actress, singer, and dancer born on May 4, 1992, in Austin, Texas. She is best known for playing Lela in Disney’s Teen Beach Movie and its sequel, Teen Beach 2, as well as April Young on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries.
In recent years, she has performed under the name Gracie Gillam, expanding her career into more mature film and television roles.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Grace Victoria Phipps |
| Professional Name | Gracie Gillam |
| Date of Birth | May 4, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Profession | Actress, Singer, Dancer |
| Known For | Teen Beach Movie, Teen Beach 2, The Vampire Diaries, Z Nation |
| Education | Robert E. Lee High School’s North East School of the Arts; Columbia University |
| Spouse | Nat Zang (married 2023) |
Early Life and Education
Grace Phipps was born in Austin, Texas, to parents Kate and Gil Phipps. She has a younger brother named Liam. Her family later moved to Boerne and then San Antonio, Texas, where she grew up.
She attended Robert E. Lee High School’s North East School of the Arts, majoring in musical theatre and graduating summa cum laude in 2010. During her time there, she performed in stage productions including Grease, in which she played Rizzo, a performance that caught the attention of a Los Angeles talent agent. She later furthered her education at Columbia University, studying Film and Art History.
She also won the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition in 2010, which helped support her transition into a professional acting career.
Grace Phipps’ Acting Career
Early Breakthrough Roles
After graduating high school in 2010, Phipps moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full time. Within just a week of arriving, she landed the role of Bee in DreamWorks’ 2011 remake of the horror film Fright Night.
That same year, she took on the regular role of Amy in the ABC Family series The Nine Lives of Chloe King, although the show was cancelled after one season.
The Vampire Diaries
From 2012 to 2013, Phipps appeared as April Young, a recurring character on The CW’s supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries. She featured in ten episodes of the show’s fourth season, working alongside cast members including Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, and Nina Dobrev.
Teen Beach Movie and Teen Beach 2
Grace Phipps found her biggest breakout role playing Lela, a spirited biker girl inspired by 1960s beach party films, in Disney’s Teen Beach Movie (2013). The film drew an audience of 13.5 million viewers, making it the second-highest rated cable movie in television history at the time.
She reprised the role in the sequel, Teen Beach 2 (2015), which went on to become the most-watched cable movie of that year.
Music Career
Phipps’ musical talent played a major role in the success of the Teen Beach franchise. Her featured solos include:
- “Falling for Ya”
- “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’,” which reached number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100
- “Gotta Be Me,” which earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination in 2015
Other Television and Film Roles
Beyond the Teen Beach franchise, Phipps built a diverse filmography, including:
- Megan in the ABC sitcom Baby Daddy (2013)
- Hael in the fantasy horror series Supernatural
- Brandy Braxton in Disney’s Austin & Ally (2014)
- Mona Wilson in the horror film Dark Summer (2015)
- Kaitlin in the horror film Some Kind of Hate (2015)
- Alice in the horror anthology Tales of Halloween (2015)
- The young version of Mandy Greenwell in Fox’s Scream Queens (2015)
Career Timeline Table
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Film debut in Fright Night |
| 2012–2013 | Recurring role in The Vampire Diaries |
| 2013 | Stars as Lela in Teen Beach Movie |
| 2015 | Reprises Lela in Teen Beach 2 |
| 2015 | Appears in horror films Dark Summer and Some Kind of Hate |
| 2017–2018 | Stars as Sgt. Lilly in Z Nation |
| 2021 | Appears in Superhost |
| 2023 | Appears in Murder at the Murder Mystery Party |
Transition to Gracie Gillam
In more recent years, Grace Phipps has performed professionally under the name Gracie Gillam. Under this name, she starred as Sergeant Lilly in the Syfy series Z Nation from 2017 to 2018, a role that allowed her to explore a more mature, action-driven character.
She has continued building her career with additional film roles, including Superhost (2021) and Murder at the Murder Mystery Party (2023), showing her range beyond her earlier Disney Channel image.
Personal Life
Grace Phipps has been in a relationship with actor Nat Zang since November 2017. The two met on the set of Z Nation, where Zang played the role of 10K. The couple announced their engagement in January 2022 and married in a ceremony held in Arizona in May 2023.
Phipps enjoys knitting, reading, playing guitar, and writing songs in her free time. She is also known for owning a golden doodle named Hildy.
Why Grace Phipps Remains a Fan Favorite
Several factors help explain her lasting popularity:
- A defining Disney Channel legacy, through her role as Lela in the Teen Beach films
- A genuine musical talent, contributing to hit soundtrack songs
- Career versatility, moving from teen musicals to horror and action roles
- A successful transition into more mature work under the name Gracie Gillam
FAQs About Grace Phipps
1. How old is Grace Phipps? Grace Phipps was born on May 4, 1992, making her 34 years old as of 2026.
2. Why does Grace Phipps go by Gracie Gillam? She began using the professional name Gracie Gillam in recent years as her career expanded into more mature roles beyond her Disney Channel image.
3. What is Grace Phipps best known for? She is best known for playing Lela in Disney’s Teen Beach Movie and Teen Beach 2, as well as April Young on The Vampire Diaries.
4. Is Grace Phipps married? Yes, she married actor Nat Zang in May 2023, after the couple began dating in 2017.
5. Did Grace Phipps sing in Teen Beach Movie? Yes, she performed several solos in the film, including “Falling for Ya” and “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’,” which charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Conclusion
Grace Phipps has built a career defined by versatility, moving from beloved Disney Channel musicals to darker, more complex roles under the name Gracie Gillam. Her combination of acting and musical talent has kept her relevant across more than a decade in the entertainment industry.
As she continues to take on new projects, Grace Phipps remains a name fans of teen musicals and genre television alike continue to follow.
