Daytime Emmy-winning actress Sarah Michelle Gellar (ex-Kendall Hart, All My Children) went from slaying soap fans with her killer acting chops to winning over mainstream audiences with her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And now the actress-turned-entrepreneur is trying her hand in the food world via her new culinary lifestyle brand, Foodstirs.
Gellar started the company, which offers convenient, healthy ways to bring families together in the kitchen, with Galit Laibow and Gia Russo in late 2015. And believe it or not, she reveals that being a celebrity actually made it harder for her in the start-up world, despite her passion and tenacity.
"I have always been driven to step outside my comfort zone. As I watched the world of social media grow and explode, I realized that I had this great platform to explore. I have always believed that true creativity knows no boundaries, and while maybe acting was what I was known for, it didn't mean that I wasn't capable of much more. But while people may have thought my celebrity would make it easy, it was actually quite the opposite," she told Forbes. "Sure, getting in the door may have been easy as people wanted to see the novelty of ‘Buffy baking,' but it certainly didn't help me get taken seriously. This is a huge category and I know we are on to something great, it just requires a bit of perseverance. Also already being famous, I am under a microscope, which makes the process of trial and error a bit more daunting."
However, Gellar isn't the type of person to let others' opinions hold her back from going after what she wants. And she uses her brief experience in daytime from 1993 to 1995 as an example. "When I was on All My Children and wanted to leave to go to Los Angeles, most people told me not to. That I had a good job and I should stay, as I would probably not find a better job," she recalls. "Then let's not forget that Buffy was a mid-season replacement show on an [at the time] fledgling network based on a failed movie. I would consider getting people to change their minds about that show a definite challenge. I could go on and on but ultimately I love a challenge and feel I do my best work when faced with them."
She continues: "As for Foodstirs, every day is a challenge. This is a total new world I am learning daily, both digitally and at retail. At times I feel like I am learning to speak an entirely new language, but I believe with all my heart in what we are doing and what I know we can accomplish."
As for advice she might give to other start-up hopefuls, she refers back to her attitude about leaving AMC. "I am not big on doling out advice, as everyone's situation is different, but if there is one thing I have learned, it is that you have to truly believe in yourself if you want other people to believe in you."
For more about Gellar's culinary lifestyle brand, Foodstirs, check out the company's official website.
What do you think of Gellar's new career direction? What are your thoughts on how being a celebrity can both help and hinder entrepreneurship? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
