Ten years ago, Kelly Stables packed up her Ford and with a big dream and a lot of ambition, headed to LA to pursue acting.  Shortly after arriving, she was cast in her first role:  As ape number 437 in Planet of the Apes.  She was an extra, but she was an extra in a movie and it was a small step forward.  In the decade that followed, Kelly has worked extensively in theatre, movies and television and is slowly but surely proving that she has the staying power needed to see great success in Hollywood.

Making connections along the way, Kelly received her first big break when she was cast as the Evil Samara in The Ring and The Ring 2.  Many other projects followed including, most recently, her guest role as Jon Cryer’s girlfriend, Melissa, on Two and a Half Men.  Her hilarious turn on television’s most watched comedy opened up the door for a regular role on the new comedy Romantically Challenged, starring Alyssa Milano. 

Kelly was kind of enough to spend a little time talking with me about how she made the journey from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

STL Family Life: How did a girl from St. Louis end up an actress in LA? 

Kelly Stables: It’s been quite the journey!  I graduated from Lafayette High School (’96) where they had a great theater program and that’s really where I got started.  That’s where I developed a deep love and passion for acting.  I then went on to Mizzou where I majored in communications and theatre and as my time there came to a close I decided I should really give this acting thing a try and see if I could make it work.  I graduated early and  packed up my car and headed out to LA.  I met [make up artist] Rick Baker early on and he is the one who helped me get the role in The Ring and The Ring 2.   From there it was just a matter of working hard and really networking and meeting the right people.

STLFL: Was there ever a moment that you questioned your decision to move to LA? 

KS: There have obviously been some ups and downs emotionally, especially when it came to my confidence in my abilities.  Most of my job is auditioning so it can be tough.  If person after person doesn’t want me, it can start to feel personal, you know?  I start to wonder if I should even be here.  But I’ve never really been a quitter and I have had great people surrounding me, always encouraging me to keep at it and not let the rejection get me down.  I also have to remember that there are literally hundreds of people up for one part so when I get rejected, they aren’t rejecting me personally.  When I was working with Jon Cryer on Two and a Half Men, he gave me great advice.  He told me, “Don’t take anything personally.”  It really encouraged me to hear that from someone like him who is so established in this field.

STLFL: What has been the biggest challenge as you’ve pursued your dream? 

KS: Probably just dealing with rejection and confidence issues.  It’s such a competitive industry so I try not to let disappointment and rejection hurt.  I constantly have to remind myself that at the end of the day and, ultimately, at the end of my life, I probably won’t remember that one job I didn’t get.  It helps to keep that perspective.

STLFL: What has been the biggest blessing? 

KS: Work-wise, Two and a Half Men  was a huge blessing.  It opened up a lot of doors and I learned so much working on that show.  I got to do comedy, which I love and is just so fun and I got to meet some amazing people.  Big picture, though, I’d say the biggest blessing has been the encouragement I’ve received from friends and family who have supported me and cheered me on.  It’s really shown me how blessed I am in life.

STLFL: Are you still involved in theatre or are you concentrating on TV and film these days? 

KS: I’ve always been involved in theater all along the way.  Theatre is to the actor what ballet is to the dancer.  It’s expression and art in real life and you always have to be prepared because anything can happen.  It’s so fun and energizing so I will always stay involved in the theatre.

STLFL: What was it like working on the set of Two and a Half Men? 

KS: Really, really fun.  They are such a fun, loving cast.  They’re very professional and focused, but at the same time, they have a blast.  It’s the most watched comedy on television so I had to work really hard not to get distracted by my insecurities or fears and really focus and give it my all on the show.  And everyone was so encouraging and supportive.  I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

STLFL: Tell me a little about Romantically Challenged? 

KS: Romantically Challenged is a new comedy premiering on ABC on Monday, April  19^th at 9:30/8:30 central after Dancing With the Stars.  It’s really about a group of friends who love each other and are navigating their way through love and life.  They help each other out and give each other advice.  It’s a great show.  I play Alyssa Milano’s younger sister who is a kindergarten teacher, which is so fun because if I wasn’t an actress, I would love to work with kids.  It’s really a funny show and we have so much fun on set.  We’re laughing a lot and just having a blast on set.  I really hope America enjoys it and we have a chance to keep doing this for a long time.

STLFL: What’s it like working with Alyssa Milano? 

KS: She is just so cool.  She really took me under her wing and has become such a big sister figure for me.  She’s taught me a lot, including the ins and outs of Twitter!  She is just this beautiful, successful woman but she’s also a real family girl, which I can really identify with.  It’s so wonderful to work with someone who shares my same values.

STLFL: In your wildest dreams, when you left for LA way back when, did you ever imagine you would be working with one of the icons of television like Alyssa Milano? 

KS: Oh this is such a dream come true for me.  Of course, I always imagined and hoped that I could someday be on a sitcom, but to actually be here is just amazing.  Working on a show like this where we tape with a live audience is so fun.  It’s a lot like the theatre with the audience responding and laughing.  This is just everything I had hoped for and it’s really much more what I had in mind rather than dressing up in a monkey suit. (laughs) 

STLFL: Is there anything about the Midwest that you miss living on the West Coast? 

KS: Everything!  I love LA, but I do miss the people of St. Louis.  I miss knowing my neighbors, and knowing their kids and their dogs and the real sense of family and community.  St. Louis is just who I am and I miss it a lot.

STLFL: When you come back to St. Louis is there any place you just have to visit in order to feel like the trip was complete? 

KS: Steak and Shake and Silky’s. (laughs) Those are the two places that I always find myself craving and a trip home just isn’t complete without them.

To find out more about Kelly, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter.  To see tonight’s episode of Romantically Challenged, tune in to ABC tonight at 9:30/8:30C.