Home » Film & TV » Red Carpet Reviews » Gina Philips Leaves "Boston" Behind in "Jeepers Creepers"

Gina Philips Leaves "Boston" Behind in "Jeepers Creepers"

© Heather Wadowski

David E. Kelley sweetheart Gina Philips (“Boston Public,” “Ally McBeal”) has just returned from filming her newest film, “Anarchist.” Her dogs are barking happily at the sight of their owner, who they missed while she was away on shoot. Although she has only been home for a few days, Philips already finds herself busy promoting “Jeepers Creepers,” American Zoetrope’s summer horror movie that she is starring in. Philips, however, doesn’t mind.

Philips dropped out of the University of Pennsylvania only three credits short of graduating (much to her parents dismay) in order to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Although she claims she had every intention of going back to school to finish her dual degree in communications and marketing, Philips soon found herself unable to turn down the numerous opportunities that were at her feet. While at first she worked on completing her credits by taking classes in UCLA’s extension program, Philips gave up on her degrees with only one credit to go and says she doesn’t regret her decision at all.

“I got my education,” Philips said. “I don’t need a certificate validating that. If a class comes along that I am interested in taking and will fulfill my graduation requirements, I will take it. But my degrees were simply an aside to what I always wanted to do—act.”

Philips, who is a native of Miami, Florida, grew up with the belief that acting was simply something people did as a hobby. Although she attended a performing arts school as a child and always found herself cast in plays, Philips never once thought that she could make a career out of acting. Now, this rising star has found herself cast in numerous guest starring TV roles, from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nice” to her most recent role on FOX’s “Boston Public.” However, her own biases almost kept her from landing her breakthrough role in “Ally McBeal.”

“I was sent over a script for a small part in “Ally McBeal” but I didn’t want to go in for the audition,” Philips remembered. “The role was looking for this bombshell type and I am this puny, 5-foot-3-inches tall girl. The guy directing that episode called me up though and told me how stupid I was being and to get over there and audition. It took him three calls before I finally met with David (Kelley) and the next thing I knew I got the part.”