‘We have renewed our vows twice’: Chrishell Stause on finding love with G Flip

This story is part of the November 17 edition of Sunday Life.See all 14 stories.

Neighbours is about to get a new resident: American TV star Chrishell Stause. The glamorous actor is joining the reboot of the enduring Aussie soap, portraying a lighting designer with a mission. At 43, Stause, who is married to Australian singer G Flip (recently the face of Melbourne Fashion Week) has had a diverse career. After earning her California real estate agent’s licence in 2016, following an unexpected exit from Days of Our Lives, she found success in the Netflix series Selling Sunset, now in its eighth season. But it’s a return to the world of soap operas that she’s been longing for most.

How much did you know about Neighbours before saying yes to a role on the show?
The first person I asked about it was G Flip. Being an Aussie, they grew up watching the show, so they filled me in on what the show was about. I also asked my British friends who knew the show well. I had met Kylie Minogue through G before, but didn’t know I had this role in the series – otherwise I would have asked her, too! I have watched some highlight episodes from over the years. I know how key the show is in the fabric of many people’s lives. I am excited to be on it.

Tell us about your character.
I play Yasmine, an American businesswoman. Thankfully, I don’t have to change accents because I wouldn’t be very good at the Aussie one. I have been with an Aussie for a while now, but the accent hasn’t rubbed off on me. Yas is very intelligent: she’s a lighting designer who brings an exciting light show to Erinsborough. But, of course, it begs the bigger question: why has she turned up in the first place? Oh, and she might get distracted with some love along the way.

How does appearing in Days of Our Lives compare with being on the set of Neighbours?
It’s hard not to compare the sets when you’re working. There are some similarities and some differences, but I will say that Neighbours shoots slower than American daytime television and that’s really nice. It follows a more prime-time format and there’s a chance to shoot different angles and get different coverage. That pace was nice to experience. I also loved becoming a family with the people on set. You end up spending so much time with them that it does become its own community. Everyone was so sweet on Neighbours. That’s the aspect of soapies I have missed: feeling connected to the other actors.

Rachel Gilbert dress. Nine West shoes.Credit: GK Photography

Would you consider relocating to Australia for good?
G has such an amazing family network here, and we love Australia. Moving back isn’t something we’d entertain right away because we’re working so much, but there will come a time when we want to settle down and live a quieter life. I think this is where we will end up, but who knows.

You and G Flip recently renewed your vows. What do you love about being married?
We have renewed our vows twice already, yet have never done anything in Australia with all of G’s family, so it was important to have a party with everyone to celebrate our love and our vows. It also happened to be my birthday, so we did it all on the same day. Finding my happiness, setting personal boundaries and being more confident in myself comes from acknowledging what makes me happy. For me, that was finding G. A great partner helps to keep you standing a little taller when you can’t stand up for yourself, and there’s no sense of fear when you find what makes you happy. We are doing what makes us happy.

Have you leaned into a sense of confidence in your 40s that you didn’t think possible earlier in life?
I don’t really care about what others think of me any more. The confidence I have in myself and living out loud and not being scared of the criticism comes with getting wiser. At the end of the day, there is always criticism, there is always someone with an opinion who tries to throw you off, but it’s about not taking too much notice of that. You might as well have a strong conviction in what you do and do it well, because people will criticise every move you make; the key is to just not take notice of it. It’s pretty freeing when you realise that it doesn’t bother you any more. G really brings that confidence out in me. I am in the happiest phase of my life.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up was hard for my family. I was homeless multiple times, and selling multimillion-dollar houses now is not something I take for granted. I grew up wanting to be on a soap TV show as a child. I watched soaps with my grandmother and mom; the women I saw on TV were the most glamorous women I had ever seen, and I was living the complete opposite life to what I saw. I would dream of being one of those girls. My parents [both of whom died from lung cancer, her father in 2019 and her mother in 2020] were my biggest supporters. Where I grew up in the States, everybody laughed when I told them what I wanted to do: to act and study theatre. They made fun of me. My parents always believed in my passion.

Van der Kooij dress. Xanthe Ficarra necklace.Credit: GK Photography

You lost your parents when you were in your 30s. How do you handle life when it gets tough?
It’s an ongoing battle, to be honest. As soon as you think you have something figured out in life, something else comes along to make you reassess things. I don’t think you ever get to a place in life where you ever stop re-evaluating. I do all the things I can, like trying to take time for myself when I know I am working a lot. Sometimes self-care requires doing nothing and just staying home and saying no to things. Even though the opportunities are amazing, and I am very grateful, if you’re not able to show up mentally, then you may as well not show up. Staying on top of my mental health is all about connecting with my family and friends; honestly, that is my number one way to self-care. I love being at home with my dog, having friends over at our house in LA and enjoying the simple things.

What made you decide to become a real estate broker?
My time at Days of Our Lives got cut short, so I needed a back-up plan. I turned to real estate as a career pivot and to make ends meet at first. Being a real estate broker also allowed me to continue doing auditions when I had to. It led to a new TV role. You just never know in life!

How has your style evolved since appearing on Selling Sunset?
I won’t lie, when you’re having more fun, style becomes a great way to express yourself. Getting older and finding success has made it easier for me to want to express myself with my clothes – I don’t care if the hemline gets shorter. Finding confidence in who I am is a thrill, and having fun with it is, too. This isn’t something I really thought about until I started doing Sunset. Now, the outfits have become a thing – and personally, I think it’s a fun element to enjoy later in my life.

Viceta Wang jacket and skirt.Credit: GK Photography

Tell us about a lavish purchase you don’t regret.
I have a pair of black Givenchy knee-high sparkly boots I love wearing. They were a splurge purchase, but they bring me so much joy. When people see me it’s the first thing they comment on. They feel like princess boots and go with everything. They were way too much money, and they’re a reminder that you can’t take it with you. I work really hard and got them as a gift to myself. I love wearing them all the time.

What has your success on Selling Sunset brought to your life?
I never dreamed a real estate licence would turn into a television show, for starters. The show becoming a success was a huge boost for my confidence. It taught me that whatever happens from here, I have got this. I know how to turn things around. You know what it’s like to be rejected and you pivot. Sometimes you win, other times you lose. Sometimes you realise things about yourself late in life. G and I were introduced through [Australian musician] Tones and I, and when I came out by dating G [in 2022], this was something people didn’t expect of me [Stause was married to actor Justin Hartley from 2017 to 2021]. I’ve learnt to always be open to life and the ups and downs that come with it. I am a poster child for being open to things.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t be afraid to be your own champion. As a younger actress, I had the attitude that I was happy to be there in the room. As a result, you end up getting taken advantage of a lot, especially in work situations because you’re afraid to fight for yourself and you don’t want to seem ungrateful. I get excited by the younger generation when they assert themselves; it wasn’t common when I was coming up. When you get older, you want quality over quantity. If you can learn that lesson when you’re younger, then that’s great. You’ll be a step ahead.

Neighbours airs Monday to Thursday on 10, 10 Play and 10 Peach. Chrishell Stause will join the cast from November 28.

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