Shannon Gisela Explains How She Went from Pursuing Psychology Career to Landing the Lead Role in “M.I.A. ”(Exclusive)

May 16, 2026 - 00:18

Shannon Gisela never planned to be an actress. In fact, she was fully committed to a career in psychology before a series of unexpected events led her to the lead role in the crime drama "M.I.A." In an exclusive interview, Gisela explained how her academic background actually helped her prepare for the emotionally demanding part.

Gisela plays Etta Tiger Jonze, a complex character navigating a world of crime and survival. It is her first major television role, and she admitted the transition from studying human behavior to portraying it on screen felt surprisingly natural. "Understanding why people do what they do was my entire focus in school," she said. "When I got this script, I realized I was already trained to dig into the character's motivations."

The actress described the casting process as intense, noting that she had to prove she could handle the physical and emotional weight of the role. She credited her psychology training with helping her stay grounded during long shoots. "There were days when the material was heavy, and I had to separate myself from Etta," she explained. "My background gave me tools to compartmentalize without losing the performance."

Now that the show is out, Gisela hopes viewers connect with the story's raw honesty. She acknowledged the leap from academia to acting was risky, but she has no regrets. "I thought I had my life mapped out," she said. "But sometimes the best thing you can do is let go of the plan and see where the story takes you."