We chat with Angela Fairley, the breakout star of CBS' Beyond The Gates

Reel Perspectives

April 23, 2026

In our exclusive interview with Angela Fairley, who portrays Deanna McBride on CBS' Beyond the Gates, we speak with the rising quickly gaining recognition in daytime television.

Fairley shares her excitement about her character's intensity, discusses Deanna's motivations, and reacts to the news that Beyond the Gates has been renewed for two more years. From the pressure she sometimes feels to what it's like being on the groundbreaking soap, Fairley provides an exclusive preview of what fans can expect from the feisty newcomer who has been generating a lot of buzz among viewers.

On Beyond The Gates, Angela Fairley has quickly emerged as one of daytime television's most compelling new talents. She made her debut as Deanna McBride on March 11, 2026, bringing a striking blend of vulnerability and strength that has resonated with audiences from the moment she stepped on screen, balancing heart and resilience in a way that feels both authentic and magnetic.

The emotional groundwork was already laid for Fairley's triumphant role as the daughter of Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli) and the late Doug McBride (Jason Graham), whose death was secretly orchestrated by her mother's lover, Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom), with whom she had been having an affair while married to Doug. Vanessa has been lying to Deanna and her twin brother, Donnell (Alex Cheeks), about her relationship with Joey, as fans eagerly awaited Deanna's reaction.

 It didn't take long for Deanna McBride to make an impression, and a lot of that is attributed to Fairley, whose previous work spans theatre, television, and film, showcasing Deanna's fierce loyalty to her family. From the moment Deanna confronted her mother, fans knew this was not a character who would sit quietly on the sidelines.

Viewers have embraced Deanna as their "little spitfire," drawn to her fearless nature and the emotional complexity inherent in her confrontations. As the character uncovers Vanessa's deceit, her reactions promise to shift the dynamics of the McBride family.

Deanna is quick to challenge both Vanessa and Joey, but it's rooted in something deeper: a fierce sense of family and a refusal to let things slide when they don't sit right with her. Fairley plays that balance beautifully. There's bite in her delivery, but there's also vulnerability just beneath the surface. You can see that every outburst comes from a place of love, even when it lands like a punch. That layered performance is what keeps audiences not just entertained, but emotionally invested.

With anticipation building around Deanna's unfolding storyline, fans are eager to see how she will navigate the fallout of her mother’s lies. Will she serve as the emotional glue for her family or will the revelations drive her to disrupt their already fragile order? Fairley has already proven she can bring heart and grit to the role, so the anticipation is less about if she'll deliver and more about how far the writers will let her go.

Watch our interview here:

There's a real sense that her perspective could reframe everything we've seen, and we could be looking at a breakout storyline that cements Deanna as a central force on the series.

Deanna's fire feels like a shot of adrenaline. She's unpredictable, outspoken, and unafraid to disrupt the status quo - and viewers are clearly loving every second of it.

In a genre known for producing bigger than life moments and characters, Fairley is already proving she belongs in that conversation. As she continues to redefine the role of a younger lead in daytime television, all eyes are on Deanna McBride and the impact she will undoubtedly have on the series as she represents a new generation of daytime performers - fearless, intelligent, and capable of shaking up the status quo.

Fairley isn't just a breakout star, she's the one to watch as she helps redefine what it means to be a younger lead in daytime television.

Beyond The Gates airs weekdays at 2 pm EST on CBS, with full episodes available to stream on Paramount+ and the CBS app.