Onscreen, she’s the ever-compassionate nurse Ashley Morgan, but offscreen, Beyond the Gates actress Jen Jacobs just experienced something that belongs in a daytime drama of its own. A routine errand turned into an emotional, full-circle moment that has fans, castmates, and even retail staff buzzing. And trust us, it’s one of those stories that reminds you how far a little grit and a lot of dreams can take you.
From Retail Floors to Red Carpets
Before she landed a contract role on CBS’s first new daytime soap in decades, Jacobs spent ten years hustling in New York City—acting by night, working for Anthropologie by day. She wasn’t just a part-timer; she helped open the first BHLDN store, commuted into Philly for a corporate role, and even modeled for the brand.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Jacobs recalled how the company supported her when acting gigs called. “They gave me the chance to keep going after my dreams,” she wrote. Whether she was folding sweaters, running the cash wrap, or praying for last-minute shift changes to make an audition, she always kept one eye on the prize.
Beyond the Gates: The Moment That Stopped Her in Her Tracks
During a quick visit to the Atlanta Anthropologie store, just in between errands, nothing fancy, a stylist recognized her as Nurse Ashley. According to Jacobs, the stylist announced over the internal walkie system that “Ashley Morgan was in the store.” Cue excited shrieks from staff in the back.
The moment hit hard, and Jen poured her feelings into a moving caption, saying she wished little Jen, the one who stressed over lines while ringing up customers, could see what was coming. “It was such a full-circle moment,” she wrote. Fans also flooded the comments with love. Jacobs is one of over thirty contracted actors on Beyond the Gates, a show that’s rewriting soap opera history.
So next time you see Nurse Ashley saving lives on screen, remember the woman behind the role once saved up shifts and modeled housewares to make her dream happen. And that dream? It’s looking pretty fabulous. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more heartwarming cast stories and all your juicy daytime drama spoilers of Beyond the Gates!