Gabrielle Bourne on Her Role in Air and Favorite Moments With Jason Bateman and Matt Damon

Whether you're a sports fanatic, sneakerhead or simply someone who loves compelling underdog movies based on a true story, Air is a must-see.

The new film, directed by and starring Ben Affleck, tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon), who saved the struggling Nike brand when he signed up-and-coming basketball player Michael Jordan to his very first shoe deal. It's a fascinating true story, and we cannot believe we didn't know it before the movie brought it to light.

In Air, actress, writer and producer Gabrielle Bourne plays the role of Tiffany, Sonny's "secretary" at Nike, giving her everything to help the company survive. Even in a star-studded cast of standouts, she shines in the role, and we had the pleasure of chatting with her to learn all about the film, what it was like to work with Matt Damon and Jason Bateman and about her other life as a successful DIYer and creator.

Sweety High: When did you discover your passion for acting? Was there any specific a-ha moment that made you realize it was the path for you?

Gabrielle Bourne: I took an acting class in school in fifth grade when I was living in London, and that's the moment that I remember first really developing a passion for it. I started taking a class outside of school every Saturday after that, and it kind of just became my thing. There were a lot of movies filming in London at the time, and my acting teacher happened to be an agent, so she started sending me out. It all happened pretty organically, and I was just so intrigued by this whole other world that I was learning about. It was so exciting and fulfilling to be creating and playing pretend and telling stories—I don't think I've even entertained the idea of a different path since then. Which is pretty wild when I think about it, considering I don't have any family in the business. My dad worked long hours in finance, and this career path was the complete opposite. I applied to only colleges with BFA acting programs, with zero backup plan, somehow getting into USC. Post graduation is when I realized that realistically, this could be a long journey, and if I really wanted to do this I needed to be okay with that. So I've spent a lot of time working towards building a full life that works alongside the long game of an acting career. I'm so grateful for that —it's kept me sane. I'm really excited to see where it takes me next.

(Photo credit: Tori Time)

 

SH: Before you read the script for Air, were you aware of the fascinating story behind Nike? What drew you to the script?

GB: I didn't know very much about this part of the story before reading the script! I think everyone knows about Michael Jordan and who he was for the sport, but there is so much in this story that hasn't been talked about before. After reading the script, I was sold immediately. Alex Convery did such a fantastic job putting all the pieces together to tell this story. Phil's story is obviously incredible in its own right, but learning about Sonny Vaccaro's behind-the-scenes role in the whole thing makes it all the more fascinating. Add to that the role that Michael Jordan's mother had in the deal, and it makes for a really special story. I realized after I read the script that we actually had Phil Knight's book Shoe Dog on our bookshelf. My husband Tri is a professional athlete, so naturally, our bookshelf is filled with sports books. He'd read it already and loved it. Sometimes as an actor, you have to work on projects that you wouldn't necessarily choose to, especially towards the beginning of your career, because at the end of the day, it's a job. It's always extra special when you get to work on something that you absolutely love and are so proud to be a part of.

 

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SH: Can you tell us about your character, Tiffany? How does your character fit into the narrative of the film?

GB: Tiffany is a secretary at the Nike office. They call her Sonny Vaccaro's secretary, but it's a bit of a joke. You'll see why when you watch the film—no spoilers here. Tiffany works in the bullpen, right outside Sonny's office, in the heat of it all. The company at the time was fighting for its life, and a huge part of the film's narrative is following the people behind Nike and the team dynamic. Tiffany represents this group of people who were putting everything they had into growing the brand into what we now know as one of the greatest athletic brands of our time, at the beginning of it all, before we knew what Nike would become. It was a huge leap of faith, not knowing how it would all pan out. She's tough, holds her own and also has a sarcastic edge.

(Photo credit: Tori Time)

 

SH: Do you see yourself in Tiffany at all? In what ways are you most similar and most different?

GB: I'm not quite as feisty as Tiffany, but it's in me somewhere and comes out if the right buttons are pressed. I've never had the experience of working a 9 to 5 behind a desk, so our work lives are very different. I was also born in a different decade, barely missing the '80s, so I never got to experience the style of that time. Tiffany's really put together. She puts effort into her appearance every day—full hair and makeup and always dressed well, which I cannot say the same for myself. 99% of the time, I'm wearing no makeup, with paint or drywall plaster in my hair (and on my clothes). So I had a lot of fun getting to play in a different world for this one.

 

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SH: The film truly has an all-star cast and crew, both in front of and behind the camera. What was your most memorable moment from the set?

GB: It's been a really pinch-me moment in my career, getting the opportunity to work with this group of people. Everything from the first day seeing my name on the call sheet next to Jason Bateman and Matt Damon, to sitting next to them in the hair and makeup trailer has felt like a dream. They are the best of the best, and you literally couldn't ask for better cast mates. My most memorable moment from set has to be right after we finished shooting my first scene with Jason. We were released from set while the camera crew was setting up the next shot, and Jason went out of his way to come up to me and compliment my work. He acknowledged how hard it is to come onto a set like this one with just a few lines and not overdo it, and that I showed a ton of discipline by settling in so quickly and just doing great work. That moment will stick with me, and I hope to be in a position one day to offer the same validation to another up-and-coming actor. This business is tough, and we put in a lot of unseen and unpaid hours to get to a point where we are working consistently, and it meant a lot to be acknowledged by one of the greats in that moment.

(Photo credit: Tori Time)

 

SH: What do you think is the most important thing you learned while filming the movie?

GB: It was really inspiring to see what a collaborative process the whole thing was. First of all, I've never worked on a more efficiently run set. There are so many pieces to the puzzle with a crew of this size, but everything was always so seamless. Everyone knew exactly what their job was and had such a great attitude. This is huge when it comes to filmmaking, and I loved seeing it up close and personal, especially as I begin to write and produce my own work. Also, I think a lot of actors feel this pressure to be interesting or do something different in their work, but at the core of it, what matters the most is that you are telling the truth. Watching these actors work just validated that notion for me. Even in person, without the bells and whistles of editing and sound effects and music, I was fully invested watching them work. There's not much more to it than that.

 

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SH: What about this film excites you the most?

GB: I'm so excited for people to see where the film goes and the part that Michael Jordan's mother (played by Viola Davis) plays in the story. It's really incredible what a vital role she had in the whole thing, and the ripple effect it had on the sports world and how athletes are compensated to this day. Viola is also incredible in the role, and she did such a wonderful job telling the story. The '80s music throughout is super fun, too!

(Photo credit: Tori Time)

 

SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

GB: Just that I'm looking forward to whatever's next on this wild ride! I'm writing a comedy series called Mack of all Trades, about a female handywoman and finish carpenter as she navigates society's expectations of her in a male-dominated trade. It's loosely based on my own experiences as a woodworker, building and refinishing furniture as a side hustle years ago, which has now turned into so much more. I'm currently renovating a 1950s duplex with my own two hands in Southern California, learning as I go. You can follow along with my DIY projects on my Instagram (@gabby_bourne), and find a little teaser of my series on there too.

 

For more interviews with our favorite actresses, click HERE for our feature with Larisa Oleynik on her new series Erin & Aaron and her full-circle moment as a Nickelodeon mom.