Brunswick native Lexie Stephenson is a living example of how chasing one’s dreams can pay off. 

Stephenson, 24, knew she wanted to act and sing for a living at the age of five. After performing in local stage productions including “Alice in Wonderland,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “High School Musical,” she was discovered at the age of 12 by a New York-based vocal coach and performer.

Stephenson performed throughout high school, but later was cast in small roles on programs and films such as “The Vampire Diaries” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks 4: Road Chip.”

She made her mark in Hollywood as Mattie on the CBS daytime drama “The Young and the Restless,” where she performed for three years and earned an Emmy award nomination in 2018.

This summer, Stephenson is starring in two productions slated for release in July. She is starring in “Love at First Lie,” a Lifetime movie streaming on Amazon Prime about an infamous Israeli con man exposed in 2022 for approaching women through the dating app Tinder. She is also appearing in the feature film “Katie’s Mom,” with Aaron Dominguez.

Along with her acting work, she became an activist after being herself diagnosed with endometriosis, a disease of the reproductive organs that affects about 190 million women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. She has become the first black woman to be named the head of the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s advisory board.

(Photo credit: IMAGE Public Relations)


You’ve come a long way since the local stage musical performances of your childhood. How tough was the adjustment to life in Hollywood?

It had its challenges in several different aspects. The hardest adjustment for me was the culture. My first year in Los Angeles was mostly me trying to find my footing and where I belonged. As you can imagine the people in Los Angeles are much different than people in Maine, which made making friends very difficult at first, so I was a little lonely. Fortunately for me, I was eventually able to make friends through acting classes which made the transition much easier. They’ve been with me through everything since then and are still some of my best friends.

Do you miss Brunswick?

Absolutely. I am a victim of nostalgia, which I think some people consider a bad thing, and although sometimes it can make me sad, most of the time those memories make me grateful I had the childhood that I did. My memories of Brunswick (or anywhere in Maine) ground me and make me feel connected to something when I would otherwise feel floaty or lost under the pressure that acting can sometimes present.

You’ve been described as the youngest member of the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s advisory board. Did you find being the youngest person there intimidating?

At first I did, but I am fortunate enough to work with other smart, confident women who listen to what I have to say and take me seriously. I used to feel inferior whenever I was part of conversations that included people who were older than me but now I don’t. I recognize that they are constantly teaching me and helping me grow but that I also bring a new perspective to the table they can also learn from. 

How has being diagnosed with endometriosis changed you? What, if any, impact has it had on your career?

Being diagnosed with endometriosis helped me a lot because I now know what I am fighting against. And because I know what I am fighting against I know how to prepare my body for a shoot day and the preventative measures to take in order to avoid an attack while I am on set. It also helped give me a purpose that goes beyond myself and helps other women.  

How do you juggle the responsibilities of your activist work with the demands of an acting career?

It’s not always easy, but luckily the board is very understanding as they not only work with me but many other people in the entertainment industry who have hectic schedules and limited time. I also think a big part of my responsibilities go hand in hand with my acting. The more I grow, the more opportunities I have to spread awareness about endometriosis.

Any advice for younger people thinking about an acting career, either in Brunswick or anywhere else?

Yes! Make sure you love it. This isn’t something you do half fast. Find an acting class/ coach you love and study with them nonstop. Try to learn everything you can in a non-result-oriented way. Doing this in hopes of fame and money isn’t sustainable. Study the craft of acting not just how to book an audition.