Camille Guaty has long been a familiar face on screen, but in her latest role as Izzy Reyna in Duster, she steps into something far more incendiary—a woman pushing back against the silence that protects broken systems. Inspired by real-life pioneers like trucker-turned-activist “Bitsy” Gomez, Guaty’s portrayal pulses with defiance, grit, and deep emotional charge. But off-screen, her fire burns just as fiercely.

Through a deeply personal fertility journey—marked by 21 embryo transfers, heartbreak, and ultimately, hope—Guaty has emerged as an unflinching advocate for reproductive rights. She’s worked alongside lawmakers, shared hard-won insights with raw honesty, and co-founded a nonprofit for foster youth, turning personal pain into lasting purpose.

In this wide-ranging conversation with The House, Camille reflects on how moving to Tennessee slowed her down, how home design became a sanctuary, and why storytelling—whether on screen or through advocacy—has always been her most powerful tool.

At the heart of it all? A woman who refuses to stay quiet.

Your role in Duster is inspired by a real-life trailblazer who fought for equality in trucking. How did you prepare to step into such a powerful character? 

Absolutely. Izzy Reyna is fictional, but she carries the spirit of real women like “Bitsy” Gomez-who was a single mom of three and one of the earliest voices calling out inequality in the trucking industry. When I started researching, I was floored by the courage it took for women like her to survive, let alone speak out, in such an aggressively male-dominated space. 

 I dove into the world of trucking in 1972 America, because understanding how women were viewed at the time is essential to understanding why Izzy had to fight so hard. The culture was brutal: women were discriminated against, harassed, even raped-and they had to stay silent or risk losing their jobs. This wasn’t just about restrooms or harassment policies-it was about dignity. About survival. Understanding all of this is how I started to find Izzy. 

The show is set in the 1970s, but many of the struggles for women in male-dominated fields still exist today. What do you hope audiences take away from Izzy’s journey? 

I hope people see that progress isn’t a straight line. I want audiences, especially women, to feel seen. To feel fired up. Izzy’s not a victim; she’s a fighter. She doesn’t wait for permission to speak out or organize. She just does it. And that’s the energy we need right now: less asking, more demanding. Less shame, more power. I want Izzy’s story to remind us that silence protects the system, not the survivor, and that every voice has the power to shape the future. 

What drew you to this role? 

Well, auditioning for J.J. Abrams is more classified than a text thread about military air strikes on Yemen. (Too soon?) I had very little information to work with-but honestly, that makes it more exciting. It forces you to take risks. I knew right away she was a fighter. A survivor. But there was this emotional complexity simmering underneath. How much fun is that to play? In one of my audition scenes, I remember creating a moment that wasn’t on the page. I had music playing, I danced, got into the feel of it, and then began. 

You’ve been open about your deeply personal fertility journey-21 embryo transfers and I’ve failed rounds of IVF is an extraordinary challenge. At what point did you decide to become an advocate for reproductive health? 

Almost ten years ago, no doctor ever told me to be proactive about my fertility. That silence, combined with my own struggle, is what pushed me to speak out. It started with my friends, then with any woman I crossed paths with, and eventually I took it to Instagram Live. I interviewed doctors, therapists, fertility experts, authors, even scientists-because I wanted other women to have the information I never got. “Freeze your eggs.” Check your bloodwork. Know your hormone levels. Knowledge is power. No one should have to go through what I did. 

So when we finally got pregnant from one donor egg and People magazine asked to announce it, I knew I had to tell the truth. I wasn’t just celebrating my son. I was honoring the journey that brought him here. I’m not broken. I’m his mom. And I wanted to normalize that, to show other families they’re not alone. Breaking the stigma around donor conception is just as important to me as raising awareness. My fight is now for my son and his future and for the many women behind me.

You’ve worked with congressional lawmakers and organizations like RESOLVE-what progress has been made in fertility rights, and what still needs to change? 

Collaborating with RESOLVE and engaging with lawmakers has shown me that even one voice can spark change. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the conversation around women’s reproductive health has become louder, more complex, and more urgent. RESOLVE has been fighting for reproductive access since the 1970s, and working with them has helped me find and strengthen my voice in this fight. 

Many women struggle silently with infertility. What’s your biggest piece of advice for women going through this journey? 

Your mantra is: You’re not broken, you are not alone, and you will be a mother one day. It might not look exactly how you pictured. It’s not going to be a straight line. But it will happen. 

 You don’t have to share your whole story with everyone. Not everyone knows how to respond, and sometimes their well-meaning words can hurt more than help. So protect yourself. Sometimes the world can feel like one giant trigger, and that’s when boundaries matter most. You’re in a tender place, and it’s okay to step back. You don’t owe anyone access to your pain. Find the right support-there are powerful communities online, just search #infertility-and don’t be afraid to reach out. During this journey, self-preservation is just as important as hope. Be gentle with yourself. 

You’re doing the best you can. 

You recently moved to Tennessee with your family-how has that transition shaped your perspective on life and work? 

Moving to Tennessee slowed everything down in the best way. There’s space here-literal space, emotional space, creative space. In L.A., everything moves so fast. You’re always chasing the next thing, the next meeting, the next audition. Out here, I’ve had the chance to be more present. With my family. With myself. And that’s changed how I show up for everything-my work, my advocacy, even just being a mom. 

We’ve seen your love for home renovation and design on Instagram. How does creating a beautiful home space connect to your overall sense of wellness and empowerment? 

I’m such a homebody-and since I work from home, I pretty much never leave the house! (Kidding… sort of.) But honestly, I’ve always loved playing around with space and furniture. Ever since I was a little girl, it’s been a creative outlet for me. I moved around a lot growing up; I think I went to 14 different schools and lived in more houses than I can even remember. So creating my own space has always made me feel safe. It gives me a sense of belonging and grounding. 

And because I know people will ask-yes, my husband gets his own area to design. The garage. 

You co-founded Foster a Dream-what inspired you to dedicate yourself to helping foster youth? 

Since I was 25, I’ve done a toy drive every year for underprivileged kids. I’ve always felt a pull to help children-especially those who don’t have access to stability, opportunity, or creative outlets. At one point, I even tried to start an after-school arts program for underserved youth. So that passion was already there. But like they say, every heartache carries a silver lining.

 When I was deep in my fertility struggle, I started looking into adoption. One night I stumbled onto a foster care site, and that was it. I went down the rabbit hole-reading, crying, learning about kids who just need a safe home and someone to love them. I didn’t know it yet, but I was already pregnant. 

Still, I couldn’t unsee what I had seen. 

 That’s what led to Foster a Dream. A friend and I joined forces to create a nonprofit focused on older foster youth-the ones who are often forgotten, the ones who age out of the system with no safety net. These kids deserve connection, support, and the chance to dream like anyone else. 

What are the biggest misconceptions about foster care, and how can people help create change in the system? 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that kids in foster care are “troubled” or “difficult”-and yes, that can be true for some. But that narrative is so damaging. These kids aren’t broken. They’ve just been through things most adults couldn’t handle. What they need is stability, not judgment. Love, not 

abels. The system is stretched so thin, and it’s failing a lot of them-especially the older ones who are about to age out with nowhere to go. 

We have to start by seeing these kids for who they really are: resilient, worthy, and full of potential. You don’t have to foster or adopt to make a difference. You can mentor. You can donate. You can volunteer. Change doesn’t require perfection-it just takes compassion and commitment.

You’ve worked with several nonprofit organizations. What does meaningful advocacy look like to Camille Guaty? 

To me, meaningful advocacy has to be personal. I don’t speak up because something’s trending. I speak up because I’ve lived it. Infertility, donor conception, foster care; these aren’t headlines to me, they’re part of my life. And I believe when you use your own story to create space for others, that’s when advocacy becomes powerful. 

But it’s not just about talking. It’s about doing. Whether it’s working with lawmakers, building community, or supporting the people directly affected, real advocacy shows up-loudly, consistently, and unapologetically. 

You’ve had an incredible career across TV, film, and now activism. What’s next for you-both personally and professionally? 

What’s next for me creatively is stepping behind the camera. I’m writing. I’m exploring directing. I’ve been chomping at the bit for a while, and now writing has become part of my daily grind. Alongside *Duster*, I’m also the lead and co-producer on a film called *Drowning*, which should be out early next year. 

Personally, I’m focused on being present. My son is growing fast, and I want to build a life that lets me be both-a grounded mom and an artist. 

If you could use your platform to change one thing for women today, what would it be? 

I’d change the way society defines and devalues women’s stories. Whether it’s infertility, donor conception, aging, ambition, motherhood-we’re still expected to live by someone else’s script to be seen as “enough.” I want to shine a light on that. I want women to live loud, honest, imperfect lives and be celebrated for it. The more we tell the truth, the more we create space for each other. That’s the real power.