The second season of Beyond the Gates is underway, and aside from some bumpy interactions with Kat, things are going relatively smoothly for Eva Thomas. Despite her insecurities, she’s developing meaningful relationships outside her mother. She now works for her father, and she has fallen in love with Izaiah.
Ambyr Michelle, who portrays the fierce Eva Thomas, feels that in season two, her character has found her voice. The actress, dancer, and author, who has an inspirational book/journal called Built to Chaos coming out soon, talks about season two, Eva’s evolution, and the upcoming crossover with The Young and the Restless. She also discusses the recognition her show has received recently.
Key Takeaways
- Ambyr Michelle says Eva “finds her voice” in Season 2.
- Michelle says to get ready for “more chaos” in Season 2.
- Eva’s romance with Izaiah deepens despite past baggage.
- The actress discusses the rivalry between Eva and Kat.
- Fans can vote for Beyond the Gates by heading over to vote.naacpimageawards.net.
An Eva-lution
On February 24, BTG will celebrate the first anniversary of its premiere. Michelle says she’s learned a lot as an actress since joining the show as an OG cast member. She’s grown more confident, and so has her character.
“When Eva first started out, she was naive, and she was under her mother’s wing,” Michelle explains. “I think there are still some remnants of that, but I do believe in season two, she finds a voice. She’s evolving in having a voice and finding true love.”
Eva and Izaiah
Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) dropped into Eva’s life, and while the two quickly connected, insecurities and other external obstacles have threatened their happiness. So far, they have been able to communicate and work past those bumps in the road, and the actress is ever so grateful. Because she thinks Eva and Izaiah are IT.
“They just give me butterflies. They make me want to fall in love, and so I love watching them,” Michelle says, although she realizes they have a bit of a shaky foundation when it comes to both of their pasts. “He just got out of a relationship with Yolanda, and Tomas just broke Eva’s heart. And so I think that kind of bonded them in a way they didn’t realize. I hope that they stay together forever, but it is a soap, so I don’t know.”
Season 2 Teases
Michelle is optimistic about Eva and Izaiah. “Those two, I believe, are going to get pretty serious,” the actress and dancer reveals. Beyond her potentially serious relationship, she can’t wait for the audience to see what’s ahead for the entire soap in season two.
“Oh my gosh, it’s gonna be crazy. Without saying too much, we recently shot episodes— the audience is gonna be on the edge of their seats,” the Nebraska native teases. “It’s gonna feel like multiple grand finales, multiple season finales. So just get ready to experience more chaos. All I can say is stay tuned because it does get pretty wild.”
She couldn’t say much about the upcoming summer crossover with one of BTG’s sister soaps, but Eva will be a part of it. “That story is intense and crazy. I can’t talk about it, but both The Young and the Restless audience and Beyond the Gates audience they’re going to be in for treats.”
Eva and Kat
Michelle’s character is involved in one of the show’s biggest rivalries. Eva and Kat are like oil and water (very stylish oil and water), and the BTG audience often expresses very strong opinions about their epic confrontations. “I knew that people were going to love it. I didn’t know it would bring so much controversy,” she starts.
“If you’re Team Eva, you are strongly Team Eva. You have her back. You’re ready to fight for her. And the same if you’re Team Kat. Sometimes I have to stop reading the comments because it’s so much,” the soap newcomer adds. “I feel like both of their feelings are valid.”
Ultimately, the BTG star would like Eva and Kat to call a truce and lean into being friendly with each other. “I think they either need to fight a physical catfight or they need to get along, one of the two. But I would love for them to get along,” she reveals. “Me and Colby (Muhammad, who plays Kat), we have this beautiful chemistry, intense chemistry on screen, and we really go there, you know? We’re like, let’s make this real, and then afterward we’re like, you good? Are we still cool?”
BTG Recognition
In 2026, BTG is riding high with big nominations this awards show season. The writing staff is nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama. And the show recently received two NAACP Image Award nods, one for Outstanding Drama Series and the other for hairstyling. Michelle couldn’t be more excited for the show’s recognition.
“We’re such a big family, and we just want to do great work. And the fact that people are recognizing us, honoring that, and celebrating the work that we do on this show. It, honestly, is mind-blowing,” she says.
It turns out fans can vote for their favorites across various categories, including Outstanding Drama Series. To show your support for Beyond the Gates, go to vote.naacpimageawards.net — fans can vote every day until February 13 at Midnight ET.
As for Michelle, on Saturday, February 7, she’s co-hosting the NAACP Image Awards Nominee Luncheon. This is a huge opportunity for her. “I am extremely excited and super nervous at the same time. I’ve never done anything like that before,” she declares. “But to have the NAACP be our partners on [BTG] and to go into their world and be a part of that and announce the nominees for their excellence and brilliance. I think it’s a beautiful moment of my life.”
