Actress Gigi Burgdorf continues to build momentum across film and television, with credits including HBO’s ‘The Rehearsal’ and Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Couple’. She has a significant role in the comedy ‘Preschool’, directed by and starring Josh Duhamel, which is currently available to rent in the UK on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Sky Store, following its earlier digital release in the United States. Filmed across locations in and around London, including Hertfordshire, Rickmansworth and Milton Keynes, ‘Preschool’ centres on the escalating rivalry between two fathers competing for a coveted place at an elite preschool. Burgdorf plays Roze, a nanny working for one of the families caught in the increasingly absurd competition, bringing a grounded and observant presence to the film’s comedic dynamic.
“The film is about two dads fighting over the last place in an elite preschool, and their behaviour gets increasingly absurd as their competition escalates,” Burgdorf explains. “The comedy is silly and ridiculous, which is always a joy to play, and I love that at its heart the film is about the importance of having fun and not taking everything too seriously.”
Working alongside Josh Duhamel and an ensemble cast including Charity Wakefield, James Cosmo, Michael Socha and Antonia Thomas, Burgdorf describes a collaborative and highly engaging atmosphere on set, where improvisation and spontaneity played a key role in shaping the film’s tone.
“The first scene I shot was with Josh, James and Michael — three legends — and not only were they total pros on camera, but it was such fun to talk to them during breaks,” she says. “Josh had a really nice way of trusting the cast and leaving room for improvisation, so the scenes always felt alive and playful.”
Much of Burgdorf’s work on the film took place inside a historic manor house, which added an atmospheric and slightly surreal edge to the production. “Like most very old houses it sometimes felt a bit creepy, especially late at night — with all the old furniture and antique dolls,” she recalls. “There was even a secret compartment used for hiding priests during Elizabethan times, which made the setting feel even more unusual. But even with the pressures of directing and starring, Josh kept the energy fun — there was always a sense of play on set.”
The London-based production also allowed Burgdorf to experience a range of distinctive locations, combining traditional architecture with more unexpected environments. From period manor interiors to a farm setting in Hertfordshire and a transformed indoor skydiving venue in Milton Keynes, the film blends grounded realism with heightened comedic situations.
The release of ‘Preschool’ comes at a time when Burgdorf is expanding her work across multiple formats, moving between film, television and interactive storytelling. She has recently been announced as the voice of Clawdette in the video game ‘A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home’, with Episode 1 released earlier this month and further episodes set to follow, marking a continued expansion into voice performance.
Alongside this, she has just completed filming on a new short comedy ‘Pride and Joy’, which she wrote, directed and acted in, marking her third short film in this capacity. The project reflects a growing interest in creative control and storytelling from multiple perspectives, as she continues to develop her voice both in front of and behind the camera.
“I’m excited to explore different genres,” Burgdorf says. “I tend to gravitate towards comedy, but it’s great to challenge myself creatively and try something new. Working across different formats gives me the opportunity to keep growing and approaching roles in new ways.”
Looking back on her career, Burgdorf cites ‘The Rehearsal’ as a defining turning point. “It was probably the first role a lot of people saw me play,” she notes, highlighting how the project opened up wider recognition and new opportunities. She also points to her experience on ‘The Perfect Couple’ as a standout, particularly for its scale and ensemble cast.
With ‘Preschool’ now available across major digital platforms in the UK, and with a growing slate of projects spanning film, television and gaming, Burgdorf continues to establish herself as a versatile and evolving performer. As she moves between comedic roles, dramatic work and creative projects of her own, her trajectory reflects a steadily expanding presence within the international screen industry.