Kirsten Vangsness Reflects on Going from Just a ‘2-Line Costar’ on Criminal Minds to Entering Her 19th Season (Exclusive)

Kristen Vangsness is grateful for her journey on Criminal Minds. 

The actress, 53, has appeared on the hit police procedural crime drama as FBI technical analyst Penelope Garcia since the first season in 2005.

While she was originally introduced as a recurring character, by the second season, Vangsness was promoted to the main cast and remained on the show through its final season in 2020. Two years later, she joined the show’s Paramount+ revival, Criminal Minds: Evolution, and remains a beloved mainstay on the show.

While speaking exclusively with PEOPLE at the 24 Hour Plays Gala, the actress looked back on her early days in the series. “I was a two-line costar in the first episode. I didn’t think I was going to be there more than that day,” she admits.

“I didn’t think anything, you know what I mean? It sounds super Pollyanna, but I’m not kidding when I say, I open that script and I’m like, ‘My name is there?’ ” she continues. 

“You get that little part and then you’re doing it more and more, and more. Every day, every moment I’ve gotten to do it has been a gift,” Vangsness says, adding, “If I ever get to do it again, it’s a gift.” 

That sentiment, the actress says, is shared throughout the cast. “100% for every single one of my cast mates, it’s a gift to be able to do it,” she concludes.

Evolution also sees A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster, Joe Mantegna, Aisha Tyler and Adam Rodriguez reprise their roles from the original series.

Other original actors include Mandy Patinkin, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Shemar Moore, Thomas Gibson and Matthew Gray Gubler, the latter of whom made a cameo in the revival’s latest season. 

Evolution, considered a continuation of Criminal Minds, was renewed in March for its 19th season. 

The 24 Hour Plays Gala took place on Dec. 12 at The Space in Irondale in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was hosted by Colin Cosell. The annual event features talent creating and performing new plays in just 24 hours to raise money for the namesake organization.

24 Hour Plays offers educational programming for students from middle school through college, as well as other professional development opportunities. 

Vangsness, David Burtka, Elaine Hendrix, Andrew McCarthy, Ralph Macchio and Havana Rose Liu were among those featured as performers. 

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Vangsness, who made her debut at the gala this year, also tells PEOPLE about the importance of supporting 24 Hour Plays. 

“I think theater, period, is how civilization happens,” she says. “Live experiences is where conversations start. It’s where the collective unconscious all gets to meet together. It’s the best parts of us.”