Madeline Carroll
Has "Bieber Fever"!
by Lynn Barker
 She's 14, cute and an up and coming actress. L.A. native Madeline Carroll co-starred with Jackie Chan in the fun actioner "The Spy Next Door", out now on DVD and Blu-Ray. When she was younger "Mad" got to co-star with famous movie actor Kevin Costner in Swing Shift. She's been in a ton of TV shows and started as a model at only age three when she was discovered in a Sherman Oaks, Ca. nail salon!
We are on the cell chatting with Madeline as she is traveling to an audition and learned that she's got a bad case of "Bieber Fever". She really admires Will Smith, thinks her co-star in "Spy" Lucas Till (who was Miley's love interest in her "Hannah Montana" film) is pretty cute and funny and she gives us a run-down of what teen stars do on a typical day. Check it out!
AGW: Was it difficult making the transition from child to teen actor? Did you kind of grow up on camera?
Mad: I kind of did grow up on camera I guess. When I was really younger I did mostly print ads and commercials. Then I moved from commercials to TV. Then from TV to movies. I've been doing it for a while.
AGW: How crazy was being in a movie with Jackie Chan? Is he just wildly energetic?
Mad: He is sooo energetic. He and his team were always doing twists and stunts. When we weren't filming they would show us tricks. It was so much fun. I had a ball. He had so many stunt team people he brings on every movie. One time we were filming a scene in one of the houses and they took us outside and were throwing us up in the air.
AGW: Your character in 'Spy", Farren is upset when her privacy is invaded in her room. Are you like that at home?
Mad: Sometimes my parents will come in (to her room). I don't like to complain to them. I watch movies with my brothers. I kind of don't like being in my room by myself.
 AGW: We could use the oil eating formula that the Russians are after in the film right now for clean up in the Gulf! Are you into animal conservation or working to save the environment in general?
Mad: I love animals. I'm very into preserving animals but I'm more into helping kids as well. At our church we donate to this organization called "Zoe International". They rescue children from child prostitution in Thailand.
AGW: That's important! Hey, Lucas Till is pretty cute. I've interviewed him a couple of times. Was it fun working with him?
Mad: Yeah, he's cute and he's very funny. He was funny on set and we would always play games. He would tell me all about working on "Hannah Montana". It was fun when we did the scene in the restaurant. He kept eating cold shrimp. I loved working on that scene but it was gross. It was shot in a closed down restaurant and there were cockroaches all through it!
AGW: Ewwww. Farren in "Spy" is pretty sour and "difficult" even though we understand why. Is it fun to play teens like that and are you ever that way?
Mad: I sometimes am, especially to my brothers. We fight a lot. I have one older brother and two younger brothers. Sometimes I pull that "sour and difficult" thing with my brothers but it doesn't go too well and they beat me up. But it was fun filming those scenes (where she is "difficult"). In the scenes where I'm chewing gum, I really was in rehearsals so they told me to use it in the scene.
AGW: Did you like any of Farren's wardrobe in "Spy"? Was there anything you would wear?
Mad: Yeah, there was a purple-colored hat with a button on it from Urban Outfitters and also some of the skirts I really liked. I liked how I got to have my hair fixed. In my other movies, like Swing Vote, I was supposed to be really plain and more tomboy so it was fun to have my hair and make-up done for "Spy".
AGW: Teens wonder what film actors do all day when they aren't making a film. What is a typical day like for you from beginning to end?
Mad: Usually, when I wake up I'll do some home school. Then I will help my mom with the house and usually I'll have an audition and I'll go to that. If it's Wed. nights after an audition I'll usually go to church, then I'll come home and try and catch one of my favorite TV shows then I'll read my bible and go to bed.
AGW: So, except for the audition, you life is kinda normal. As you go further into your teen years what star would you hope to be like?
Mad: I really, really like Will Smith. He's very good at balancing his career. I like how he's done all kinds of comedy TV shows and he sings and he just does everything. He's been nominated. I would love to do a movie with him.
AGW: You go to school on set and then homeschool the rest of the time. If you don't go to a regular school, do you miss not going to dances or sporting events at school?
Mad: I was in public school up until sixth grade and I homeschooled because when you get into Middle School they kind of get more upset if you miss days. But, I'm going back to a regular school for high school so I won't miss out on that much. I'll get to go back.
AGW: Cool You've gone voice actor work as Widget in "Astro Boy". Is that easier or harder for you?
Mad: You can even wear your pajamas to a voice-over thing. Those are really fun. Those go way quicker I think. It takes a long time for them to come out with all the computer stuff they do but when you are recording your voice you just go in a read off a paper and don't have to learn so many lines. It's way easier I think.
 AGW: Who is your celebrity crush?
Mad: (excited) Justin Bieber! I like him. He's cute but I also think he's really good!
AGW: Favorite band?
Mad: Probably the Black-Eyed Peas.
AGW: Favorite movie of all time so far?
Mad: Either Gone with the Wind or Legends of the Fall.
AGW: Brad Pitt was such a hottie in that one.
Mad: Yeah he is!
AGW: What are your summer must haves?
Mad: Sun screen because I'm super white. I need tons of sun screen. I like summer colors better than winter. In the winter I wear blacks and grays. I like going to the beach with my family.
AGW: Is there a character in history or books who you would love to play some day?
Mad: When I was in grade school I loved the "Series of Unfortunate Events" (Lemony Snicket) books but I'm a little young to play that girl. I actually already am a character in a book. I play Juli Baker in "Flipped". The book is set nowadays but when we did the movie, they decided to put it in the '60's for a little bit more innocence. It comes out August 27th.
AGW: Very cool. What about "Vanilla Gorilla"?
Mad: I haven't shot that one yet. It's supposed to be filmed in South Africa. I can't wait.
AGW: And you are playing teen-version of Amber Tamblyn in TV pilot "Quinn-Tuplets" Have you met her?
Mad: Yeah I met her and she's really, really nice. It's along the lines of a "John and Kate Plus Eight". This lady has quintuplets and this guy decides to document it. It's about these four teenagers who are the quintuplets. They grew up their whole lives on camera and finally didn't want to do it anymore so they decided to quit and all have separate jobs. But their mom now has cancer and there's a new documentary on that. It's more serious.
AGW: Well, good luck with your audition today.
Mad: Thanks!!
photos
courtesy of MadelineCarroll.com and copyright Michael Bezjian, 2010 |
