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Q: You started acting at the age of nine%u2014what inspired you to pursue a career in acting so early?A: I was very shy growing up, so my parents enrolled me in community theater to help break me out of my shell. I ended up really enjoying it; I probably did 10 shows at that community theater. After a few years of auditioning from home, I somehow convinced my parents to move to LA so I could audition out here. I%u2019m so grateful I did!Q: What was it like being part of the All That revival, and how did you feel stepping into such an iconic Nickelodeon show?A: Being on that show taught me that I love the film industry and sketch comedy. It taught me about work ethic while still allowing me to be a kid. Growing up, every kid wants to be on Disney or Nickelodeon, so it didn%u2019t feel like real life to me. There have been so many cast members on that show throughout the seasons, so it feels like I%u2019m forever part of an All That fraternity or lineage of some sort.Q: You%u2019ve been praised by comedy legend Kenan Thompson%u2014how did that recognition impact you as a young performer?A: Kenan obviously helped me career-wise, but I think, most importantly, he helped me stay humble and enjoy being a kid. Kenan is probably the most humble person I have ever met. I%u2019m really grateful for his influence on me as a teenager; he helped me decide to go to college while continuing to act.Q: After your success on All That, you took on the lead role in Warped! How did this role help you grow as an actress?A: On All That, I could make odd choices for my characters without consequences because the scenes were only a few pages long. On Warped!, I got to experience what it was like to play a full character with entire episodes worth of plot and emotion. Warped! also helped me build confidence as an actor%u2014I felt like I knew what I was doing every day and had a great time doing it.Q: What was your experience like performing in a sketch comedy segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon?A: He was insanely good at his job. During rehearsal, I watched him rewrite the jokes to make them funnier as the teleprompter was rolling. Just watching him work was an incredible learning opportunity for me. He taught me that comedy is a craft, and it%u2019s something you can really master.Q: You%u2019ve made a big leap into more mature roles, including Lifted and Sorry Charlie. How do you approach balancing comedy and drama in your acting career?A: I used to struggle with this, but over time I realized that all acting is essentially the same%u2014you%u2019re just conveying what%u2019s on the page. I%u2019ve really enjoyed growing up and reading more mature roles in both comedy and drama. I love it all.Q: Winning the 2024 Tribeca Most Moving Narrative Award for Leading Man is a huge achievement. How did it feel to be recognized for your emotional range in a dramatic role?A: Leading Man was a pretty intense script, so I thought this award was amazing. Filming Leading Man taught me a lot, which is one of the things I love about acting. I got to learn about my character, Ash, based on co-director Whitney Houser%u2019s story and how they found their gender identity. Playing Ash made me a more empathetic human.Q: Leading Man is also an official selection at the Out On Film Festival. How does it feel knowing that your work is being considered for both the Oscars and BAFTA awards?A: When you%u2019re on set, you don%u2019t really think about film festivals and awards, so I%u2019m thrilled it%u2019s getting this recognition. I think the co-directors Amanda Michaels and Whitney Houser did an incredible job telling this story and writing the script. I%u2019m excited for more people to see it.MOSTMAGAZINEMOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 64 29