Photographed by Cathryn Farnsworth
Little but definitely not one to be underestimated, young actress Grace Kaufman stole the show in the indie film Sister, garnering rave reviews all around. Now, she stars in the apocalyptic TNT show Last Ship, among other projects. Here’s what she had to say when she sat down with us recently!
YOUNG ADULT: What has it been like being singled out for your work in the festival favorite Sister?
GRACE KAUFMAN: It’s been an honor and such an exciting experience. I’m so happy that people appreciated my work in the film. I worked very hard on it and it’s nice to have people notice that! Getting to go to the Tribeca Film Festival was so much fun — the red carpet, seeing my cast mates again, having friends and family there to support me. It was one of the most happy times in my life so far.
YA: Talk to us about the new TV series Last Ship. Who do you play? How is Ashley like you, and how is she different?
GK: I play Ashley Chandler on the show. She is the daughter of Commander Tom Chandler, played by Eric Dane. I’m like Ashley in certain ways. Ashley loves her parents and family is really important to her, and I’m very close to my family as well. How am I different from her? I guess because I’m not in danger of a deadly virus that’s killing off the world’s population like Ashley is!!! Luckily!!!
YA: Any fun stories to happen off camera while on set for any of your projects?
GK: I can’t even count how many funny stories have happened while I’ve worked on different projects! There are so many. On Sister, I asked our boom operator if I could push him into the pool at the house we were filming at. I was just joking, but he said sure. So I did! On The Last Ship, there are lots of guns and explosions. Lots of scary stuff happening. In one take, it was so real to me that I started freaking out. I thought they were shooting the guns for real! One of the actors playing a soldier made goofy faces at me and got me a hot chocolate to make me laugh. I guess I got a little too much into character that time!!
YA: What has been the best acting or professional advice you’ve received? Who are you absolutely dying to work with?
GK: The best acting advice I’ve ever received is from my parents, who are actors themselves. They always say to observe and watch people. People are fascinating and do such interesting things. I like to take what I observe in people and make it my own. Use it in my work. I would love to work with Anne Hathaway. I’ve always loved her work since I was little. She does great serious work, but is also a good comic actor. I admire those traits and I really look up to her.
YA: If you had to pick only one of these word to describe yourself, which would it be and why: ACTOR or KID?
GK: I would say KID. I love acting and it’s my life, but being a kid is the most important thing of all. It’s important to have normal friends, and normal kid experiences. You only get to be a kid once in your life, and all the experiences I have had as a kid will strengthen my work and will only help me be the best actress I can.
YA: If you could play any role from any film or TV show in history, who would it be and why?
GK: I think it would have to be Lucy Ricardo from I Love Lucy!! I think Lucille Ball was such a great comedienne. I’ve watched every episode since I was little, and it would be so much fun to play a character who is so wacky!!!
YA: What other pursuits are you involved in, other than acting, if any? (We heard you’re a fan of belting out tunes?)
GK: Oh, yes. I love to sing! I’ve done a lot of musicals, and I speak and sing as the character of Deema on Bubble Guppies on Nickelodeon, so I get to sing a lot. I take a lot of dance classes as well. I love dancing. I also love to draw and paint. I guess I’m what you call artsy, definitely!!
YA: What would you say is your favorite YA story, book or film?
GK: Right now I’m reading The Fault in Our Stars and I love it!! It’s definitely my current favorite book. I can’t wait to see the movie as well!!