At just 11 years old, Audrey Scott already has a lot to be grateful for in her budding acting career. With credits including Parks & Recreation and Secretariat, the young actress is thrilled to be a part of one of the more acclaimed titles to hit Tribeca this year, Goodbye to All That. Here, she dishes on the film, liking school, Peeps and what it was like spending Halloween on set.
YOUNG ADULT: What is the most exciting part of being involved in the new film Goodbye to All That?
AUDREY SCOTT: That is a really tough question because so many things were exciting! First would be working with the director, Angus MacLachlan, and the amazing ensemble cast. Angus was a great director who gave me a lot of freedom in creating and bringing my character Edie to life. He is really nice and also incredibly talented. It was also exciting to work with people who have such great talent and have done so much in their careers, like my movie parents, Paul Schneider and Melanie Lynskey. I mean seriously, not that many people can say “Crazy Rose” from Two and a Half Men was their mom! Oh, and the film premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival was my first red carpet event; that was pretty exciting!
YA: Describe your character Edie. Who is she? What about her most resembles you, and what is most different?
AS: Edie is independent, free spirited and a very smart girl. She cares deeply about both of her parents, but in the film you see how she cares about her father and his feelings. Edie and I have a lot similarities including we are both only children, we are both strong-willed and both will speak up on what we think – we also care a lot about other people’s feelings. What is most different about us is that her parents are getting a divorce and mine are not! I also don’t have near the same amount of activities Edie does outside of school – that girl is busy!
YA: Any fun stories to happen off camera while on set?
AS: This was one of the most fun sets I have ever worked on, but I was on location and away from my home and friends. On Halloween night, Angus made sure that I was able to wrap up my day quickly so that I could enjoy Halloween. One of the makeup artists, Jackie, did my face and hair for my Mother Nature costume. Then I was taken back to set where each department was waiting for me, and the neighborhood kids, to “trick or treat” in their areas. The night got even better when I was able to go trick or treating with the director’s daughter and her friends. It made my Halloween so much fun and is something I will never forget.
YA: You are getting your start in acting quite early. How do you juggle your new work commitments with school?
AS: When I started acting, I was in public school and it was hard to balance school, auditions and work. When I was on set for Goodbye to All That, I had a set teacher all to myself who helped make sure I stayed on top of my subjects and kept my good grades! Last year, with my parents’ support, I made the decision to attend public virtual school. Even though I still have the same amount of classroom assignments, I can do my schoolwork around auditioning and jobs that I book. It is challenging, but I am a bit of a (ok, fine… complete) nerd and love school!
YA: What has been the best acting advice you’ve received so far?
AS: Someone I trust told me that it is not about being a star, it is about liking your character and telling the story.
YA: If you had to choose only ONE of these two words—ACTOR or KID—to define yourself, which would it be and why?
AS: I have to describe myself as a KID! Even though the business takes a lot of time, I am still just a girl who likes to hang out with her friends, read, listen to music and have the occasional microwave battle of Peeps! I am excited about my most recent project, the FOX pilot Fatrick because I worked with three other kids and we get to have fun and work together!
YA: If you could play any role from any film or TV show in history, who would it be and why?
AS: I want to be Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson film series. I loved the books, and I have a goal of making the “Percy Jackson reboot” when I grow up!
YA: What would you say is your favorite YA story, book or film?
AS: That is like asking me to choose my favorite parent! My favorite solo book is The Fault in our Stars, and my favorite series are the Divergent, Hunger Games, Percy Jackson & The Olympians, and Heroes of Olympus books. Right now I am reading book two of the Grimm Diaries series by Cameron Jace—I love it!