Gru and the minions are back, seven years after the last Despicable Me film, with the addition of a new family member and new villains in Despicable Me 4, out in theaters on July 3. Before the film’s release, we got to chat with Madison Skyy Polan, who now voices Agnes in the fourth film to learn more about her experience in her debut film role, attending the premiere, and what she hopes people take away from the next installment in the beloved franchise. 

Despicable Me 4 follows Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes as they welcome a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru also faces a new enemy in Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, forcing the family to go on the run. While at a new house for their protection, the family meets their new neighbors, the Prescotts, and their daughter Poppy, as Gru and his minions ally with Poppy. Steve Carrell reprises his role as Gru, and the film also stars Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Joey King, Sofia Vergara, Will Ferrell, and more. The film serves as a sequel to Despicable Me 3 from 2017 and is the sixth overall film in the Despicable Me franchise. 

Even at just nine-years old, Madison has always had a love for acting and Despicable Me 4 is her first major role. She took over voicing Agnes from Nev Scharrel in the third film. 

“I would love to be friends with [Agnes]. She is a lot like me in a way. We both have pets and siblings and she is just really kind and sweet.”

Because this was Madison’s debut film role, she recorded in a sound booth for the first time, and said she had to learn how to bring out Agnes’s emotions just through her voice. To do this, Madison said she thought of both sad and funny memories from her own life to make those emotions come out.  

“It was so fun recording my voice and doing the different emotions.”

We also asked Madison about the Despicable Me 4 premiere, where she got to meet all the star cast members of the film, and she said it was awesome to take photos with them and watch the film with them for the first time. 

“It was a very exciting time meeting all the cast members.”

“We had to pose for all the pictures and it was just a great moment.”

Madison said she is most excited for people to see Despicable Me 4 for its new cast members, including herself, the new villains, and the new adventures Agnes goes on, but also has the same lovable minions and characters from the first few films. 

“I am most excited for people seeing all of the funny new villains.”

Thank you, Madison, for chatting with Young Entertainment. Follow her on her Instagram at @madisonskyypolan. Watch the video below where we ask her more about voicing Agnes, her experience at the premiere, and what she learned in her first major role. 

Consider this: 

• If you are voice acting and trying to portray different emotions, think of experiences in your own life to bring out those emotions. 
• If you are attending a premier, it’s okay to be nervous, especially if it is your first time. Be confident and proud of the work you helped to create.