DISCLAIMER: THIS INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED PRIOR TO JULY 13TH BEFORE THE ACTORS WENT ON SAG-AFTRA STRIKE

Fans of the The Santa Clause films were treated to a surprise when Disney+ announced The Santa Clauses series, based on the classic Christmas movies, in 2022. The series serves as a sequel to The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause from 2006, with Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd, and David Kumholtz all reprising their roles. For anyone looking to learn more about the series, which was recently renewed for a second season, we have an exclusive interview with Isabella Bennett, who plays Edie, one of the elves at the North Pole who regularly helps out Santa to ensure good children receive what they want on Christmas Day. We talked to Isabella about her role in the series, working with the other actors, the audition process, and more, brought to you by Young Entertainment Exclusive. 

Because the series has already been released on Disney+, if you are planning on reading this interview and have not watched the series, this article will actively avoid any spoilers regarding the series. For those planning to watch before reading this article, we highly recommend watching it first. And now, onto this interview and its refresher.

The series focuses on Scott Calvin, played by Tim Allen, approaching his 65th birthday and coming to the realization that he can’t be Santa forever. He now has a family, including his teenage son and daughter, who would benefit from returning to the real world. Scott then sets out to find a replacement Santa while preparing his family to leave the North Pole. The first season spanned six episodes and the second season will premiere in November 2023, an early Christmas present for fans. 

Isabella began acting at a young age and started out when she was just five years old, doing supporting roles for projects in San Francisco. She also was a jazz and hip hop dancer, competing competitively and performing at various dance recitals and theater productions. In 2021, Isabella booked her first role as Bertha in the soccer movie Little Angels. Isabella said her new role for The Santa Clauses was different from her previous role in Little Angels as she got to work on a set of the North Pole everyday and it was a very different and exciting experience working on a Disney production, filmed on the same sound stage as The Mandalorian series. 

Isabella said when she first started acting, she didn’t understand the meaning of the words of a script so she hopes to continue to spend more time on breaking her characters down in the future. 

When asked about one of her favorite parts of being in the cast, Isabella said she was able to learn from actors like Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell, who played Mrs. Claus. They both taught Isabella how to be creative, seize the moment, and have fun on set. Isabella said she had a great time working with Tim, as he improvised a lot of his lines, which taught her a lot about acting. We also asked Isabella about her favorite part of playing Edie. Isabella said her character’s quirkiness and personality were fun, as Edie is always eager to succeed in trying to become the head elf. 

In talking about the audition process, Isabella said she didn’t find out about the project until one week before the first day of filming, so her call back, directors session, and table read all occurred within the span of a few days. Her favorite episode to film was episode one as she got to banter with Tim the most. 

Isabella said the most challenging aspect of playing Edie was wearing her character’s elf shoes, but one of the costume designers was able to provide her with inserts to make them more comfortable. While she wasn’t able to take anything from the set during the first season, she hopes to be able to after the next season. Isabella said it was a full circle moment to play Edie, as she and her family had a tradition of watching The Santa Clause movies before Christmas to now being a part of the series. 

Thank you, Isabella, for your time and for speaking with YEM! Make sure to follow her  on her Instagram at @isabellabennett_official (Isabella Bennett (@isabellabennett_official) • Instagram photos and videos). Please also watch the interview below. We ask her more questions such as her character, the audition process, and more! While you’re there, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for the latest news in young entertainment!

Consider this: 

• Quality takes time. Be patient and don’t rush the process.