Katherine McNamara is about to blow up. Coming off a major feature role with Zac Efron, we got a chance to talk to Katherine about graduating high school at 14 (CRAZY!), her recording career, her past experiences on Broadway and what’s next for her, outside of college. YA sat and talked with the fiery haired actress and musician about her life, loves and passions.
YOUNG ADULT: You began your career on Broadway. Tell us a little bit about that.
Katherine McNamara: I loved working on Broadway – I actually would very much love to return to the stage again soon. There is a real sense of community among all the companies of the various productions. When you work on a show for a year as I did in A Little Night Music, you become very close with the rest of the cast, crew, and creatives. Especially since many of us are not from New York originally, it is very comforting to have that family and the second home at the theater. I must say, Stephen Sondheim is one of my favorite composers of all time, so it was quite surreal to be walking around backstage after a performance and to hear someone say “great show,” only to turn and see that it was Sondheim himself!
YA: Do you have a preference in acting for the stage or the screen?
KM: I truly could never choose between the stage and screen. It would be choosing one part of myself over another! These media provide such different experiences and I love different qualities of each. I love the spontaneity of theater and the energy exchange between the audience and the performers. Every show is different! I also love working in film and television. On camera work is much more intimate. You have the time and the ability to make those small moments so so special. It’s a completely different set of acting muscles, if you will.
YA: You graduated high school at 14—that’s awesome! How did that happen?
KM: Thank you so much! Education has always been a priority in my family. Even with my career, I have always made sure that my education comes first. It helps a bit that I love to learn. My brain is this sponge that just thrives on anything educational. I owe a great deal of my educational drive to my preschool teacher. She took me under her wing when I was 3 or 4 and helped me to realize that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. I have lived my life by that motto since then.
YA: You’re studying business. That’s pretty savvy. What do you plan on doing with your degree after you graduate? How do you plan to incorporate that into your music career?
KM: I have always had a huge interest in economics. When I was younger the two magazines I subscribed to were Teen Vogue and The Economist – that pretty much describes who I am as a person. I am currently pursuing an MBA in Investment Management at UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business (Go Tarheels!). I plan to use what I learn to manage my earnings and my career. Also, if (and most likely when) I try my hand at directing or producing, I can use these skills to allocate the resources of the production in a way that would best benefit the piece.
YA: You’re also an accomplished musician. Who inspires you musically and why?
KM: I have always loved music. I’ve been a dancer since I was 2 years old, so music has always been a joy for me. Similar to the stories created in theater, film, and television, music has the ability to take people away into another world to celebrate their good times and to help them through those times when they are down. Some of my favorite artists are Demi Lovato, Bridgit Mendler, Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Fun., Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift.
YA: Do you have a particular song you would like to cover?
KM: There are so many songs I would love to cover, but at the moment I am busy working on new original music…Stay tuned for that soon!
YA: What’s coming up next for you?
KM: I’m not allowed to reveal too much about HAPPYLAND at this point. What I can say is that it follows the story of people who live and work in a theme park. Everything seems perfect on the surface, but behind the scenes, it is utter chaos. We have an incredible cast including Josh Groban and Shane Harper, who are both a dream to work with. The entire Happyland family is really phenomenal and the show is quite smart both in its humor and its storyline. Stay tuned for news soon!
Other than Happyland, be sure to look out for Little Savages, a film I shot this summer that should be out next spring or summer. It’s a fun family film about a boy and his sister who are dropped off in this small town for the summer, somewhat under protest, but meet some great friends and end up on a race to find a treasure! Think National Treasure meets The Goonies. Also, stay tuned for more music from me. My first original single, “Chatter” was released on the CONTEST soundtrack and another song of mine “My Heart Can Fly” is featured in Little Savages. I’m in the studio quite a bit now working on more songs and they just keep getting better and better. Can’t wait for everyone to hear!
YA: What five songs are you currently listening to on your iPod?
KM: This one is really tough… I love listening to music and being inspired by other artists so I’m always looking for new music and the five songs are constantly changing! Right now, I’m loving “Fire Starter” by Demi Lovato, “Postcard” by Bridgit Mendler, “Lego House” by Ed Sheeran, “Stay Stay Stay” by Taylor Swift, and “Roar” by Katy Perry.
YA: Tell us about acting in New Years Eve? Who was your favorite co-cast member?
KM: New Year’s Eve was such an incredible experience. Shooting in NYC was a dream. It’s my favorite city in the world (that I have seen as of yet) and having the opportunity to be a part of such an iconic tradition as well as a great film was such an honor. We had a blast shooting – it actually felt as though it was New Year’s Eve. We were in the perfect spot in Times Square, we had the hats, the props, and the holiday spirit! I loved working with Jake T. Austin and Abigail Breslin. Jake and I have actually worked together since then on Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He’s an amazing person, actor, and friend. Abbie is a real doll as well. She and I have stayed in touch since the film. We’re often off in different parts of the world shooting so we don’t see each other a lot, but we keep in touch quite a bit! 🙂
YA: What’s a special skill outside performing that you have?
KM: One of my favorite things to do outside of performing is baking. My grandmother taught me how to bake using my great grandmother’s recipes. Every time I pull out the flour and sugar and start making some sweet creation, I always think of them and the fun times I had learning to bake. I also love being able to make something to give to someone. Putting a smile on someone else’s face is one of the best feelings.