STARPOWER [ N Y O T A M A G A Z I N E ] AbbyJamesWitherspoon Volume38
from the editor HELLO THERE, READER! In this Star Power issue, we got to chat with actress Abby James Witherspoon about her film Secret Headquarters, which is available to watch now on Paramount+ We also have a quick chat with actress Gabriella Uhl who can be seen in 13:The Musical on Netflix As usual, I hope you enjoy reading the issue and that it inspires you to go after your dreams YOURS TRULY, Carol Wright EDITOR IN CHIEF @ CAROL WRIGHT 1
contents 1Editor'sLetter 3 GettoKnowAbby 5.StarPower: AbbyJamesWitherspoon 8 Abby'sTopPicks 9.QuickChat:GabriellaUhl Followus@nyotamagazine 4 Abby's Playlist
#StarPower Get to Know Abby I love coffee! I have been drinking coffee since I was 7! I have an electric skateboard that I ride around my Ineighborhood! once played Annie and died my hair red My sister, Draper, and I are the same age for 2 days every year. This summer I went to Vancouver to visit Momo and Walker.
Harry Styles // Matilda Eli Young Band // Even If It Breaks Your Heart The Lumineers // Cleopatra Sara Bareilles // She Used to Be Mine Olivia Rodrigo // good 4 u Kenny Chesney // Get Along Chris Stapleton // Starting Over Taylor Swift // The way I loved you The Lumineers // Nobody Knows Billy Joel // Vienna #NyotaMusic Abby's Playlist 4
#StarPower
Your character Lizzie is a social media influencer who finds herself having to help save the world. What did you do to step into Lizzie’s shoes when filming and bring realness to a character who is going through an unusual situation?
People often say that acting is in their blood, and in your case, that definitely rings true. Did spending time on sets growing up spark your love for acting?
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Are there particular things you look for in a project or character when it comes to choosing what to audition for?
Actress Abby James Witherspoon has been on movie sets since she was a little girl, so it’s no surprise she got bit by the acting bug early on After getting her start in the film Hot Pursuit, she continued to harness her skills and can now be seen in projects like Secret Headquarters and the upcoming film Boys of Summer. Witherspoon talked to NYOTA about getting into character to play Lizzie in SHQ and her advice for aspiring actors.
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When I first found out I got the role of Lizzie, I made a playlist she would listen to, put together a Pinterest board of what I thought her style would look like, and just read the script over and over again. During filming, I just tried to take in the incredible set of the secret headquarters and play off all of the amazingly talented actors. I truly feel like the second I stepped on set each day, I was in Lizzie’s world.
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As you discovered your passion for acting, did you also do dance and other activities that allowed you to perform on a regular basis? I did. I started dance classes when I was two. I then started auditioning for local theater in elementary school. I was still performing in a local theater when I started to audition for TV and film. Dance and theater allowed me to perform in front of an audience which I loved! You can currently be seen in Secret Headquarters on Paramount+. What drew you to the project?
InterviewbyCarolWright|PhotographybyRaulRomo| FashionStylist:TonAguilar| t0n Hair/MakeupArtist:CarolinaYasukawa Artists@yasulina@exclusiveartists
I have been lucky that this year both characters I play, Lizzie in SHQ and Sammy in Boys of Summer, are very dimensional. I have been able to create fun backstories to get into character. I love characters that can surprise the audience by being more than people may first think!
Abby James Witherspoon
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Yes! I was able to spend time visiting my aunt on set a few times. I remember visiting her on the set of Hot Pursuit. I sat in a director's chair and watched the monitor for hours. Someone brought me a headset, and I got to listen to everything going on I loved the energy on set I knew this was what I wanted to do!
When I first got the audition, it seemed like such a fun movie, so I was excited to create Lizzie for my self tape. Then when I had my director's session and met Henry and Rel, I was hooked! They were so much fun! Once I got to the chemistry read and saw everyone else that had been cast, I knew I had to book Secret Headquarters!
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Boys of Summer is your next project, and it is very different from Secret Headquarters. Was it a fun challenge to dive into a fantasy/thriller film? It was! I had never explored this genre before. The story is super captivating and a bit of a mystery My character is also very different from Lizzie, so it was fun to play with that. So much of the film took place in The Guard’s headquarters, and at one point, your character was flying through the room in a jet pack. Was it exciting to be able to do stunt work and action sequences for Secret Headquarters? It was so exciting I had never done stunt work before this project, so it was cool to see everything that goes into making stunts work! I learned a lot and improved throughout filming. The Secret Headquarters cast is chock full of exciting, up and coming talent. Did you learn a lot from working with Momona, Walker, Keith, and Kezii? Not only were Momona, Walker, Keith, and Kezii incredible friends to have every day on set, but I learned a ton from each of them. Whether I was filming a scene with them or just watching the monitor while they filmed, I was always amazed by their work. We had a lot of fun on set, but it was still a super professional and collaborative environment. What is your advice for aspiring actors?
I would 100% say keep going no matter what. Before booking Secret Headquarters, there were many times that I felt defeated by all of the rejections. But that is just part of acting. The role for you will come eventually! Just keep taking acting classes and auditioning It will happen if you keep going.
Lizzie has a lot of comedic moments my favorite being “Hasn’t she been through enough?” when referring to Britney Spears. Did you improvise any of your lines or get to have some fun with the more comedic elements of the role? Lizzie and I are very similar in the sense that we are extremely outgoing and girly girls. Lizzie talks a lot, and so do I!
#StarPower Abby's Top Picks Book: The Catcher and the RyeMovie: Uptown Girls, Castaway, When Harry Met Sally TV Show: Outer Banks Fashion Trend: Bucket hats and fun sunglasses! Any sweater and Jean pairing also!
#QuickChat
The most important thing to know is that actually performing is such a small part of a performer's life. You have to truly love the work of training, auditioning, of being consistent for long periods of time without any recognition or guarantee that you'll get to perform for an audience The commitment to always learning, getting better, and developing skills has to be fulfilling enough, not just a means to an end. The joy has to be in the daily work.
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I started taking dance classes when I was almost four years old. Both of my parents were professional musicians (my dad still is) when I was born, so I was always around people who were practicing and performing. My parents say I was singing before I could even talk, so I guess I have always loved performing.
Patrice is a big city girl in a small town. I am also from a small town, so I understand her feelings of wanting to break out and explore new things.
Did you discover your love for performing early in life?
Tell our readers about your character Patrice. Are there any similarities between you and your character?
nterview by Caro Wright | Photographer: Corinne Louie Who are some of your acting inspirations?
Gabriella Uhl
I toured for almost two years with the 1st National tour of the musical School of Rock. The adult cast members were terrific role models for me on how to be a professional. I am also inspired by the greats, like Julie Andrews, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Florence Pugh. Each of them totally creates the character they're playing, and I get completely swept up in the story they're telling. To prepare for the film, did you listen to and watch footage from the Broadway performances of 13?
Oh, without question. Our time working on the film was split into very distinct tasks the first months were spent entirely on rehearsing and recording the songs, then the later months were spent solely on shooting the film. I didn't have to really sing at all after the soundtrack was recorded. Working with the music team on 13: The Musical was an incredible privilege and highlight of my professional career. Georgia Stitt, our music director, led a team that made sure we were all prepared to sing our best for the soundtrack. Recording it was my favorite part of making the movie. What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
I have been obsessed with the Broadway production of 13 since I knew it existed My sister was in a youth theater production of 13 when I was six years old, and our whole family got really into the music. Patrice was my dream role before I was cast in the movie.
Do you feel that you’ve grown as a singer and actress after working on 13: The Musical?
STAR POWER TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF NYOTA Magazine COVER Abby James WitherspoonACTOR CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHER Raul Romo PUBLISHING WWW ISSUU COM/NYOTAMAGAZINE HTTP://NYOTAMAGAZINE COMGRAPHIC DESIGNER CAROL WRIGHT CAROL WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER Corinne Louie
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