6 minute read
Runaway Beauty
Ginny Gardner breezed into the sunny Brooklyn studio for her ROSE & IVY cover shoot, her tousled blonde hair tucked under a fedora and a disarming smile stretched across her face. She warmly greeted our crew, and everyone was immediately struck by her youthful energy and enthusiasm as she stepped in front of the camera, something that comes naturally thanks to the years she spent as a model. Originally from Sacramento, California, Ginny has called Los Angeles home since moving there at the age of 16 to pursue a career in acting, something she had dreamed of since she was a young child.
Already a veteran of films and television shows like Project Almanac, GOAT and The Goldbergs, this fall Ginny will be starring in Hulu’s much anticipated television series Runaways, produced by Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz of Gossip Girl fame and based on the Marvel comic of the same name. She plays Karolina Dean, one of a group of six teens who are shocked to learn that their parents are actually supervillains and members of an evil cult. The teens band together to defeat them, discovering their own superpowers in the process. We chatted with this talented actor (and self-proclaimed foodie) about her early life, her Broadway aspirations and the cause that is so dear to her heart.
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Photographed by Sharon Radisch
Interview by Alison Engstrom
Q: Let’s begin by talking about dreams. When you were young, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up?
I always wanted to be an actress. When I was younger, I remember watching I Am Sam starring Dakota Fanning. In the movie, her dad, played by Sean Penn, has autism, which was something that I could really relate to since my brother is autistic. I watched it when I was very young and I didn’t know exactly what I was feeling, but it was really the first time I was affected by a movie. It was that movie that made me want to be an actor. I knew that I wanted to impact people in the same way that movie had done to me. I felt like for the first time, somebody else actually understood me, which was a really cool feeling.
Q: Before you became an actress, you had a successful stint as a model. Was there a certain moment that sparked your transition into acting?
I started modeling at 13; I liked modeling, but I always knew that I wanted to be an actress and it was a way to save money and move to Los Angeles. It was also a good way to get my foot in the door and get a feel for whether the entertainment industry was something that I wanted to be involved in. I did a lot of theater in school and when I moved to Los Angeles at 16, I got my first guest star roles; when I was 18, I got my first film and after that I began to work consistently. Could you see yourself appearing on Broadway? Oh, that is my ultimate dream, I would love to do theater!
Q: Are you musically inclined?
I might be the worst singer on the planet (laughs). I actually took voice lessons with a renowned teacher in Los Angeles. After the second session with him, he turned to me and said, “Ginny, I’ve got to be honest with you, you aren’t a singer. I don’t feel good taking your money when I don’t think you have it in you to be a singer.” I am the world’s worst singer because I am completely tone deaf (laughs).
Q: In the Runaways pilot, six teenagers learn that their parents are actually part of an evil cult. Did you ever go through that phase, like most teenagers, when you rebelled against your parents?
I think that all teenagers go through it. I think that it is so relevant because everyone can relate to thinking their parents are evil, at one time or another while growing up.
Q: Tell us more about your character, Karolina Dean, in Runaways. What drew you to this particular role?
The initial thing I liked about the role was that it was Marvel and Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage were producing it for Hulu. The combination of all of these things made it sound like it was going to be a cool project. The more I learned about Karolina, the more I got excited about the complexity of her. There aren’t a lot of teenage roles out there that go beyond the surface. She looks like she is going to be one thing and then she becomes something else. The more you get to know her character, the more you learn that she is incredibly conflicted and not at all what she appears on the surface. There is a lot of humanity in her even though she is a superhero. What are her superpowers? She flies and she lights things up with rainbow colors.
Q: Do you think that the characters in Runaways are a reflection of a younger generation who proudly speak their minds, especially given the current political climate?
Absolutely. I think that one of the cool things that our show is doing is that it brings up the notion of teenagers really questioning authority, including their parents, who they always thought had the right intentions and were always good people. It is a wake-up call to these teenagers when they realize their parents aren’t who they thought they were. It brings up this idea that a younger generation can raise their voices and do something about it. The cast is really hoping that the characters on the show inspire young people to start questioning what they have been told.
Q: What’s it like working with executive producers Stephanie Savage (Gossip Girl) and Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl, The O.C.), who are always spot-on when it comes to creating relatable teenage characters?
It is really fun — they are so smart and have such a great vision for their projects. Runaways is pretty different from their other shows and will appeal to a broader audience. The more we work with them, the more they try to learn our specific voices and it gets easier for them to write us into our characters. I feel like I am collaborating with them, and we have this feeling like, ‘we’re all in this together,’ which is awesome.
Q: Do you have any aspirations outside of acting, like producing, writing or directing? In other words, where do you see yourself in 20 years?
There are definitely other avenues that I would love to explore. I would eventually like to start producing and putting my name on projects — I’m really interested in things like documentaries and writing. I’d also love to return to the theater.
Q: You have now worked in both television and film. Which do you gravitate towards more?
This is my first time starring in a TV show, which I am really liking since you get to spend so much more time with one character. Plus, you don’t know where the season is going to end, so ultimately, you are on the same journey as your character.
Q: Autism Speaks is a cause that is dear to your heart. Can you share more about your involvement in the organization with us?
My whole family has been very involved in the whole Autism Speaks community. My parents, along with other families, founded the UC Davis MIND Institute, one of the leading research facilities in the U.S. for autism. In Sacramento, we have a really great event called The Evening of Dreams, which is a prom for people with special needs, including autism, who wouldn’t normally get to attend their prom. Students from local high schools volunteer to be their dates. I am trying to bring this to other areas around the country, including Los Angeles.
Q: Tell us more about the special bond you share with your brother, Chas.
Growing up with someone like my brother gives you a greater sense of compassion and humanity for other people. Just because they cannot speak doesn’t mean that they can’t do other wonderful things. It is a blessing to grow up with someone like that in so many special ways. What’s next for you and your career? I have two movies coming out that I am really excited about, including Little Bitches, which is a comedy launching in January—it’s like a female Superbad. I have another called Monster Party, which is a crazy thriller.
Tell Us!
Home is…cozy. If I had one superpower it would be…flying. My role model is…my brother. My ultimate meal is…anything with truffles. I cannot live without…my dog, Levi. Happiness is…being with my friends and family.
Styled by Alison Engstrom
Hair by Andre Rodman
Makeup by James Milligan Photography
Assistant Mélanie Duaul
