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A Triple Threat in the Making: Ella Grace's Journey in Entertainment and Beyond

• Multiple • Season 3 • Episode 1

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Can a child truly be a "triple threat" in the entertainment industry? Join us as we sit down with the remarkable Ella Grace and her mom, Lee, to explore this very question. From starring in commercials before hitting preschool to being a face of a Disney campaign, Ella's journey is nothing short of inspirational. We chat about her pursuits in fine art, ballroom dancing, and songwriting, alongside the challenges of maintaining a balanced life amidst the thrill of show business. Lee gives us a heartfelt glimpse into the early days of Ella's passion for performance and the pivotal role of a supportive family in navigating the spotlight.

Our conversation ventures into the vibrant world of entertainment, uncovering what fuels Ella's aspiration to grace Broadway and collaborate with Disney. Inspired by icons like Zendaya, she shares her dreams of becoming a versatile performer while balancing other interests such as aerial silks and fashion design. We also highlight the importance of maintaining authenticity and managing public attention as a young actor, discussing the value of tools like IMDb in showcasing one's career and the evolving role of social media as a digital scrapbook. With Ella's infectious enthusiasm and wisdom beyond her years, we celebrate the joy of creativity and the excitement of following diverse dreams.

In a charming twist, the episode offers a peek into the unique lifestyle of a homeschooled sixth-grader immersed in the entertainment world. Ella opens up about her flexible education through Florida Virtual School, allowing for seamless travel to auditions and acting gigs. Her stories about fast-paced adventures, such as a whirlwind trip to California, provide a candid look at the life of a young star. Alongside these tales, we explore the grounding influence of family and the importance of nurturing passions outside the entertainment industry, from rock climbing to envisioning a future in animal care. Join us for an engaging discussion that celebrates the multidimensional nature of talent and the beautiful blend of youthful dreams with the wisdom of experience.

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Local Celebrity Brevard

Speaker 1

Welcome to Local Celebrity Brevard . My name is Jesse Hall , I am your host today and in the studio I have one incredible talent . We're lucky to have her as a local talent and , of course , here on the show we love to go ahead and showcase and share some of the behind the scenes , some of the local lifestyle that some of our celebrities enjoy here on the Space Coast , and with us is Ella Grace . She has one heck of a career so far . She has other interests that we're going to dive into , and joining her in the studio is her mother , leigh , and I'm so thrilled to have these two in here . It's been a long time coming . I feel like we've been chatting about this podcast episode for a long time , but with such a busy career and demanding career , their calendar is always tied up . So to have them finally in here , I'm just super excited , and we're kicking off 2025 with Local Celebrity Brevard with them as our first episode . Ella Grace Lee . Welcome to the studio .

Speaker 2

Man , you guys are busy yes , we are , and we're thrilled to be here you are thrilled to be here .

Speaker 1

Um , but let's just get started real quick , ella . What have you been up to recently and what ? What are just some , some of the recent accomplishments ? And we'll just dive in just so people get to know you , and then we're going to get a deep dive into your background .

Speaker 3

Okay , so I do a lot of fine art . So , I've been doing a lot of art , and then I've been sewing recently too , a new hobby . I finished making my first dress from a pattern , which was super cool . I keep doing ballroom dancing . I have a competition coming up in january and you know , let's see , you're writing a song . Oh yes , I'm writing a song , my very first song .

Speaker 3

We wrote , I recorded it and we made the music video for it yeah , I completed my second song , I'm finishing up my third song and I'm just doing some auditions for acting right right there's more .

Speaker 1

That's just what she remembers well , and that's what that question was for , just to get just a general idea of , like , who you are . And if nobody's ever heard of you , they probably didn't know that . They've probably seen you in some national campaigns and even some feature films . So we'll dive into those as well , because you know what makes you a celebrity here . You know , and for some people listen , it's a nice area to hide . You know you're not in the big epicenters of production like you know Orlando , or you know LA and even Georgia . You know Atlanta , or you know LA and even Georgia . You know Atlanta's , you know , kind of become a big production hub , so you're not really in an area where most actors would feel like at home . You know , like Beverly Hills or something you know of that nature .

Speaker 1

You're a Brevard celebrity , yeah , you know . And what does that mean , right ? So you're here here , but you have to do a lot of traveling to do all of this , because there's not a whole lot here in brevard to actually help with this . This career choice , right ? Yeah , not much , right ? So let's start back from the drawing board . Um , what was your first production ? Where did mom get you , uh , invested into this type of career choice ?

Speaker 3

you might want to start with that one a little bit . She might be too young to remember .

Speaker 2

I do .

Speaker 3

Yeah .

Speaker 2

Well , actually it's always interesting the way that question is phrased , because I didn't get her into acting Right . She showed an incredible love of performing from the time she could make sounds . There's actually a video on YouTube , and I'm so grateful that we I just put it up . When she was 22 months old she wasn't even two yet telling me to stop helping her sing a song , and so I wouldn't remember A little sassy .

Speaker 2

Yeah , oh yeah , I wouldn't remember that moment if I didn't have it on video . So I'm glad that we saved it . And then we got her into musical theater . We thought that would be a great outlet and it was the perfect place for a child like her , because it involves singing and dancing and acting and working in a group . And , um , her first time on a stage was three years old , when there's also a video of that on YouTube of her teacher having to come escort her off the stage because she was just continuing to bow and enjoy the audience applause , and so my husband and I , who are extreme introverts , looked at each other and said I think she's in the right place , you know , on a stage .

Speaker 2

So that's where the performing began . And then we were told you should get her an agent in orlando and she can do commercials and earn some money for college . So we did the . The response was great . She started doing commercials at age three .

Speaker 3

Wow .

Speaker 2

Huge one for Disney at age four that they're still using clips of her today seven years later I was in the Oscars . She's been you've seen Ella in the Disney commercial during the Oscars , the Super Bowl , all of the major primetime things that have been on ABC . She's had a little clip of her face in there . So that kind of launched everything . And then I don't know if you want to talk about , well , like the big time , but Well , we're definitely talking about the big time .

Speaker 1

She went big time so quickly . So I Huey Halloween came out . I remember that , that scene where this adorable little girl I think was dressed as Harley Quinn or something walked up and stole all the candy and it took me a second time to watch it . And then I think you guys had mentioned it like , oh , you know , this time of year , during Halloween , you know , we get to revisit this one scene that elegrates . I mean it was adorable and cue the B-roll because I want to revisit this one scene that was adorable and cue the B-roll because I want to show this and let everybody see what we're talking about . But certainly it's a great little scene and I love Adam Sandler movies . I can't believe you guys got to be there with him he's awesome I know .

Speaker 1

So maybe there's a story or two , some anecdotal stuff working with just the Happy Madison production , just all of them , for sure , they're such a great cast .

Speaker 3

I mean everyone I've ever worked with . I've never encountered someone who was not nice or was not friendly to me . Everyone is so amazing .

Speaker 2

Including Adam . Including .

Speaker 1

Adam of course .

Speaker 3

Right , he's so funny , I love him .

Speaker 1

Yeah , any talks of maybe being featured again ?

Speaker 2

Not that we know of yet . Okay , yeah .

Speaker 1

Because I guess there's a happy Gilmore 2 coming out , there is yes . Oh , my goodness , Wouldn't that be a yes . Yeah , that'd be so much fun .

Speaker 2

Yes .

Speaker 1

But yeah , but listen , you know , just to be in his company and to be on such a fun set , I mean , you know , I mean I love Halloween , I love doing a Halloween-style movie .

Speaker 2

Oh yeah , yeah , it's a blessing that she's in now what's probably considered a holiday classic film .

Speaker 1

It is a holiday classic , it's something people watch every year .

Speaker 2

They've already told us so she's now part of Halloween tradition , which is her dad's favorite holiday .

Speaker 1

So he's thrilled . Yeah well , your producer and host right now is thrilled because there's a little piece of the Space Coast , you know , in the form of Ella Grace here blessing us with with her . Uh , with that one scene and it was like I mean it just , it just fit the part also I get . I think you guys have uh been featured in a public's campaign .

Speaker 3

Yes , tell us about that I recently did a public's commercial . Actually it was last year , now already . Well , yes , yes , last year 2024 and that one that was a lot of fun I had . I gotta run around and eat cookies stay up sprinkles rain from the sky . Oh yeah , I was standing in a kiddie pool and I had to hold the rainbow sprinkles cookie in my hand .

Speaker 1

Right .

Speaker 3

And they would drop sprinkles above my head . And I have to act . Super surprised and it was so fun it was raining , sprinkles .

Speaker 1

Right , it sounds fun .

Speaker 3

It is very awesome it is .

Speaker 2

It had to happen late and overnight because it's when the stores closed , yeah , when there's no customers .

Speaker 1

Because it wasn't like on a set , like you guys were in a store .

Speaker 3

We were in the Publix . Wow , they got the kiddie pools out and they just had gallons of sprinkles and they were up on the ladder and they just went and you were finding sprinkles in your ears for the next couple weeks .

Speaker 1

I think so .

Speaker 2

Well , I'm sure that's very rewarding , because I mean not only is Publix an institution , but I'm sure that's where you go shopping here in Central Florida and she eats those cookies and she eats them Every time .

Speaker 3

Now I eat those cookies .

Speaker 1

Now they must have given you , like a nice little spiff right Like lifetime supply of cookies or something . No , no , you just can't go and show like you know your Publix , you know MasterCard or something .

Speaker 3

They did give her a name tag . They did give me tag .

Speaker 1

Okay , that's official .

Speaker 3

I can walk in there .

Speaker 1

That's official .

Speaker 2

It's very cool and I have to just say that it was such a blessing to do that commercial , because it was in Florida and . Ella is a member of the SAG-AFTRA union , which means she can't do non-union work , which is the majority , which is mostly what is in Florida now .

Speaker 3

So it was amazing , we only had to drive an hour to Orlando .

Speaker 2

To work in her home state is a blessing , that's awesome .

Speaker 1

Oh , I'm sure , yeah , and I don't want to get into , like you know , where we're at with production in Florida , but I feel like it could be better . I feel , like you know there were some really good shows like Bloodline and a couple other ones that were based here in Florida , and Florida , just , you know , georgia , is very I mean they're , they're just taken over , you know , on the East coast , um , they're , you know , they're very complimenting to the industry and I would just wish Florida could be a little bit more complimenting , but I think it's the theme parks maybe having a little .

Speaker 2

But anyway , I don't want to get political and talk about what's going on , but just say I was a of film florida right , which is a professional organization lobbying to bring you know film incentives . And , yeah , back to florida let's do that .

Speaker 1

we have , I mean , we have the biggest coastline . I mean we have , you know , just beautiful resources um backdrops , you know where people can tell all kinds of stories , and it's just why wouldn't we want that here , you know , I mean , I mean it's gorgeous here . I mean the weather's always like pretty much , you know , complimentary , you know sunny skies , and anyway , I just feel like , you know , there's a lot of cool locations here in Florida where Many there is

Entertainment and Creative Pursuits

Speaker 1

yeah .

Speaker 3

Yes , we'd even drive by Orlando sometimes and I would see this big water park tower . I'm like what is that ? I've never been there and that looks so awesome .

Speaker 2

There's a lot of fun things in Orlando .

Speaker 3

There's a lot of fun things in Orlando and I'm like we're right here , so we need to just go there and spend a whole weekend just having fun .

Speaker 1

Yeah , exactly . So what's your idea of fun ?

Speaker 3

Anything really . I like to play video games with my friends . I like hanging out with my friends and I love theme parks . I went to SeaWorld with some of my friends .

Speaker 1

It's so fun .

Speaker 3

I'm a big roller coaster fan , so I love the big scary drop rides .

Speaker 1

Yes .

Speaker 3

Up loop-de-loops , all those .

Speaker 1

I love them all and you just became tall enough to I know I'm like I'm at the next level here . I'm like yes .

Speaker 3

Yes , yes , I'm like . Yes , yes , I get to ride the scary one now . Yeah , you're a daredevil oh yeah .

Speaker 1

So do you see yourself doing any Marvel characters Doing stunts one day ? Oh yeah , I definitely want to do my own stunts .

Speaker 3

I do not want a stunt double , for sure I will jump off and do a backflip into things .

Speaker 2

Mom , I'm sure the production would not allow some of that Right but it's kind of a cool story she used to do . She's a little on break right now from it , like the aerial silks Right .

Speaker 1

That was you know where you can do and she . It's like vertical trapeze or something . Yeah , it's hanging there and it's very artistic . It's very artistic .

Speaker 2

She's been doing that for a long time , yeah , and when she was a series regular on an ABC sitcom called United we Fall . And unfortunately it only had one season . It didn't get renewed .

Speaker 1

Right .

Speaker 2

And one of the producers had said well , if there's another season , we might write that skill into the story . Maybe we'll have you hanging from curtains or something Like .

Speaker 3

I was a crazy child and have me swinging from the curtains , but it's neat Some of her skills have been used in some of her projects , like dancing and it's very exciting when that happens . Yes , I definitely had a lot of dancing in my movie specifically .

Speaker 1

Are you familiar with the term triple threat ?

Speaker 3

Yes , I am .

Speaker 1

What does that mean ?

Speaker 3

That means you have three different skills you're good at , so I would be like acting , singing and dancing , maybe .

Speaker 1

Well , those are the three . When they call someone a triple threat , it is you know , if you can sing and act and dance . Oh yeah , I mean you look at some of the biggest ones . You know some of the biggest performers and these performers they're always busy . You know , you got a little comedy and then you really are , just like you know , dominating . But if you can do three of those , you know the Fred Astaire's of the world and you know going up and you know , and even , like I mean there's like so many talented you know people , rosie Perez and .

Speaker 1

J-Lo and a couple others . You know , they started as dancers , they got into acting . And then , you know , now they started as dancers , they got into acting , and now they're recording artists . And one just goes to the other , I feel like , and actors become singers , and singers become actors .

Speaker 2

It gives them options and they're not bored . I'm never bored . You can never be bored .

Speaker 3

If there's any point in the day I'm bored , I'll go sit down at my piano . I'll write a song . I'll practice my dance .

Speaker 1

I'll pretend I'm acting with my barbies . Well , the screenplay too . Yeah , I did , and you're writing screenplays . Well , I always , I always thought that you know if you're bored and you're , you know , only boring people get bored . Right , if you're , I mean , because if you're someone of with interests or hobbies for me , I don't have enough time and enough time in a day to do all the things I want to do . I'm never bored . I have to force myself to relax . That's a character trait that I would definitely say hold on to that . Always find something of interest , always keep a couple hobbies available . You mentioned even finding more hobbies . You're the most unboring person I've ever met .

Speaker 1

Thank you . Well , it takes a lot to not only find skills that hold your interest Because , mom , I know you met some other moms and parents out there and they're just like I .

Speaker 1

just wish my kid stuck to one thing it's basketball this year , it's soccer this year , it's tennis the other year , and you know , now we're into , you know , go-kart racing and and it they just can't . Just , you know , find a one , you know a passion , and stick with it long enough just to get maybe good at it , maybe get recognized for it , maybe you know , uh , train real hard and and compete in in a compete in a field or a discipline of sport or interest or anything , because I think kids are just so distracted .

Speaker 2

Could be . You do have to give something a chance .

Speaker 1

Yeah .

Speaker 3

I do like to sometimes mix it up , because it's like when I did pastels for pretty much three years and then I got a sewing machine for christmas last year . I I love to sew now and my art teacher knew how to sew , so we had sewing lessons . We took a little break from pastels and now I'm getting back into pastels and I'm still sewing at home . So it's I like trying new things and then usually coming back to the old ones if I really do like them a lot Again .

Speaker 2

The unboring lifestyle , yes , the unboring lifestyle .

Speaker 1

Right , yep , so being with SAG AFTRA .

Speaker 2

AFTRA , aftra , yes .

Speaker 1

And the Florida Film . What was that ?

Speaker 2

organization Film Florida . Film Florida .

Speaker 1

I'd imagine and I didn't do my due diligence because I know it's there your IMDb , yes . How updated and current is your IMDb ? And tell me more about some of the ongoing projects that may be added to your profile here very soon , because aren't you involved in a couple things right now ?

Speaker 3

Yeah , I did make my music video and you can put that on your imdb . I need to add it .

Speaker 2

You need to add that .

Speaker 3

That's my responsibility , okay yeah , and then I make some short films , so we put that under me as a director or a

Young Talent Dreams of Broadway

Speaker 3

writer .

Speaker 2

I think I already have . I have one of them .

Speaker 3

You have three . They're all . Three are up . All three of them . Yeah , they're all three up there , of course they are . All three of them are up there . Yeah , of course they are Good . Yeah , they're all three up there . Of course they are . Yeah , and my IMDb is very updated . She keeps it updated . I've got to learn one of these days to give her a little break .

Speaker 1

Yeah , but .

Speaker 3

I have all my pictures on there .

Speaker 1

Good .

Speaker 2

Your reels , all my reels . So there's clips , family clips . That's Ella's first lead role in a feature film . Fun , and it was a comedy , she gets to use her comedy skills . Did some ad-libbing and that's where I got to do some dancing , dancing , yeah , what a fun film that was that ?

Speaker 3

one was really great .

Speaker 2

So there's clips of that . I upload some new photos every now and then if she goes to a red carpet or premiere or have some back behind the scenes things .

Speaker 1

Yeah .

Speaker 1

And so , and ideally , they're going to be featured either where I'm at , in this square , or somewhere in this frame , so people can see exactly what we're talking about . For those , of course , listening , you're just going to have to look up Ella Grace on IMDb to see all these cool features and B-rolls and other things that they've highlighted for you to look at , because that is really where you tell your story in this industry , right ? I mean , if it's not on IMDb , that didn't really happen , right ? Or are you really an actor ? If you're , if you don't have an IMDb , that's pretty much your . You know before you know Facebook or anything else . That's pretty much where you , you know Facebook or anything else . That's pretty much where you found talent . That's where you learned about someone you know with an acting career or doing anything else , because you really do highlight all those things , no matter how big or little the part .

Speaker 2

Everything's included , right , of course ? Yeah , it is the go-to research tool for everybody , because if you're watching a movie and you're like , I know who that actor is or what else have they ? Been in you just look it up and everything's there , exactly a movie and you're like I know who that actor is , or what else have they been in you ?

Speaker 1

just look it up and everything's there Exactly . It's like an encyclopedia of actors and talent and everything else . Right , Everyone's on there . There's something coming up in February . What can you talk about in the VOLGE today for our audience ?

Speaker 3

Okay , so February 6th is season four of Sweet Magnolias , so you do have some time to binge and yes , I personally think it's the best season yet it's really amazing . A lot of surprises . Every episode there's a new bomb and you go what . It's really great . The whole show is amazing . The whole cast is amazing and I would really recommend watching it . It's really great . Sweet Magnolias and it's on Netflix . And how does Netflix treat you ?

Speaker 1

you , oh I like netflix yeah they're , they're nice , they're very nice .

Speaker 3

I've done two projects now , a tv show and a movie in netflix , and netflix is usually my go-to and my dream is to be on disney one day , because I love singing and dancing , so I'd love to be in one of those musicals .

Speaker 1

I don't know how you're not already in it I know .

Speaker 3

I have auditioned for a few little things .

Speaker 1

Yeah .

Speaker 3

But you know , gotta wait my turn , but I'll get there . I'm gonna get there one day .

Speaker 1

I mean because if you look at some of the history , you know , I mean you just look at some of the biggest stars coming from that kind of cast .

Speaker 3

Her favorite is . Descendants is my favorite and when they had the new movie come out , I'm so loving it with Kylie Cantrell and all those .

Speaker 2

Who's your favorite actress who came off a Disney show ? It begins with a Z .

Speaker 3

Oh Zendaya , oh my gosh , she is my idol . Igins with a Z oh Zendaya , oh my gosh , she is my idol . I only want to meet her . She's been on my vision board to work with her at some point .

Speaker 1

Well , keep that vision board .

Speaker 3

I will .

Speaker 1

What age did you just turn ?

Speaker 3

I am going to be 12 in March .

Speaker 1

You're going to be 12 in March . Yes , wow . So you already have a vision board as a 12-year-old .

Speaker 3

Yeah , I've had it for a few years I had it in 2021 , 22 , 23 , 24 , and this will be 25 . We're working on 25 . Yeah , we're working on 25 , right now In the works .

Speaker 1

Yeah , why the smugness ? Because , I haven't had time to get around to it yet . Time's a thing . You need a 25-hour day . I need a 25-hour day .

Speaker 3

Come on , you know that .

Speaker 1

Well , I'm sure it'll get completed here soon . Be gentle on yourself . It's only the what ? Ninth day of the year . Ninth tenth , yeah , but being that you're actually in a studio right now and you're still continuing to work and keep the momentum going on , that just I mean listen , it's probably not going to change a whole lot of the vision board . You know you may modify what car you want , and maybe you know what house you want , or maybe what vacation you want .

Speaker 3

I'm keeping what dog I want on there , yeah .

Speaker 1

But some things don't change . Yeah , right , would you say that you've kind of been secure in who you are as your identity , like your favorite foods and not a whole lot has changed . Right , you're still the same .

Speaker 3

Yeah , I'm still the same old me , the little three-year-old that kept jumping on the bed singing and dancing . Let it go , you know , I'm still me .

Speaker 1

Yeah , well , I guess that would be your era , because you know , being that , you're 12 In March .

Speaker 3

Frozen is .

Speaker 1

That's your era .

Speaker 2

Every day .

Speaker 3

I feel sorry .

Speaker 2

No , but thankfully it's great music because I didn't mind listening to it .

Speaker 3

Or now she sings it Every day before school I would watch it and if I had time I would go back to the beginning and re-watch it .

Speaker 1

If there was a live adaptation of Frozen would . How bad do you want to be involved ?

Speaker 3

I auditioned for Anna and Elsa on Broadway , on Broadway , oh .

Speaker 1

I know and nailed the audition nailed it , nailed it , but didn't get it and that's okay .

Speaker 2

It's okay , and we did see the original Broadway production . We did see it .

Speaker 1

It was amazing . Yeah , so it has been adapted to live theater .

Speaker 2

For live . Yeah , yes , we saw it , not a live action .

Speaker 3

It was great .

Speaker 1

Well , maybe they're holding you out for the film not Broadway , you never know . Is Broadway even attractive ? I Is Broadway even attractive .

Speaker 3

I did Broadway once .

Speaker 2

But for how long ? It was just a week she was part of the tour of . Waitress . There was a little girl in the final scenes and she was very blessed to be in the Orlando production at Dr Phillips Center .

Speaker 1

So off Broadway .

Speaker 3

No , it's official Broadway . It was official Broadway . Actors' Equity , she is so off broadway . No , it's official broadway actors equity .

Speaker 2

She is eligible . Has a little . Yeah , she's official , that was broadway official .

Speaker 1

Yeah , so tell me more about um . I mean because , again to be a broadway actor , that's like every night you're working that was you know , weeks and months , hopefully , hopefully , hopefully , whatever production you're involved in does last a while .

Speaker 3

It was fun , I was four .

Speaker 1

No , you were five .

Speaker 3

I was five , okay , I was five at that point and it was a lot of fun . I didn't have many lines , I had lots of giggles and I still remember the main thing was I had boxes in front of me and they would roll me out with the cart and I had to hide behind it and then they'd spread them apart and I'd go surprise and that was my favorite part when I was little just going to say look at me .

Speaker 3

Right , and then here I am and I love that was a lot of fun . And then I had when we left there was a lot of people there waiting for me to sign their little playbook and I'm like , wait , as a little five-year-old , I'm like , wait , you're for me .

Speaker 1

I'm like I don't know how to spell yeah like wait how ?

Speaker 2

to spell my name . She knew how to write her first name .

Speaker 1

Did she ?

Speaker 2

I think that's how she signed it , just , ella , yeah just Ella .

Speaker 3

Now I have my special signature Aw .

Speaker 2

I'm glad you have those memories .

Speaker 3

Yeah .

Speaker 1

I'm glad you have those memories . That's amazing . I may have to get Like you said . You have your own signature . I'm going to have you sign .

Speaker 2

I brought a headshot for you .

Speaker 1

I know right , I know I'm going to have you sign this because then I'm going to show the camera . Okay , so let's see . If someone says , may I get your autograph ? Yes , and says , may I get your autograph ? Yes ?

Speaker 2

And then she has a different signature when she signs her artwork , when I sign , my artwork .

Speaker 3

Yeah , oh , your little art , my little art , little signature , yes , so the bottom one is my art signature and then my signing signature is just Ella Halton and script . I'm still working on it . But yeah , there it is , came along nice . Thanks , I didn still working on it , but yeah , there it is , came along nice .

Speaker 1

I didn't know your generation was being taught cursive .

Speaker 2

Well , we homeschool , so I don't know . We went through a cursive writing book a few years ago .

Speaker 3

Yeah , some uppercase letters I forgot though . Yeah , it's okay

Adventurous Homeschooling and Social Media

Speaker 3

.

Speaker 2

The Z is weird , the Z .

Speaker 3

What are you even talking ?

Speaker 1

about there . It's a little funky Z .

Speaker 2

What are you even talking about ?

Speaker 1

there , it's a little funky . It's a little funky as a curse of writing , because it's a total departure from the regular script right , yes of course , let's talk about what the home life is . Oh yeah , is homeschooling fun ? Is mommy a good teacher ?

Speaker 3

I'm going to be honest .

Speaker 1

Yeah , not really .

Speaker 3

Oh , no , well , she does Florida Virtual School , so I do have a teacher that I can call and text whenever I need and of course she's doing her own work . But if I do have a question , like she's a writer and I do language arts , so half the time I'll call her over and say I have no clue what this means and you're the writer . And then my dad's the math and science guy , so if I have a math or science question I ask him .

Speaker 1

So what grade are you going into ?

Speaker 3

I am in sixth . I'm going into the second semester of sixth grade .

Speaker 1

That makes sense . Yeah , yeah . Sixth yeah . Sixth grade , I know .

Speaker 3

I'm like middle school already I know it feels like . I was just in pre-K .

Speaker 1

I know .

Speaker 2

Well , she did go to a kindergarten and a pre-K and I did go to register her for first grade in public school .

Speaker 3

Yeah , but they would not work with us at all .

Speaker 2

Right for our travel . I explained the situation . I said it's unpredictable . We don't know how long she might be gone for a job . And they said you have nine days of absence allowed and that's it for semester .

Speaker 3

That's not going to work . We had to leave three months at a time when we did Unendably Fall Well and for her TV show Sweet . Magnolias , we were in Atlanta for three months , so obviously we needed flexibility .

Speaker 1

Yeah , no , you need to be very flexible .

Speaker 3

Yeah , so homeschool I just take my laptop with me and thank goodness for sixth grade you don't have to print the pages out . In fifth grade you had to print every page and then scan it and then submit it , but now we just got to type it in .

Speaker 2

So I'm like yes , yeah , everything's digital and mobile . So , with Florida Virtual School . We're really grateful for that so do you ?

Speaker 1

have any textbooks .

Speaker 3

I don't no , I just read my lessons . That's so weird I click on my lesson button and they have modules , so module four , and then point lesson one would be oh one or oh five , lesson five . And then I click on that and then I just go through my pages , then I do my quiz or I'll type in my assignment , send it in .

Speaker 1

Boy , what a lifestyle . Yeah , so you're just , as today a director calls you Okay and says get on , a plane , shooting starts . We got to do all this stuff . I mean , you guys are that flexible , you guys just up and running .

Speaker 2

We've done it . Oh yes , we've done a few . Next day to California flight trips . We should . I say you want to share the most crazy story of all . Let's go crazy .

Speaker 3

So it was for a little commercial for q , it was a covid test , yeah something during the covid times yes , and my manager was like you know they haven't given confirmation but they're very close and like I think you should maybe get ready to get some tickets . So we were up till 2 am packing . We got in the bed .

Speaker 2

She bought us our tickets .

Speaker 3

I bought tickets like after midnight .

Speaker 2

Yes .

Speaker 3

And then we woke up at 4 am to take our bags and leave and go to the airport for a 7 o'clock flight and then we got there for a 3 pm appointment California time for my fitting .

Speaker 2

Yeah , the same day .

Speaker 3

And I had a long nap after that .

Speaker 1

Yeah , no kidding .

Speaker 2

Yeah , the fittings are usually a day or two before they shoot . And this other mom that we know , a little girl book . She looked at me walk in . She goes no way , like we were just in Florida and we woke up in Florida . And here we are . So because you travel back in time three hours to California is the only way we were able to pull that off .

Speaker 3

If we were three hours , if we had to go three hours ahead , it wouldn't work .

Speaker 2

Yeah , no it was also when there were a lot more flights . It was easy to get on a flight , really easy , out of Orlando to . La . It's a little harder now and the costs are more .

Speaker 3

But the time traveling did help . So time traveling is real , it's real , it is real .

Speaker 1

Going back in time . Yeah , I mean taking off at 7 am and landing at 8 am .

Speaker 2

Yeah , you know it's kind of like fun , pretty much Like it's 9 am yeah .

Speaker 1

Like 9 am it's crazy , but where you just left is like 1 pm or whatever .

Speaker 3

It is Like 1 pm Exactly , and then we just stay with the time zone , kind of as we fly , or sometimes little kids .

Speaker 2

So it's fun , it's cool . We've had some interesting adventures . It sounds like it yeah .

Speaker 1

Hence your social media adventures with Allegra .

Speaker 2

I had no idea when I established the name of her account how adventurous her life would be .

Speaker 3

That's a legit Was that a little forecasting , a little foreshadowing , going on I know , my very first post was me splashing into the little kiddie pool I had writing off my slide going what ?

Speaker 2

Yeah , the first person who we talked to about taking photos and getting into the commercials and all that she's like you've got to get this kid on Instagram . I was like , what ? Like , what is Instagram ? And so I was like , okay , we'll have some fun and just post some photos . And then obviously now it's become like a yearbook .

Speaker 3

Like I go back to see when things happen , you know , to research . It's a good log .

Speaker 1

I know I shall spend hours on a video and I'm like well , because , because it is going to be used as , essentially , you know , if you're employing social media to be , you know , an accountable calendar of you know , even like a yearbook or even like um journal of like what were those adventures in 2024? .

Speaker 3

You know what I ?

Speaker 1

mean , and if they're all there and well cataloged , yeah , you kind of want to spend some time make sure the photo is just right or the you know , cause no one else is doing it for you . A B , you got one time to pretty much do that . I mean , no one's going to go back 30 years and edit . You know those videos and so you know where you're at is where you're at essentially and you got to . It's up to you to catalog those things and do the best you know you can with highlighting all of these momentous occasions . And it's kind of fun to see where it all started , because as you grow in your career and one momentous occasion becomes even eclipses , another look , you know , but you have to see where those humble beginnings started . You're going to be like this all happened because of where it all started and again , it's going to be like a time capsule . It's going to be great and all your fans and everybody else they'll be able to kind of relive all those moments with you , Like , wow , this girl isn't like overnight success .

Speaker 3

She's been grinding for years .

Speaker 2

Oh , yes , since .

Speaker 3

I was three years old .

Speaker 2

Well , and there's a person that we follow and know pretty well who coaches on social media for actors specifically and she encourages them to focus on a few specific things that they excel at . Because on social media if you find someone who cooks , you want to see recipes . Someone who sews , like Ella likes to see projects that they make . And I said to her I'm like Ella , does she have too many things going on for social media . We can't really focus on just three of them ? And she's like no , that's just who she is .

Speaker 3

Yeah , and my Instagram helps me sometimes get jobs because they see what I do .

Speaker 2

Yeah , the Derek Jeter commercial , if you want to talk about that one .

Speaker 1

Yeah , I want to hear about Derek Jeter's commercial .

Speaker 3

So that was actually really great . When we got it , they said I didn't have a part , I played myself , I wasn't a character and my bead bracelet when I was four to five . Four to five when I did that commercial . Oh no , you were six . I was six years old when I did the commercial . They said set up a little booth and then you have your bead bracelets and we're going to have someone come surprise you .

Speaker 2

So the reason she got the commercial is because , we would give money back from each bracelet to the Children's Hunger Project . Yes , Beautiful . That got noticed and they contacted us and said oh , we'd like her to be herself in this commercial and tell her story . They didn't tell us that Derek Jeter was going to be showing up , walking down the sidewalk . Sit down and make bead bracelets with her .

Speaker 3

I had no clue .

Speaker 3

Right , I was six years old and I only knew . My mom's whole family loves the Yankees . They're from New Jersey , sure . So I just knew the team . I didn't know that he was a player , I didn't know what they looked like , even what their names were . So he comes up and he asks me hey , can I help you ? I'm like , yeah , sure , and I was a 6-year-old , you know , got really , yeah , stranger coming up , going to lose my bracelets . For sure , let's go . But I knew it was going to be fun . He was so tall and we had a lot of fun . He asked fun . He was so tall and we had a lot of fun .

Speaker 2

He asked me what my favorite team was and I said the yankees , because that's the only one I knew and he's like great . Yeah , I'm like how's this ? Good answer , good answer . Meanwhile , I'm over on the sidewalk dying , I know don't say anybody about the yankees . I know she's like I was like she had no idea who he was .

Speaker 3

It was pretty funny , I just remember seeing her with the headphones on and going oh , like I knew who he was . Yeah I'm like I guess he's someone .

Speaker 2

Yeah , that was an amazing , memorable day that was a surprise that was shot in miami that one was awesome .

Speaker 3

Yeah , I , I loved set and I just loved the cameras . And then there's people walking by with their dogs and then they're like , oh , what's going on here ? And I guess it feels good to feel like a celebrity sometimes and , you know , feel appreciated .

Speaker 1

So let's talk about that . Yeah , well , being appreciated and having that little bit of celebrity , you know , having people like , hey , can we do anything for you ? Hey , you know , you were really great in that one spot , you know , I mean just being recognized is one thing , and at one spot , you know , I mean just being recognized is one thing .

Speaker 3

Yeah , it's a little less .

Child Actor Navigating Fame

Speaker 3

I want to do stuff for you or give you things . It's more I appreciate your work and I know you're a good actor and you're just the compliments of people that are not super close to me , because of course you'll say nice things to everyone but someone who doesn't know me . They don't have to say anything . They they can mind their own business . But if they come to me and they say you know I follow you and we had somebody when we were walking into the aldi's somebody say you know I follow you on instagram , say you know doing a great job , great actress and just , and it lightens my whole day . So I guess that's another thing I like about acting is when people see you and then they recognize your acting skills . It just makes me feel amazing , like I did the right job . That's how I want to feel . I'm verklempt .

Speaker 1

Oh , very sweet , that is very sweet , and and and having unsolicited , you know , uh , admirers are , you know , and people complimenting you . I mean that's got to feel valuable it does yeah . Do you think it'll ever get old ? Cause I feel like you know , sometimes , you know you'll see like some of these , you know paparazzi getting these . Yeah , you've seen Zendaya and Tom Holland walking on the sidewalk .

Speaker 3

You're like you know , sometimes you know you'll see like some of these , you know , paparazzi getting these . Yeah , you see Zendaya and Tom Holland walking on the sidewalk . You're like picture , picture , picture . But I don't really want that . But sometimes I might not mind that , like in events , If I'm If you're on a red carpet , you expect it .

Speaker 1

If I'm on a red carpet , yeah .

Speaker 2

I'm like like you know I'm here , sure , but if I'm out going to aldi's , and you know , sometimes I want to private a little privacy . That's what we like living here .

Speaker 3

Sometimes it can be a little scary . We had a one incident at the airport . We were heading somewhere , I don't know . I think we would have been what a rhode island for the . And someone said are you the girl from Sweet Magnolias ? And she was , and my mom was in the bathroom .

Speaker 3

I usually wait outside if I don't have to go to the bathroom and she was in there and I was like , yeah , and I thought it was cool at first , and then she starts telling everyone that walks by , this is the girl from Sweet Magnolias , go watch it . And it was kind of creepy . The girl from Sweet Magnolia , let's go watch it . And it was kind of creepy and I was like that is a little cringe .

Speaker 1

It is In the women's bathroom . She was like where's your ?

Speaker 3

mother and I'm like , oh , she's in the bathroom . She's like you know what , I'll stay here until she comes out and I'm like you know , I'm okay , but thank you , I probably have a flight to . She tells everyone this is a graph of Spidey Magnolias and it was very creepy .

Speaker 1

That is cringy , that is I mean .

Speaker 2

I'm in the stall . This is in the women's bathroom she wasn't out in the airport . I wasn't out , it wasn't like a guy that was you know yeah .

Speaker 3

But yeah , I felt safe knowing there's other women around and other people around as well .

Speaker 2

She was never in an unsafe position , but other people around as well .

Speaker 3

She was never in an unsafe position , but it was the first time . It was a little strange . It was a little strange . You're like no , I will just be right outside your stall the next time .

Speaker 1

Yeah , because things you know , especially with child actors . You hear about some stories I don't want to take the conversation to that , but there is something to be said about Hollywood and child actors having a little bit more exploitation , maybe getting involved in adult settings , that maybe they shouldn't have been included , invited to that party or gone to that studio that day or whatever . And you hear about these things and it's like you know , I'm glad you have , you know , hopefully a manager that looks for your wellbeing , of course you know she's .

Speaker 3

she's kind of like a mother to me . Yeah , mama bear , you know she's going to protect you , you know , and stuff like that .

Speaker 1

And you know , as you're getting into your adolescence , I'm sure there's going to be some compromising requests for you to .

Speaker 2

There have been yeah , and we've turned down many .

Speaker 1

Really Auditions ?

Speaker 2

Yes , okay , actually this past year , a record number that we said no to Really .

Speaker 3

Yeah , the content is . What kind of ?

Speaker 1

content Like , can you divulge .

Speaker 3

Well , I can be .

Speaker 2

I don't know , maybe some things you know .

Speaker 3

Sure , because we said no to them , yes there was one where I had to pretend to smoke a cigar .

Speaker 1

A cigarette , a cigarette .

Speaker 3

Yeah , I had to be like pretending to do it and I don't want to be associated with that . And there was one where I had to kiss another boy . I'm like no , I'm not doing that , I'm not even 12 yet .

Speaker 2

Yeah , so , and there's there's some other compromising situations I don't want to pretend to be abused . Yeah , those are just some good examples .

Speaker 3

Those are just things that I don't really want to be associated with , and sometimes in horrors I will say no , I don't like horrors in general , but sometimes I just don't want to be associated with certain things . I just don't want to be associated with certain things .

Speaker 2

Yeah , there's definitely some films where the directors have put notes in and said we're going to film this like the child . We pretend a bear's chasing them and they're running away . And that's not what's really happening in the film and they edit it later .

Speaker 3

Or I have to pretend my creepy doll is walking away and I'm scared , but you know .

Speaker 2

Ella's a comedian , I'm a comedian . So , she's auditioned for some horror films .

Speaker 1

I have .

Speaker 2

But then there's some where we could tell it was going to be too unsettling and we've said no , yeah , gotcha .

Speaker 3

There's a few I can remember from when I was little that were intense .

Speaker 1

Yeah , we don't want her to be scarred from just an audition or reading a script or whatever , you certainly don't want to be scarred , but you also don't want to be typecast , because that's a thing as well . It is .

Speaker 3

And I do audition for some horrors . I just want to make sure everything's fine . There's nothing like abusing is something that I really don't want to be associated with at all , or especially even if I'm in a room full of people with cigars .

Speaker 2

That's just like even if it's fake and even if they're going to edit something later . Right , do you want that to live forever associated with for everyone ?

Speaker 3

so that's what we take into account and they see I'm in a room with people full of cigarettes , even though I wasn't in a room with people full of cigarettes . Do I want to be with that right ?

Speaker 1

yeah , so because , I mean , these are all things that , unfortunately , not everybody has the fortitude to be like . No , I won't compromise my character . I won't compromise my career . I won't compromise what I'm trying to do , even though , you know , yeah , maybe I could really use that money . Maybe I could really use that money , maybe I could really use that opportunity , maybe this is the big break that will get me to another . You know .

Speaker 3

Yeah .

Speaker 1

And so , yeah , I mean so some people do have to make those choices to compromise who they are . But I'm glad you have that fortitude to make sure that , no , you're going to remain yourself and you're going to do what you feel comfortable with .

Speaker 3

Oh yeah , and I always think of it , if there's a job , like kissing a boy , that I don't want to do and probably other people don't want to do .

Speaker 3

You may want to do it in a couple years , yeah , things will change but if somebody else wants that role , then okay , then that can be theirs . Or if they want to pretend to be scared while their father's abusing them , well then that's . That's your type of role , that's not mine . So I mean somebody else can enjoy that role and get that fame because they're in that type of fame . I'm in this type of fame , so we got different compartments ? Yes , because there's a lot of kids that audition for each role .

Speaker 3

Every time I get one I think wow , because there must have been at least sometimes a thousand a thousand sometimes right and to think that I was the one that got picked out of all these kids , that's gotta feel tremendous , it is and you know it . Sometimes that happens for a reason , like if I got this wolf , that's the movie and they had the premiere , oh yeah .

Speaker 2

She auditioned for this . Yeah , a lot of things . But one of them was this movie Wolfman , which was supposed to have a premiere , and the premiere got canceled because of the fires in California . But then , we said oh , if she had been in the movie , we would have been at our friend's place and we would have probably had a lot of that we think might have burned down .

Speaker 3

Yes , so it would have been a lot , we would have stayed at her place . That's really the place we go . So it's very scary and I always think if I don't get a role , if I do get a role , it happens for a reason , right , because that's the way it's planned .

Speaker 2

So but she gives it her all every year .

Speaker 1

I like giving them all , yeah , anyway for sure man , I'd love to put you on the spot and just have you , like , do the most , like silliest face , or something , but I don't , I'm not gonna do that because nobody likes that . Oh , you're an actor . Oh , like , act scared , like you know .

Speaker 1

You know you're not gonna do that , um , you know , bet , we could find all kinds of examples , um , of your work and you know , and , and I hope that when people do see this , they're gonna I'm gonna have all kinds of b-roll , so everything that we're talking about , all these different features that you were included in , and and so on , derrick jeter and public sprinkles and all the others . You know , I'm gonna have that , hopefully , somewhere living in the broadcast so people can actually see what we're referencing to , and I think we have pretty much all my commercials .

Speaker 2

Oh yeah .

Speaker 3

And they're also on her website , which is ellagraceheltoncom .

Speaker 2

People can watch her commercials ellagraceheltoncom .

Speaker 3

Yes , so my name .

Speaker 1

Yeah .

Speaker 3

And then , yeah , she put pretty much every . I think I've done 19 or 20 commercials .

Future Dreams and Talents

Speaker 2

She's filmed 19 commercials . One or two of them never were released or we couldn't find . But yeah , all the ones that we can find are on there .

Speaker 3

We did one for a toy bear , a Hasbro . A Hasbro , one of those mechanical bears . I had a brother in that one .

Speaker 2

Yeah , it was at Christmas and we never saw it , so it may not have ever been released .

Speaker 3

But they paid her for it .

Speaker 2

So you know the job was done .

Speaker 1

Yeah , no , I mean , you did what you had to do .

Speaker 3

I think I had another one for Invisalign . Yeah , we didn't see it .

Speaker 1

But you know it's all right . No , absolutely . There's going to be plenty of projects like that . There's going to be that , just you know , as they say in the biz , end up on the cutting room floor , Although they don't really cut film no more .

Speaker 2

Everything's digital . Digital , although , like when Hubie Halloween came out . I didn't want to start promoting it on social media . Until I had confirmation that she was in it . You know yeah we went to Massachusetts and she filmed the two scenes and I had her manager manager like can you just confirm so I can start celebrating and telling people to watch this film ?

Speaker 3

Yeah , because I did have a short role and sometimes if they have too much footage and they only have this amount of time for their budget , then they gotta cut some things out , and I didn't know how necessary my scene was , so you know it was necessary , apparently , because it made it , yeah , and sometimes it's it was necessary , apparently , because it made it , yeah , and sometimes it's upsetting because , like in sweet magnolia , season three , there was a few scenes you're like , oh , we don't see it in there like dang it .

Speaker 1

That was a good scene , right , but especially when you spend a lot of time and you learn those lines and you did what you had to do . It's like wait , you're not gonna omit that , come on . That's like that was my best take that was my best take of the day , and I've been here for 12 hours and you're not even using it .

Speaker 3

I get 30 seconds yeah , because it's .

Speaker 1

Because that is . That is reality . People understand . Like actors , you know you're standing by on set , you gotta wait for the scene change . You got hair and makeup people hovering all around you , you got wardrobe people changing into different damn things , and so one one day of shoot you could be doing like three different scenes and you're hanging around for 16 hours , for sure , for sure . And you got to be like go when the director is ready for you . You can't just be like yeah , but I just and I'm not sure .

Speaker 3

The hardest thing is when you have to go to the bathroom , because sometimes you got to , you have a little bit of break sometimes in between the shots and you better go and you better come back and be ready .

Speaker 1

Exactly .

Speaker 3

Yeah , sometimes I'm like you know I gotta go to the bathroom but we have like a two second break but I'm learning , so do you think your future would be more in film , TV or theater ? I'm actually going to say almost none of those .

Speaker 1

Oh .

Speaker 3

What Breaking news ?

Speaker 2

What else is there ?

Speaker 3

I would probably still keep acting as still my big job , but not my main job . That would just be something I like to do for fun , but when I get a job , that is my job . But , auditions and all that's just kind of the side job . I personally don't really know what I'm going to do yet , but when I am 13 , I'm going to volunteer at the Brevard Zoo . I've been counting down the days . I love the zoo and animals .

Speaker 1

I know some good people there and that aquarium's coming , I know .

Speaker 3

I'm like I would love to work there , anything coming . I know I'm like I would love to work there . Yeah , anything . Personally , I love the zoo .

Speaker 2

She loves animals .

Speaker 3

I love animals , huge animal , person .

Speaker 1

So I don't know , maybe yeah , they got the new lion habitat I learned about . I know we need to go check that out .

Speaker 3

We haven't been there yet . I know we have passes , so we gotta go at maybe other places , I don't know . Or I'm very into sewing now and I like creating my own designs and that's always been a dream of mine , so I might make my own fashion company and then that might be something else I do . We'll see , Wow .

Speaker 2

Yeah .

Speaker 3

Hey , she's got options .

Speaker 1

You do have lots of options .

Speaker 3

I'm like I can go to singing , I can go to acting , I can go to dancing , I can go to this and that and that and this .

Speaker 1

So when is your music video being debuted ? Or is it ready , or is it being edited ?

Speaker 3

It's being in the process of being edited right now . We're going to go through all the footage .

Speaker 1

Maybe a summer launch .

Speaker 3

Most likely . Well , it is kind of like a summer video , it is .

Speaker 2

And also she just enrolled in this music mentoring program because when she started writing music . I've just spent the last eight years learning the entertainment and film industry and now I'm like , oh , I have to learn the music industry . So we are trying to get someone to mentor her on how to release her music , how to just handle it , because I don't yet know the answers .

Speaker 3

But we're learning . My biggest question is I have the song , I have the music video . Now what do I do with it ? What is sabrina carpenter and arna grande ? What do they do with your music ? Do you put on spotify , put on youtube ? Where do you .

Speaker 1

Yeah , there's , there's the places , but we felt um I feel like I have a couple answers for you , a couple mentors .

Speaker 2

she had a vision to make the music video and because she's a filmmaker , it was natural for us to just go ahead and make the music video , and that's how it will be released .

Speaker 3

I think the biggest dream would one day be able to go on tour like Sabrina Carpenter's Short and Sweet and Taylor Swift's Heiress Tour . One of those .

Speaker 2

Big dreams , big dreams .

Speaker 1

Boy I know big dreams boy , I know why not I got the next . Taylor Swift in my studio today big dreams . I know , listen without dreams . What are you working towards ?

Speaker 2

what do you ?

Speaker 1

wake up and what's going to fuel that motivation you've got to have . And , again , I've always liked that . I think it's less of a cliche , maybe more of a metaphor , but if you aim for the stars , you may just hit the moon right or whatever you know . But they always say like aim high , because even if you just aim for like the most far out thing , if you fall short , you're still pretty much doing you much doing a lot more than most other people .

Speaker 3

Oh , and one more thing that I don't know , but it could be a future thing , is me and my dad have been getting into some rock climbing recently .

Speaker 1

Oh .

Speaker 3

And my friend is actually the number one rock climber in Florida for her age group .

Speaker 1

Well , that can't be hard , because there's no mountains in Florida .

Speaker 3

Yes , and it's super amazing . I love all these people who just do all these hard climbs like upside down .

Speaker 1

Yeah , the indoor climbing stuff is really intense .

Speaker 3

Yeah , me and my dad go all the time and we like it .

Parental Support and Passion Pursuits

Speaker 1

Let's see that hand grip . Let's see those hands . Yeah , you've got some good hands . Let's see that hand grip .

Speaker 3

Let's see those hands . Yeah , you got some good hands . You got some long fingers . I still got some blisters in there .

Speaker 1

I still got my blisters in there A couple calluses , yeah , a couple of those .

Speaker 3

Yeah , those will turn nice and you know , you know I got the chalk , and then I got it all over my clothes .

Speaker 1

Oh do , and I get to do it with my dad . Well , it's important , you know .

Speaker 3

I spend every day , all day , with my mom . She's my driver , momager , and she does a lot of things with me , and it's fun to have something to do with my dad , because he's great .

Speaker 1

No , you have to have daddy time .

Speaker 3

Yeah .

Speaker 1

You've got to be daddy time . I know , because there's going to be a time very soon in your future that now you're turning 12 . The next four years are going to be a roller coaster and by and then you get a car and a license and then you don't even need your parents , no more . You're going to be like this free radical girl like I , gotta go you know and with your lifestyle today you know , and then and then , time with your parents gets less and less .

Speaker 3

Yeah .

Speaker 1

So you really got to cherish this time and , yeah , be physical , because I mean , that's a good part of being a balanced you know creator . You know , and nobody wants to have an actor that falls asleep or , you know , doesn't have the energy level . So you got to build up that stamina , you know . You got to , you know , do your best and physically fit is just that's a lifestyle in itself that I would tell anybody , because if you don't have your health , you don't have a whole lot and something I would say for other child actors to be doing all this and how I do .

Speaker 3

Everything that I do it's actually mostly not from me , it's from my mom and my dad .

Speaker 1

Right .

Speaker 3

Because if they went into the office every day , they wouldn't be able to take me in and take me places , and she's flexible with her job , and my dad , thanks to COVID . I'm actually very thankful that he gets to stay home , because I would go all week and not see him , and he'll take me to dance class sometimes . Or , yes , now we go rock climbing . And it's because of my parents , right , if I didn't have them , I I can't drive myself for a time of 16 , and then how am I supposed to know ? What am I ? How do I get a manager ? What do I do this ? How dancing ? What is that ? Right , like we facilitate , yeah , it comes within them so well it's a team effort .

Speaker 1

Yeah , it is , it's a big .

Speaker 3

It's not always yourself . It's a parent's commitment , yeah , it's a team .

Speaker 2

It's a parent has a strong team . So I've said that you know she has interests and passions and it's our job , as her parents , to clear the path for her to explore those passions and connect her with mentors in her different areas of interest , and we're very fortunate that the Space Coast has some incredible mentors that we found for her .

Speaker 3

I have the best music teacher , the best art teacher , the best dance teacher . They're amazing , I couldn't ask for anybody better . And now she has a filmmaking mentor . I do , and , oh gosh , what else do ?

Speaker 2

I got she's joined a sewing club . Oh yeah , a sewing club With people that are very nurturing , that's amazing , so I .

Speaker 1

So you're not going to sew like quilts . You want to sew I'm sewing outfits . You want to sew like gowns and this .

Speaker 2

She wants to make her own ballroom gown actually Ballroom , actually ballroom dancing gowns .

Speaker 3

They're very expensive , Very expensive , but so fancy and they're so complicated .

Speaker 1

They got all the rhinestones . You can't find any more .

Speaker 3

I understand why they're so expensive , because they have every little rhinestone that they put on there and it's so complicated . I'm like I got to start going now and then , by the time I outgrow it , I'll be finished . I'm going to do it again , but it'll be fun , good practice and all .

Speaker 1

No , it's great practice . And then you'll have a wardrobe for another you know perhaps a young dancer Because then you'll have , like all the ones you made throughout the years , that you no longer fit , that you can just hand me down or sell you know yeah . Because I guess , if they're expensive , might as well make a profit on it .

Speaker 3

Yeah , you might as well make a profit on it , yeah , or sometimes even with the dance group . I have a lot of friends that dance . We do some hand-me-downs . We had a girl who moved away to Georgia but she gave me her dress and somebody else gave me her shoes , because they outgrow it . There's another little girl who's a little shorter and younger than me , so I would hand my stuff down to her and it's just we kind of pass it all around and it's nice and that makes sense .

Speaker 1

Because , listen , if you're , if you're going to compete in a tango , are you always going to use that tango dress ? Yeah right , because if you're going to do a waltz for another dance , that's you know , then you want to , you know , then you want to dress for that and for the jive , you definitely want a different test . Yeah , yeah , so , so , so , every competition , every dance , you know , and you don't want to be seen in the same dress . So I feel like there should be like a natural , like rotation of wardrobe .

Speaker 3

There is . I've had three dresses so far , my very first one I only wore once .

Speaker 1

It was a pink one , I'll crew it .

Speaker 3

And then I wore , I had a bright green dress . It was nice and velvety . And then the one I'm wearing now , it's a beautiful dark blue . It has some lace on the top . It's gorgeous .

Speaker 2

Blue is my favorite color , so I love blue Noted , and she almost outgrew it , and so she's making her own alterations to just extend it a little .

Speaker 3

Yes , we're extending it because my shoulders kind of want to go in on it Getting a little taller .

Speaker 2

Getting a little taller .

Speaker 3

Thankfully that growth spur . I can feel it coming .

Speaker 1

That's so charming man . How difficult has it been being so cute all these years With that smile , that cute laugh . I know I mean just that bubbly personality .

Child Star's Future Plans

Speaker 1

You're really a special . Like you know , in the industry we call them hams , thanks , but you are a special little talent .

Speaker 3

Thank you , and I'm so glad you're well-rounded .

Speaker 1

It's so refreshing to know that like oh well , if you can't sing , you know , because again you're talking about growth spurts , mm-hmm , that affects your vocal cords . Yes , you may not be such a good singer .

Speaker 3

And then I can dance instead .

Speaker 1

Hopefully .

Speaker 3

Hopefully .

Speaker 1

If you don't roll an ankle .

Speaker 3

Yeah , if I don't roll an ankle .

Speaker 1

Yeah .

Speaker 3

But I like , I guess .

Speaker 1

But being well-rounded , you know , having that sewing background and all these other interests , yes , if you're no longer able , you know to dance or lose interest .

Speaker 3

You have so many other things yeah , and I like , I guess , staying young for what I am , because some of my friends now they don't play with their barbies anymore . They don't , they don't play dress up and I'm like , well , that's the fun part and I guess I don't know if it's because I'm sure if that helps a little bit . But I still feel like I still like to play with my Barbies , I still like to open the little surprise dolls and see , oh , I got this one .

Speaker 1

And I'm still Don't lose that kid in you . No , don't lose it , I won't .

Speaker 3

Hold on to that I will .

Speaker 1

Yeah , just , even if I grow those clothes , just keep wearing them until it is falling off at the seams , no , but , but I could see that you really embrace , you know , this whole . You know growing up in all these different talents and having all of this access and and just remaining humble and modest and adorable Like that's , that's so , I mean , commendable . You know what I mean . I can't praise you enough for just hold on to that , and I'm going to give mom , you know , some credit for there too , because , yeah , um , this , uh , this industry can compromise a lot of kids and they grow up way too fast and they want to be included in all these things and you know it's like you know . No , slow down , please don't hurry and I still .

Speaker 3

I still like to talk with adults and I like the conversations , but I don't mind going out for ice cream and getting it all over amen , amen , yes she does like to be in adult conversations , but loves hanging and playing with kids .

Speaker 2

It's a good balance .

Speaker 3

It's a balance .

Speaker 1

And such is life . Life is a balance , and I'd really like for you to be able to listen to this interview in like five years and be like wow , I've grown so much , but yet I haven't , because that host told me not to grow up and that's why I still have barrettes in my hair and I play with my dolls to this day .

Speaker 1

No , I , but I would really like for this to be a really cool time capsule of sorts , you know , for you to look back and be like , wow , I've grown but I've kept my integrity . I didn't compromise who I am . I'm still on a path of doing everything I've wanted to do . My sewing has become this , my fine art has become this , and now you know , and it just like that and that's my hope , and maybe in like , maybe not even like five years , maybe in a couple years , you come back and give us an update and , um , let us know where , where , where things have changed and you know 24 , 36 , 48 months , whatever you know . Whatever 24 , 36 , 48 months , whatever you know , whatever it is , because I think the audience would really like to keep tabs on where's she going next . The Adventures of Ella Grace .

Speaker 3

Every day there's something new . I was just saying I had the idea of making a book club , so I'm getting that work with my friends . Stop it .

Speaker 1

That's something I can join .

Speaker 3

Yes , yeah . And then the next day it was I want a sugar glider now .

Speaker 2

She's making a whole case for bringing a sugar glider home .

Speaker 1

Mommy should do that .

Speaker 2

She really , really should . She convinced us that it's easier than taking care of a dog .

Speaker 3

I don't know if that's true , because we do travel a lot Because you know the cars takes up a lot of room . If we're gone for six months or flying , it's hard to fly with them . But speaking of flying , the sugar gliders like to fly .

Speaker 2

Right .

Speaker 3

They will just be a little fun thing in the car , in the little bag .

Speaker 2

We're doing our research .

Speaker 3

We're doing our research and I'm getting that .

Speaker 1

You know , yeah , but they are a full-time thing . They are and they can get lost and everything is a predator yeah you know the , the snake in your garden and , uh , the red . You know shoulder hawk on the fence post .

Speaker 3

Everything is going to be after that little guy .

Speaker 1

That's fine , yeah you're gonna do with that . Where's my spatula ? No , but what would you ? What would you name your sugar glider ? Oh , I already thought of the names .

Speaker 3

Yeah , let's go If it's going to be a boy . I want to name it Maui .

Speaker 1

I don't know why , oh , I like that I just thought that was kind of cute . This just rolls off the tongue . It's fun .

Speaker 3

Maui . And then I'm a big Wicked fan , so if it's a girl , I'm going to name her Glider .

Speaker 1

Glinda the sugar glider .

Speaker 3

I like it .

Speaker 1

Glider , glinda .

Speaker 3

There you go .

Speaker 1

But Maui sounds like fun too . Maui , I love it .

Speaker 3

Maui , get back here . Where are you at ? Yeah , whoa , yeah . Always a new adventure every day .

Speaker 1

Yeah , oh , man , sugar gliders . Well , on that note , get your sugar glider . Okay , name her Glinda , tell us all about her . I mean , it sounds like she may need her own Instagram page . You know , yes , she does , with all these new adventures hanging out with her mom and her surrogate . You know , because I'm sure you'll be a good surrogate mom too . Oh , thank you .

Speaker 2

Yeah , she did have two pet mice . Those were her first , I did .

Speaker 3

Schmincke and Midnight were my two precious babies , and she had an .

Speaker 2

Instagram account for them I do .

Speaker 1

Should I even ask where they're at today ? Oh , they don't live long , they're in heaven .

Speaker 3

Yes , but they only live about two years and thankfully I had one of them live for two and a half years , which is great .

Speaker 1

That is a long life for a mice . It is , and I'm surprised you kept them without all those predators I just mentioned .

Speaker 3

Yeah , I kept them in the cage and if a snake comes by I'm grabbing my spatula . That time Let them have it . Yes .

Speaker 1

Well , we'll look out for the next season of Sweet Magnolias and we will look out for your music video . Yeah , I'm so excited , and you can pop back over here at the Space Coast Creative Center and Space Coast Podcast . This is fun . I like it , and at any time I mean well , not only should you be a member because you're a creative person , but I would also allow you to even hang some art . Yeah , of course you know I'm a big fan of art . I have all kinds of stuff around here .

Speaker 1

All those murals are signed but you could , um , even , you know , I'm sure I I could talk to somebody about maybe featuring some jewelry up in the lobby or art , just some things , you know , yeah , so , so we're gonna be doing lots of networking , but but ultimately , with all your interests , yeah , if there's anything that , um , we could , you know , help showcase for you , you know , let let us know . And , of course , if you ever want to hang something in the studio for people to look at , you're more than welcome to do that . You guys have been a treat . Thank you . I think everybody learned a lot . If you knew nothing about this young lady and what she's been up to , then I hope you pretty much know all about this girl by now . I certainly learned some more . And thank you to Mama Bear . Thank you , mama Jer , I learned that .

Speaker 2

That's a takeaway I never heard of .

Speaker 1

Mama Jer , I like that . That's so fitting , and you guys really told a beautiful story and kept us abreast of what is going on in your lives , and it's so exciting to hear all these things .

Speaker 3

Yeah , no , of course I definitely want to come back . This is fun .

Speaker 1

I like we'll do a followup because , you know , things change so fast and maybe sooner that you know . I mean , all it takes is a Spielberg call and you're going to have to talk about it , and you're going to have to talk about it . The studio is always available for you .

Speaker 3

Yes , yeah , all right .

Speaker 1

Well , with that , guys , thank you so much for tuning in . This has been another episode of Local Celebrity Brevard . Tune in next time and again , if you haven't watched any of our other episodes , definitely give those a look and a listen , because you know , here on the Space Coast we offer a lot more than just the rockets going off and other things . Celestial-wise , we do have some stars of our own . So until next time , thank you so much , and we'll catch you later . Thanks so much , Bye .