Katherine McNamara is co-starring in Disney Channel Movie of
the week “Girl Vs. Monster”, which premieres on October 12th. Katherine
is also a recurring cast member on Disney XD’s “Kickin’ It”. Media
Mikes had a chance to chat with Katherine about her new roles and also what she
has planned next like ”Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” next year.
Mike Gencarelli:
Tell us about making you Disney Channel Movie of the week debut in “Girl Vs.
Monster”
Katherine McNamara: I am
just so excited for this movie. Being on the Disney Channel has been a dream of
mine. It is really thrilling for me, especially on a movie like this. It is
your quintessential Halloween movie, in my opinion. There is action, adventure,
Halloween spooks and scares, special effects, stunts, a little bit of romance
and lots of great music that everyone is going to love. I got to work with such
talented and wonderful people on this movie. I just feel so blessed and lucky
to be able to work on such a great project.
MG: Give us some
background on your character Myra?
KM: She is a really
interesting character. I really get to play like three different characters in
the movie since she goes through such a wide metamorphosis. The first she is
the stereotypic mean high school girl. She is very conniving and narcissistic.
She also has this huge rivalry with the main character Skylar Lewis (played by
Olivia Holt). The next phase she gets possessed by a monster about half way
through. That was really interesting because my character gets a complete
makeover both physical and personality-wise. Towards the end of the movie, she
realizes the error of her ways, if you will, and becomes a nice person and
friend of the Skylar.
MG: What was
the highlight of working on this film?
KM: There are so many wonderful things. I think it would have to be the music and the wonderful lifetime friendships I have made. Everyone on the film was just incredible, the cast and crew. We all got very close and spent literally every moment together. We just had the most phenomenal time together. Also music is such a passion of mine and I got to sing on a couple of the songs in the film. It is really wonderful. The music is really so great.
KM: There are so many wonderful things. I think it would have to be the music and the wonderful lifetime friendships I have made. Everyone on the film was just incredible, the cast and crew. We all got very close and spent literally every moment together. We just had the most phenomenal time together. Also music is such a passion of mine and I got to sing on a couple of the songs in the film. It is really wonderful. The music is really so great.
MG: Also
tell us about playing Claire on Disney XD’s “Kickin’ It”?
KM: ”Kickin’ It” is such
a great show. One of my good friends, Dylan Snyder, is one the show. He
introduced me to the cast, visit the set and hang out before Claire was even a
distant thought in the minds of the writers. Eventually when this audition came
up, I was so excited. Getting to work with your friends is better than
anything. When I booked the role it was just a guest star but now it is
recurring. It is a dream comes true. I love that show.
MG: You are
playing Becky Thatcher in “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” next year, tell us
about that film?
KM: The Tom
Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn story is very near and dear to my heart my whole
life. I grew up in Missouri just a few hours from where the stories are set. So
getting an opportunity to play such an iconic character is really an honor for
me. Also to get to work with great talent like Joel Courtney and Jake T. Austin
was just icing on the cake for me. We filmed it in Bulgaria, which is such an
amazing and beautiful place. It was my first time out of the US and I loved
every minute of it. I learned so much and it was so different. I got another
lifelong friendship out of that film. Joel and I are completely inseparably.
KM: I just have to say, I
feel so blessed being able to work so much. It is something I love doing. I
just want to keep working, which is how I will learn and grow. “Contest” was
such an amazing film. It is with Danny Flaherty from “Skins” and Kenton Duty
from “Shake it Up”. It is about bullying and is a really great story that needs
to be heard. Bullying has become such an epidemic and almost like the norm in
school and kids to expect it. It is not acceptable. I have been through so much
bullying in my life and I don’t think any kid should have to experience that.
So, I am hoping that this movie will bring some awareness to this issue and its
effects.