JESSIE has recently returned for its second season on Family Channel, so we caught up with Peyton List, who plays the bubbly Emma. Peyton also charmed audiences in the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series and on AUSTIN & ALLY. We caught up with the talented actress to see what she’s been up to!
How did you first get involved with acting?
I first started when I was really young. I started modeling when I was about four years old. I went to go see my first Broadway show “Wicked” and that was when I fell in love with acting; I thought it was so magical.
How did filming the first season of JESSIE differ from coming back to do the second?
During the first season, we were all getting to know each other. Actually I did know Karan [Brar] from the WIMPY KID movies, so we were already really close, but I was just getting to know everybody else and I was learning the ropes of Disney. A Disney show and a movie are so different, so I was learning. Now in the second season we’ve become really close so we’re all really good friends and we hang out. Now I feel more comfortable. I was before, but now it’s really fun!
Are there any similarities between you and your character Emma?
We both love fashion… a lot! I actually have a fashion Instagram which I run. We’re both very bubbly and happy and we’re still learning because we’re teenagers and we’re both in the same grade. We’re both in high school. (Freshmen!)
What’s it like balancing school with acting on JESSIE?
Sometimes it can be difficult if I have to do more in the episode that week. It’s difficult to juggle school and my scenes, but in an episode when I’m not used as heavily I can do more schoolwork. I get a lot done especially since we’re one-on-one with the teacher and there aren’t 30 other students in the classroom!
After having had experience acting in both movies and television shows, which would you say is more challenging?
They’re both very different! On a movie you get about three months for shooting and you take longer with the scene and you take your time. With TV, you only spend five days on one episode. We also shoot with four cameras on a TV show, whereas with movies you’d shoot with maybe one or two. It’s more fast-paced on a TV show. They’re just really different and I couldn’t choose which one I like better!
If you could play a character in the remake of any movie, who would it be and why?
We actually did this episode for JESSIE where it’s not exactly a remake but it resembles REAR WINDOW and I’d love to play Grace Kelly! She’s so beautiful!
Thanks, Peyton!
Don’t forget to catch new episodes of JESSIE on Family Channel!