411 Movies Interview: Aria Wallace
Posted by Tony Farinella on 10.18.2008
411's Tony Farinella sits down with Aria Wallace for an exclusive interview! Topics discussed: Roxy Hunter, Hilary Duff, Bernie Mac, Young Hollywood, and more!
Aria Wallace is an 11-year old child actress best known for playing Roxy Hunter. Even though she is only 11-years-old, she shows incredible intelligence and awareness in our phone interview. She understands the importance of being a role model in Hollywood and doesn't take that responsibility lightly. In my interview with Aria Wallace, we talked about her new DVD, Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid, which is currently available on DVD. I hope you enjoy my interview with Aria Wallace and be sure to look out for her in the future.
TONY: After doing a number of these films, how comfortable do you feel with this character?
Aria Wallace: Very, very comfortable. I mean, me and Roxy are just alike in every way. I feel comfortable all the time playing her.
TONY: What's it like to be a part of something that not only entertains people but also educates them?
Aria Wallace: It's incredible to know that I can send a message out there through what I love to do. It's just wonderful to be able to get the message out there and still have fun at the same time.
TONY: You mentioned earlier in this interview that you have extreme similarities to the character Roxy Hunter, but I want to ask you, what aspects of this character are different from you?
Aria Wallace: Oh my goodness, let's see. Me and Roxy are just alike, but there are a couple of things, such as she's really, really bossy. She likes to get in trouble a lot, but she always ends up saving the day. So Roxy is just an incredible person and really funny and a great character to play, and I enjoy playing her in every aspect of life.
TONY: What's it like being the star of a movie at such a young age? Is it a lot of pressure?
Aria Wallace: It's just a dream to be able to play a lead character. It's always been my biggest dream to be able to play a lead character since I was a baby, and it's been a dream to be able to play a lead character in a movie my entire life. And there is no pressure at all. It's very relaxed and calm, and I love it so much.
TONY: What's it like meeting all of your fans from across the world? How rewarding is that? I thought it was great that they showed that on DVD, because everyone was so happy to meet you.
Aria Wallace: It is so touching. It's a huge reward. It's everything. I love it so much. It's wonderful being able to meet my fans.
TONY: The DVD also shows off your musical side. Do you ever want to pursue music in the future?
Aria Wallace: Most definitely. I've been singing since I was born practically, and right now, I'm working on recording lots of different songs for my own Aria Wallace album and writing songs actually and recording them and meeting so many different producers and working with them. And it's just amazing. We're also working on a Roxy Hunter album, and we have eight songs so far, two for each movie. And the three DVDs that have already come out, they each have two songs on them.
TONY: Do you think this series proves that anyone can make a difference, regardless of their age or where they come from?
Aria Wallace: Most definitely. I think that it doesn't matter how old you are, if you believe in yourself and know that you can do anything you set your mind to, if you just think it, I mean, you can do anything.
TONY: Did you know that you wanted to do this the moment you were born?
Aria Wallace: Every day. I know that I have always known that since I was a baby that I wanna be an actress and a singer, and I've known what I wanted to do. I told my mom when I was two and a half that I wanted to be a star, that I wanted to be an actress and a singer. I just knew. It's something that I've always known I wanted to do, and, well, I've pursued my dream, and I'm still doing it and I still love it more than anything.
TONY: You've worked with Bernie Mac in the past, so I have to ask you, what are your memories of him? I still can't believe that he's gone.
Aria Wallace: He was so funny and so much fun. It was my first job I ever got. It was the first time I'd ever worked on a TV show, and I got to work with him, and it was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was so amazing working with him. He was such a wonderful person, so fun and so funny and just great to be around. And I really enjoyed working with him more than anything, and I will forever have fond memories of him.
TONY: Who are some teen actors that you're friends with in Hollywood?
Aria Wallace: Devon Werkheiser is one of them. I worked with him on Christmas in Paradise that aired on Lifetime last Christmas, and he's one of my best friends. We're really close, and we worked together for three weeks, so he's just a really great person to be around. Kenton Duty, he's one of my best friends. We hang out all the time. I also worked with him on Christmas in Paradise. Josie Lopez, also on Christmas in Paradise. Lots of different stars. Josie was on Hannah Montana and she's also on Cory in the House and Drake and Josh. Let's see, who else? Dakota Fanning. We're really good friends and we share the same agency. Miranda Cosgrove. So many different people. I have lots of different friends I meet in the business, and I enjoy meeting new ones every time I go out for an audition and every time I work on different shows.
TONY: Are you impressed with the way that Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus have handled the Hollywood spotlight?
Aria Wallace: I think they're very mature and very inspirational for younger girls my age who aspire to be like them. They're such an influence and role models for younger girls and younger boys who want to be a star like them.
TONY: Speaking of role models, you have worked with Hilary Duff on The Perfect Man. What was it like working with her?
Aria Wallace: She's the best. She's just such an incredible person, and it's so fun working with her. We hung out all the time when I was on set with her, and she was really sweet, and I felt like she was my bigger sister. I recently went to her concert last August, and I got to see her for the first time since I was seven, which was really awesome. She's such a role model for me and definitely an inspiration.
TONY: When you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, where do you go to relax? Where is your safe haven?
Aria Wallace: I would have to say I have a wonderful family, and I'm very blessed to have such a wonderful family that is always there for me and keeps me grounded and keeps me staying humble, and I can escape with them whenever I want to. I go to Church every Sunday and every Wednesday night, and I enjoy it so much. I have so many good friends from there, and I'm blessed to have incredible friends and a wonderful family that I can always escape with.
TONY: Talk to me a little bit about the importance of following your dreams. Whenever you autograph a picture for your fans, you always tell them to follow their dreams.
Aria Wallace: I think that it's a necessity to always follow your dreams. If you don't know that you can do anything you want, if you set your mind to it, then you're not gonna get anywhere. If you want to live this life happily and you want to be a good person, you just have to know that whatever you want to do, you can do it, if you set your mind to it and just believe in yourself and always follow your dreams, because if you believe in them, then they'll always follow through. Have faith in yourself.
TONY: Who are some veteran actors in Hollywood that you've learned from?
Aria Wallace: Heather Locklear. I felt like she was my second mom when I worked with her. Tim Allen, most definitely. He's such a fun guy, and he's a really cool person. Let's see, Bernie Mac, of course. There are lots of actors I'd love to work with in the future as well. I've had the blessing to be able to work with so many at a young age, but hopefully, in the future, I can work with some of my favorite actors like Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon, Steve Martin, Steve Carell ... lots of different people that I really admire that I'd love to work with in the future.
TONY: Speaking of the future, what kind of projects do you want to tackle in the future?
Aria Wallace: I've been mainly been doing, since I started, a lot of a comedy since I was little, and I love it very much, but I've always wanted to do a dramatic character or play a character where I can cry on the spot. I'd love to play a dramatic character in a feature film some time in the future. I'd also love to do more sketch comedy, like my own series: sort of like the Amanda Bynes Show is something I've always wanted to do.
TONY: How do you relate to your friends who aren't in Hollywood? Do they understand what it's like dealing with the ups and downs of Hollywood?
Aria Wallace: Well, let's see. Hollywood, it can be hard at times, but it's more fun I think and I enjoy it more than it is hard. I mean, there are hard parts where you get rejected at auditions and there are hard parts where when you work with people who aren't really nice to you, aren't really kind. But I think I enjoy it more than it is hard. It's more enjoyable than hard. With my friends, they are very supportive, and I'm lucky to have such supportive friends that are always there for me and that I can always talk to. They come to my premieres and all of my events, and I feel really, really blessed and lucky to have such wonderful friends that I can always go to.
TONY: Finally, what are your plans for the future?
Aria Wallace: Well, right now, of course my album, which should come out sometime next year in CD stores. I'm just doing a lot of music right now. Hopefully some more TV shows and movies in the future, but, right now, we're really focusing on music, which is really exciting.
TONY: Thank you so much for your time, Aria. It was great talking to you.
Aria Wallace: Thank you so much. It was a pleasure talking to you.
