FILM INTERVIEW: BELLA THORNE

Child Star Talks 'Forget Me Not,' 'Dirty Sexy Money,' Upcoming Projects

By: Jeanmarie Simpson

November 27, 2008

Bella Thorne is an up-and-comer in TV and films. At eleven years old, she is extremely busy with a series and plenty of modeling gigs, not to mention several film projects on the horizon. She and her siblings were born in Hollywood, Florida and recently relocated to Los Angeles. I interviewed her via e-mail.

Jeanmarie Simpson: How did it happen that you came to Los Angeles from Florida?

Bella Thorne: My brother Remy and I were modeling for people like Ralph Lauren and Guess, so we would travel here from Florida. One time we came here for a Guess shoot and my brother went to an audition for Four Kings, a TV show, and booked it! In February ’06, we decide to try it out for pilot season and we never left.

JS: Tell me about Forget Me Not. Who did you work with and what will we see of you in the film?

BT: I worked with Cody Linley and Carly Schroeder on Forget Me Not. It’s a thriller/horror film. I am in most of the film except the scary parts! My character is an orphan that has a bad joke played on her by Carly Schroeder when she is younger. My character seeks revenge on all the kids that had a part in the joke. It gets really scary, but I love doing horror films. They are my favorite. This film is mostly thriller more than horror. You have to put pieces of the film together. It’s not just some scary slasher film. The story is really new and different.

JS: How do you feel, being so much younger than the adult cast of Dirty Sexy Money?

BT: There are a few kids on the show. I love playing with them while we aren’t shooting.

JS: Is that a weird title for a young lady your age to be working on?

BT: Not really. It’s just the title. Really it’s a show about a crazy family, but they do love each other.

JS: Do you enjoy doing commercials?

BT: I do like commercials. I don’t do this as much now. My favorites were for Texas Instruments/DLP. They became like a family to me and we stay in touch still. I loved the elephant too!

JS: How do you like modeling compared to acting?

BT: Modeling is quicker and I love fashion, but acting is fun to be different people.  I’m starting to like acting more, but I still love modeling.

JS: When you model, does it feel like you, or do you play a character in order to get comfortable being photographed?

BT: No, it’s me, but sometimes I get to be a princess or we do a cool story, and then you are someone different.

JS: How did you come to sponsor children and aid programs in Africa? Why do you do that?

BT: One of my agents, Lindsay, introduced me to NOMAD and the kids it helps. I started writing to a girl there, and her only dream was to finish school. That made me sad and I wanted to help. We always did Toys For Tots and drives for food at school, and now I could do more for someone that I kind of knew.

JS: Do you really have a wolf?

BT: Yes!

JS: A real wolf?

BT: A wolf hybrid. Part wolf and small part husky.

JS: Aren’t they really hard to domesticate?

BT: Nope. He is silly and sweet. He was my dad’s wolf, and when my daddy passed away, he became our wolf. We’ve had him from a baby, so he’s kinda, husky, wolf and daddy!

JS: What are you doing now?

BT: Just did My Own Worst Enemy, which was so much fun to be a part of, and that I will miss a lot.

JS: What’s next for you?

BT: I’m getting ready for Thanksgiving, the Santa Parade, and then my trip to San Francisco where I start my new film, Raspberry Magic! It’s such a good story. You’ll love it. I promise.