In this year’s release of Under Wraps, Christian J. Simon plays Gilbert in the new remake of the 1997 Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name and the film is currently streaming on Disney+ in the UK. Christian can be seen in Disney’s Sydney to the Max as series regular Leo Webb, with his portrayal of the character earning him a Daytime Emmy Award nomination this year, and he has played the role since the show started in 2019. As a voiceover artist, Christian has voiced a number of roles including Freddy the Flamingo in T.O.T.S., Darwin in The Amazing World of Gumball and Casey in The Casagrandes. Catching up with Christian, we found out about playing Gilbert in Disney’s new release of Under Wraps, his role of Leo Webb in Sydney to the Max and working on T.O.T.S. as Freddy the Flamingo.

Can you tell us about your character Gilbert in the new remake of Under Wraps?

Gilbert is a smart, honest and loyal pre-teen who gets scared easily. He is the total opposite of his best friend, Marshall, who always tries to get him to face his fears. Meeting Harold, the mummy, was the scariest experience of his life.

Who do you think the film will appeal to and can you say more about it?

Under Wraps is a family movie with tons of relatable moments and characters that will appeal to all viewers.

What was it like seeing the script for the first time and meeting the rest of the cast?

I really loved the script. The cast is AMAZING and we immediately clicked from the moment we met.

How was the experience working on Under Wraps and seeing the completed film?

The experience was great. We shot the film in Vancouver, which is a beautiful place to visit, so we had fun. We had strict protocols to follow because of COVID-19, but the cast and crew worked together to keep everyone safe. The greatest thing about my experience was that I was able to share it with my grandfather who travelled with me to Vancouver.

How does it feel seeing the response to the film so far and why would you recommend watching it on Disney+?

The response has been positive so I’m truly grateful. I would recommend watching it on Disney+ because you’ll be able to watch it whenever you want and not worry about commercials.

You play Leo Webb in Sydney to the Max, what is the character like to play?

Leo Webb is so much fun to play. He is smart, funny and has a big personality so I can really play around with his character.

What do you remember most from your first day on set and what is it like to film?

Whew! That was about three years ago. The thing that I remember the most from day one is the excitement of working on a live action Disney Channel show. It was a goal of mine and I was super happy to be there! Filming the show is great because I learned something new every day and also how to explore different things to do with my character.

Do you have any stand-out highlights from your time in the show so far?

A highlight that stands out would be me working with several amazing directors that I was able to collaborate with. Each one taught me different things that I added to my bag.

You voice the role of Freddy the Flamingo in T.O.T.S., can you say more about this?

Freddy is a blast to voice! He’s always enthusiastic about delivering babies every episode and has a warm spirit that I can relate to.

What do you enjoy most about voicing Freddy?

I enjoy being able to let loose and be as silly as the scene allows me to be. I have too much fun voicing Freddy!

How does it feel being nominated for your performances in Sydney to the Max and T.O.T.S. at the Daytime Emmy Awards?

It’s truly an honour to be recognised for my work. I put a lot of hard work into my craft and I think that it’s pretty cool to know that others see that.

Do you have a favourite aspect of working with Disney?

The best thing about working with Disney is knowing that I am reaching out to kids who are just like me. The fact that kids can turn on the Disney Channel and watch projects that I’m a part of makes me feel really good.

What is Darwin like to voice in the shows The Amazing World of Gumball, Darwin’s Yearbook and The Gumball Chronicles?

Voicing Darwin is cool because Gumball has a pretty hardcore fan base. I know that if I wasn’t true to the character, they’d let me hear about it, hahaha!

You’ve voiced a number of other roles; can you tell us about some of them?

I’ve voiced roles on shows like We Bare Bares, The Loud House, The Casagrandes and Puppy Dog Pals. Each one holds a special place with me because I love to voice characters.

Where does your love of acting and voiceover come from and how did you start?

My love of acting comes from my love of entertaining people. I’d spend a lot of time acting out scenes that I would see on television. I also love to see smiles on people’s faces and this translated into me jumping into acting professionally.

How do you like to spend your time away from your career and do you have any favourite TV shows or films to watch?

I love to dance. I’m always moving around and finding new moves to come up with. Dancing is a great way to express myself. My favourite TV shows to watch? I love kicking back with my family and watching competition shows like The Masked Singer and Dancing with the Stars.

Do you have any filming or voiceover roles coming up that you can tell us about?

You’ll have to stay tuned for that!

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