For her first on-screen acting job, Janae Vito plays Destiny in this year’s Jacqueline Wilson screen adaptation Little Darlings, which was released on Sky Kids. Janae worked alongside a cast including Jamelia (as Kate), Lemar (as Danny Kilman) and Diaana Babnicova (as Sunset), and she recorded for the show’s soundtrack of original music in the studio with Lemar. Previously, Janae was a guest on The Dog Ate My Homework on CBBC and has recently recorded a voiceover for an advert and attended a number of auditions and, alongside acting, she is also a dancer. We talked to Janae about being part of the screen adaptation of Little Darlings, playing Destiny for her first on-screen acting job and working with Lemar in the studio.

How did it feel booking your role of Destiny in Little Darlings and what was it like reading the script for the first time?

I felt proud of myself for getting the role of Destiny in Little Darlings as it was my first on-screen acting job. Reading the script for the first time felt surreal as it was still sinking in that I got the role. I love the script as it was kind of like reading a funny book with a really uplifting twist.

Can you tell us about your character and what is she like to play?

Destiny is an 11-year-old girl who adores superstar Danny Kilman. Destiny is amazed and is excited to find that Danny Kilman is her father and is even more excited to meet him and her siblings. Destiny is a very fun character, she’s funny, determined, a bit cheeky but has a lot of personality.

Was there anything that originally drew you to Little Darlings and were you familiar with the Jacqueline Wilson book before auditioning?

I was always a fan of Jacqueline Wilson and her work like Tracy Beaker and The Illustrated Mum, but Little Darlings was a book that I had never read before. However, I started reading the book when I was auditioning so I could understand the character I was playing more and the storyline.

How was it working with the rest of the cast and being on set of the series?

Working with the other cast and crew members was the highlight of my time on set, they would always put a smile on my face every day and it was lovely. Especially the hair and makeup team.

What was it like watching the completed series and attending the screening?

Going to the screening was fantastic, it was a cinema full of buzz! We had people taking photos everywhere, everyone in fancy outfits, and an experience I will never forget.

How is it seeing the viewers’ response to Little Darlings and why would you recommend watching it?

After the screening, we had a little Q&A and the viewers absolutely loved it, they were cheering, clapping and giving us lots of compliments. I would recommend anyone to watch Little Darlings as it represents young girls like myself and everyone can relate to one or some of the characters in the film and it sends a message of love. That love conquers everything.

Can you tell us about recording the soundtrack and how you found the experience?

Recording my song was so much fun! I had never been in a recording studio before, so it was a first for me! Getting corrections from Lemar, boosting my confidence, hitting notes that I had never imagined I could hit. It was a moment I’ll always remember!

What did you enjoy most about filming as Destiny and being involved with Little Darlings?

I mostly enjoyed meeting and getting to know new people! I enjoyed getting to do things I could never really do in my normal daily life. But mostly, they are my first and forever on-screen family.

Where does your love of acting come from and is it something you always wanted to do?

According to my parents, I was always a drama queen, I loved watching hours and hours of TV and recreating what actors and actresses had done and I guess I was destined to do it.

We understand you are a dancer, can you say about this?

Dancing will always be a part of my life, it’s what I do, it expresses how I feel and I believe you can change people’s lives by doing something that you are good at, and if dancing and acting is what I have to do to make people see that, then so be it.

How was the experience being a guest on The Dog Ate My Homework?

The Dog Ate My Homework was SO much fun. It was my first time doing a game show. It is different from acting because I am not playing a character, therefore I am not following a script, just cues on when I should speak and what camera I should look at. Just like Little Darlings, The Dog Ate My Homework was so much fun and I met some lovely people.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Acrobatics, singing, writing songs, teaching my dog new tricks, shopping!

What are you hoping the rest of the year brings for your career and do you have anything upcoming that you can say about?

I really do hope that I can act in a Marvel film – it’s always been a dream of mine. I have recently done a voiceover for a huge supermarket advert. In addition, I’ve had several auditions that I am waiting to hear back from. Nevertheless, I am grateful for what I have been blessed with thus far and we’ll see what path God takes me on next!

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