In the upcoming film Spy Kids: Armageddon, Everly Carganilla will be starring alongside Connor Esterson, with the release set for later this year, and the film is directed, co-written and co-produced by Robert Rodriguez. Last year, Everly played Maggie in the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty, which led to her being nominated for Best Young Actor (Television) at the 2022 Imagen Foundation Awards. Previous roles for Everly have seen her play Maddie in short film Bud, have a guest role in That Girl Lay Lay, play Ju-Hee “Ju Ju” Kim in The Chair, and she played one of the starring roles – Ellie Torres – in the feature film Yes Day, working closely with her on-screen mother Jennifer Garner. Everly had her first acting project in 2021 as Kimberly Kane in The Haunted Man, which was written and directed by her father, and she is currently working on an upcoming Zach Woods project. Chatting to us, Everly talks about what it was like filming as one of the stars in the upcoming release of Spy Kids: Armageddon, playing Maggie in The Afterparty and her time on set of Yes Day as Ellie Torres.

Later this year, you will be seen starring in Spy Kids: Armageddon, what are you looking forward to most for the release?

I’m looking forward most to the scenes with stealth and skill, superhero scenes with flying especially! Robert Rodriguez seriously makes magic so I know he’s going to do a fantastic job.

How did you feel finding out you’d booked the role and what was the film like to be part of?

I felt really, really surprised that I was going to be a Spy Kid. It was the day I got Student of the Month. It was a Wednesday. My dad made a video and edited a video of all the old original Spy Kids stuff and at the end it said “Everly, you BOOKED Spy Kids!”, and I was like “no way, no, how”. The film was incredible to be a part of. I felt like this was the film where all my dreams could come true. I mean… I got to be in a harness and play real-life Mario Kart on set with Connor (Esterson), my co-star!

You play Maggie in the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty, can you tell us about the show and your character?

I think Maggie was a very fun character to play because I got to eat gummy worms, run around the set and I was really just able to be me!

What is Maggie like to play and how was it being nominated for Best Young Actor (Television) at the 2022 Imagen Foundation Awards?

Maggie was a super fun character to play and I loved her personality because she’s a lot like me because she likes stuffed animals and wigs and I love to explore. Being nominated for an Imagen Award was incredible because I felt so honoured walking into the awards knowing I was nominated for something I loved so much. And there were so many amazing actors there too!

Who do you think will enjoy watching The Afterparty?

I think everybody will love it because there is something for everyone. It’s funny, and Tiffany Hadish brings miracles, and there is mystery. Also, I love that I know who did it but the viewers don’t!

How did you find the experience working on the 2021 short film Bud and playing Maddie?

With Bud, I felt so playful. Michael Pena was so perfect to get all my sillies out. The director, Zach Woods, was just amazing and he let us improvise a lot and some of my favourite parts weren’t even scripted.

What did you enjoy most about filming for That Girl Lay Lay as Cartier, which led to you being nominated at the 2022 Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a TV Series: Guest Starring Young Artist?

That Girl Lay Lay was so much fun! I got to meet Lay Lay, and this was the first lip sync battle I have ever done, and my first time rapping! It was great.

In 2021, you played Ju-Hee “Ju Ju” Kim in the Netflix series The Chair opposite Sandra Oh, can you tell us about your time on set of the show?

I really loved my time on set with The Chair. Jay Duplass was so fun to work with, so silly just like me. He sort of was silly and serious at the same time. Sandra Oh was also playful and she just felt so good to hang out with and I really miss her.

What are some of your favourite memories from playing Ellie Torres in the feature film Yes Day and filming alongside the rest of the cast?

Ohhhh yes, I really loved being Ellie because I got to eat 30 scoops of ice cream. I did NOT like going through the car wash but now that I’m almost nine, I think I could do it again. Kablowey was also very fun because everyone was going nuts and it was a free for all, no rules, water balloon “bloodbath” and Jen (Garner) was a ray of sunshine walking into the set. She was telling everyone “you can do this” and was just so nice to be around!

Do you remember how you felt watching the completed film for the first time and how was it seeing the viewers’ response to the release?

I remember feeling so amazed that it was actually me and what amazing thing a camera can do – we turned Kablowey into a slow-mo water balloon fight into what it is and it’s camera magic!

Your first role was Kimberly Kane in The Haunted Man (which was written and directed by your father), what do you remember most from filming this project?

I remember playing tag with Reese (Robles), my co-star, I was so young and I really don’t remember too much but it’s such a good movie. Scary but awesome and it’s my daddy’s movie so I loved being in it!

How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do?

I love to play pretend and, when I act, the pretend stays permanent. It can be permanent because it’s something that people can watch over and over and my play pretend stays forever! I’ve always loved pretending.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

My favourite films are Matilda, The Princess Bride, Home, Titanic, Miraculous, Encanto and Because of Winn-Dixie.

How do you like to spend your time away from your career?

I love to draw, practice piano, go to school, play with Noah and MAKE things. I can make anything if you give me a big pile of trash!

Apart from Spy Kids: Armageddon, do you have any other projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping 2023 brings you?

The Accompanist is a film I am working on. It will be filmed in New Jersey. It’s kind of a magical movie, as anything Zach Woods is involved in is truly special. I can’t wait because I get to fly.

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