Kensington Tallman stars as Lucy in the new TV series Home Sweet Rome, filming in Rome alongside a cast including Darrin Rose, Eleonora Facchini and Ava Ro, with the show recently releasing in the UK on CBBC and iPlayer and featuring original music. Further screen roles for Kensington include playing Tiffany Highlander in That Girl Lay Lay on Nickelodeon, Bianca Magic in Drama Club, and she’s had guest roles in Chad and Side Hustle. Also a voice actor, Kensington voices Gauge in Firebuds, Honey Bear in Bossy Bear and Gabby in Blaze and the Monster Machines. In 2024, Kensington will be seen in an upcoming movie alongside Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard, as well as other unannounced projects. Talking with Kensington, we found out from her about playing Lucy in the new TV series Home Sweet Rome, her time as Tiffany Highlander in That Girl Lay Lay and voicing Gauge in Firebuds.

Can you tell us about the new TV series Home Sweet Rome and how you felt finding out you’d booked the leading role of Lucy?

Home Sweet Rome is a coming-of-age music series about my character, Lucy, moving from America to Rome, Italy! It follows the challenges she faces moving to a new country and making new friends and how she learns the meaning of “when in Rome!”. Home Sweet Rome follows the theme of self-discovery as Lucy starts to realise who she is in this new phase of life.

When I found out that I’d booked the role of Lucy, I was ecstatic! She is such a fun character to play, and we share many qualities! I was so grateful that I got to tell her story to people all over the world. Lucy will always have a special place in my heart!

How would you describe Lucy and what is she like to play?

Lucy is a fun-loving teenage girl who is exceptionally optimistic! She is kind, lovable, and such a great friend. Lucy desperately wants to please others and fit in, but she realises that just being herself is enough! She is very clumsy (like me!), which was really fun to play with. Lucy also tends to overanalyse things, leading to her nervousness, which I can relate to. Playing Lucy was such a blast! I loved experimenting with her silly, clumsy, goofy side that makes Lucy, well, LUCY! I also loved leaning into her vulnerability; capturing real teenage emotions on screen is really important. Playing Lucy was such an incredible experience! I hope that she encourages other kids to welcome their authentic selves.

How did you find the experience filming on location in Rome, and what was it like on set?

Filming in Rome was such a surreal experience! It has always been my dream to travel to Italy, and getting to film there was incredible! I am an Italian student and speak a bit of Italian, so I loved communicating with the locals, and I adore Italian culture. Getting to film in some of the most iconic places, like the Colosseum and Villa Adriana, was so special. When you watch the show, you will also experience the beauty of Italy! Fun fact: all the apartment scenes were filmed in an old hospital! So our “set” was actually a hospital used in the 30s! Our incredible art department transformed the space into Francesca’s magical Roman apartment! Our fantastic cast and crew created such a fun environment on set. Everyone is SO talented, and I love them all so much! We also had incredible showrunners/writers/producers, Courtney Jane Walker, and Matt Huether! They are so brilliant and were such a joy to work with!

What do you enjoy most about filming alongside the rest of the cast, which includes Darrin Rose, Eleonora Facchini, and Ava Ro?

Filming alongside our cast was so fun! Every actor brought something unique to the table and made our show incredible! Everyone is phenomenally talented, from our series regulars to our recurring and guest star actors. I feel so lucky to work alongside them! My favourite part about working with the cast is the off-screen connection that we built, which translates into our on-screen chemistry! Darrin Rose always made me laugh, and we always loved improving together! Eleonora Facchini is one of the sweetest people I have ever met! She works so hard, and she always puts a smile on my face! Ava Ro is so much fun to work with! We bonded immediately and always had a blast during our scenes! We always loved walking around Rome and going to dinner after set! We also went to Amsterdam together, which was such a fantastic adventure. I am so thankful to have worked with such an incredible, kind, and talented cast!

Home Sweet Rome features original music; what were the songs like to record, and how was it hearing the finished soundtrack for the first time?

Recording the music for Home Sweet Rome was an absolute dream! We have 13 original songs on our soundtrack, and I had the blessing of singing 11 songs and recording most of my songs in Italy. The incredible Alex Geringas and Chen Neeman wrote and produced all our music! I fell in love with every song and had a special connection with each one. Working with Chen and Alex was such an incredible experience! I learned so much from them, and they created such a positive environment. When I heard the final mix of all our songs, I fell in love with the music all over again! Working on Home Sweet Rome grew my love of music, and I even started writing my own songs like Lucy!

With the series recently being released in the UK on CBBC and BBC iPlayer, what is it like having Home Sweet Rome screened internationally, and who do you think will enjoy watching the show?

I am so excited that Home Sweet Rome is airing internationally! I feel so grateful that people worldwide get to experience the magic of Home Sweet Rome and experience Rome through Lucy’s point of view. I think so many people will be able to connect with our show and our characters on a unique level, and both young people and adults can enjoy Home Sweet Rome together! It explores the challenges of moving and the growing pains of adolescence. It has so much heart, and you’ll laugh and cry in the same episode! I can’t wait for everyone to watch Home Sweet Rome!

You play the recurring role of Tiffany Highlander in That Girl Lay Lay for Nickelodeon, what is the show like to work on?

Working on That Girl Lay Lay as Tiffany Highlander is so much fun! Our show feels like one big family, with so much joy and positivity on set, and I am so grateful for such an incredible cast and crew. I always hang out with my cast on and off set, and I love them all so much! My TGLL family are some of my best friends; each cast member is so talented, and we share such a special bond.

Can you tell us about Tiffany, and was there anything that drew you to the role?

Tiffany is the ‘mean girl’ of the show. While she always has a trick up her sleeve, she always gets a taste of her own medicine. She is your typical popular girl who always dresses perfectly and has lots of attitude. She has such a fun, sassy, confident energy, which definitely drew me to the role. Even though we are very different, she is so much fun to play! My favourite part of the week is when I go to wardrobe and try on all the incredible outfits our costume department has picked out for Tiffany. It helps me get into character when I try on all the clothes, shoes, and accessories.

What are some of your favourite memories from playing Bianca Magic in Drama Club?

Playing Bianca Magic in Drama Club was such a dream! It was my first series regular role, and I learned so much from our incredible cast and crew! Bianca is very sassy and self-absorbed (and a bit delusional), which makes her so fun to play! I was the youngest of our cast, and I looked up to my castmates like big siblings. We always hung out on and off set and built such great chemistry. (I still hang out with my cast today!) Some of my favourite memories were improvising with my fellow castmates. Some of the best moments of Drama Club were unscripted. We had such brilliant creators/showrunners/writers/producers, Madeline Whitby and Monica Sherer! They are so funny and created such a fun environment on set!

How was it filming guest appearances in Chad as Avery and Side Hustle as Ruby?

Filming on Chad and Side Hustle was such an incredible experience. Chad is more of an adult show, but I learned so much from that experience. I got to play a character who is very different from myself, and I got to work with the legendary Nasim Pedrad! She is truly brilliant. Working on Side Hustle was such a great experience! It was my first time doing a multi-cam, and I learned so much about sitcoms! Everyone there was so kind. Two executive producers from Side Hustle, the incredible John Beck and Ron Hart, are also executive producers on That Girl Lay Lay. I am incredibly grateful to them for supporting me in my journey as an actress!

As a voiceover actor, you voice Gauge in Firebuds, can you tell us about recording for the show and how is it getting into character?

I love working on Firebuds! Playing an animated character like Gauge is such a dream! Gauge is a bright green getaway car for one of the main villains in the show, Wiley Riley! Wiley and Gauge are always up to no good, but ultimately, the Firebuds save the day! Gauge is very sassy and has her signature catchphrase: “Later Taters!”. Whenever I get into the voice of Gauge, I just say, “Later Taters!” and that instantly helps me stay connected to her. We have an incredible voice direction team on Firebuds, and I always love my sessions with my Disney Jr. family.

What is it like voicing Honey Bear in Bossy Bear and Gabby in Blaze and the Monster Machines?

Working on Bossy Bear and Blaze and the Monster Machines has been so much fun! Honey Bear (from Bossy Bear) is Bossy’s cousin! She at first seems very kind and sweet in front of adults, but watch out; she is actually very mean to both Bossy and Turtle. (Turtle is Bossy’s best friend) Even though Honey Bear is mean, she continuously learns that being mean has consequences. I love the sweet message behind each episode. She is very bossy and sassy and is so much fun to play!

On the other hand, Gabby is such a kind character who is always looking out for the interests of others! She always helps the monster machines with any problems and has her tools handy! I have had so much fun playing her!

Where does your love of screen and voice acting come from, and how did you get into both?

From a very young age, I have always been very expressive and creative. However, when I was really little, I actually had terrible stage fright! I played the violin and competed in my school’s poetry festival to push past my fears and get outside my comfort zone. My little brother was the one, however, who got me started! He started acting and modelling at four and absolutely loved it! I went to one of his auditions and told the casting director I was auditioning. I ended up booking that job, and from there, my love of acting grew and grew. When I moved to Los Angeles from New York City, I started taking acting and improv classes and kept auditioning. I then learned about voiceover and took several classes with the amazing Lynnanne Zager. I fell in love with voice acting and haven’t stopped since!

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch, and how do you like to spend your free time?

My favourite shows right now are The Office and Only Murders in the Building! They are both comedic masterpieces and great late-night watches! Some of my favourite films are Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and all the Jurassic movies!

In my free time, I love watching movies and TV shows with my family and hanging out with them! I love creating art, whether it’s drawing, painting, baking, crocheting, or anything in between! I also love doing aerial dance! I train weekly on the silks and the hoop! I love singing and playing music as well. I also love spending time with animals! I love cuddling with my bunny Cinnabunny or volunteering weekly at a rescue barn called The Gentle Barn! I have amazing friends, and we love to hang out on the weekends! We sometimes go to the mall, get boba, see plays, hang out, watch movies, and have sleepovers.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about, and what are you hoping the next year brings for you?

I have an upcoming movie releasing in 2024 called Summer Camp with Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, and Alfre Woodard! I am also working on some forthcoming projects I can’t say much about, but they will be released in 2024. Additionally, I am working with my best friend, Samantha A. Smith, to create a show! We are in the process right now, so make sure to stay tuned! I hope this next year brings new opportunities to continue creating, encouraging others, and telling stories to people all over the world.

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