In the 2023 Hallmark Christmas film Rescuing Christmas, Bailey Stender plays Debbie alongside a cast including Rachael Leigh Cook (as Erin Smithson) and Sam Page (as Sam), with the film directed by Emily Moss Wilson. Bailey filmed episodes of the revival of iCarly, playing Prunella Pitz-Papperman, and she appeared as Phoebe Caldwell in Wolf Pack, with which she attended her first red carpet premiere. Amongst her screen roles, Bailey played Kim in Merry Kiss Cam, Rachel in Crushed, and she played Cricket in an episode of Bunk’d, which she filmed during peak COVID times. Answering our questions, Bailey talks about playing Debbie in the recent Hallmark film Rescuing Christmas, filming as Prunella Pitz-Papperman in iCarly and working on the feature films Merry Kiss Cam and Crushed.
You play Debbie in Rescuing Christmas for Hallmark, can you tell us about the film?
Rescuing Christmas is genuinely the cutest, funniest Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen, and I’m so proud to have been a part of it. It touches on the idea of if Christmas never existed, and how dreary the winter would be without it. It’s a beautiful reminder to appreciate the holidays and all of the chaos that goes along with it!
How would you describe Debbie and what was it like getting into character?
Debbie is an uptight, type A, elf. You heard that right. I play an elf. But somehow having elves in this movie actually works! They add a comedic element that’s super fun and elevates the story. I got to channel my inner uptight Virgo energy to play this role. It was a BLAST. This character is hilarious and constantly trying to make everything perfect, which is impossible under the circumstances of the film.
What was it like filming with Rachael Leigh Cook, Sam Page and the rest of the cast, and being directed by Emily Moss Wilson?
Rachael is an absolute angel and a role model to me. She is so talented, and so kind to literally everyone she meets. As are Sam and Emily! These were some of the kindest, most encouraging people I’ve ever worked with. They set the tone for a very fun set. Sam was such a sweetheart, and Emily genuinely feels like a good friend to me. She was so welcoming and warm from the very start.
Was there anything that drew you to the role of Debbie and how was it reading the script for the first time?
Reading the script for the first time, I was genuinely LAUGHING! This was the first Christmas movie I had seen in a while that truly made me laugh, cry, and everything in between. I think there’s a version of me that’s a lot like Debbie, because this character came so easily to me. I’m never really sassy in my real life, so playing this character was a freeing opportunity to do so! The writing was already hilarious, and Emily Moss Wilson allowed me to improvise and make Debbie even more my own. As frustrating as Debbie can be, I love her.
How did you find the experience on set of Rescuing Christmas and what did you enjoy most about filming?
My favourite part about filming was the comradery of the cast and crew on this set. It was nothing but love and fun. Our director, Emily, really set the tone that way. From the first day on set, I felt appreciated and safe. I was also lucky enough to film this in my hometown, Duluth, MN, which was absolutely amazing. One of my best friends from growing up was also in the movie, Rae Dastoor. That was a dream come true for both of us – to work on a movie together in our hometown.
What was Prunella Pitz-Papperman like to play in your episodes of iCarly and can you tell us about the character?
Prunella is an absurdly bubbly, perfect human. So much so, that Carly thinks she’s a literal robot. Prunella was SO FUN to play because I got to be silly and bubbly and boisterous – all of my favourite things! She is also Nevel Papperman’s wife, and Nevel was one of my FAVOURITE characters in the original iCarly series. That was a DREAM COME TRUE. And Reed Alexander (Nevel) is now a close friend of mine who I love dearly. He made me feel so at home from day one.
What was iCarly like to work on and how was it being involved with the revival series?
Working on iCarly is something I still pinch myself about every day. How did this even happen?! My all-time favourite show from growing up got revived and… I’M ON IT?! I got to literally act alongside some of my idols like Miranda Cosgrove and Jerry Trainor. And they are some of the kindest, most down to earth people I’ve ever worked with. They are such stars and yet have no ego. They were complimentary, made me laugh, and welcomed me with open arms. I hope to work with them again on something down the road because that experience was MAGIC.
In Wolf Pack, you play the recurring role of Phoebe Caldwell, what was she like to play?
Phoebe is another character that was super fun to play because she’s nothing like me! Phoebe was shamelessly mean and had such a hard exterior. This is exactly why acting is so fun – you get to be someone you’re not, and channel anything you’re suppressing into your characters. Any anger I was feeling at that time was channeled into that mean girl energy. That being said, Phoebe also has a very soft centre and is hiding who she really is, which was interesting and fun to play. I love playing multi-dimensional, layered, complex female characters.
How did you find the experience attending the Wolf Pack premiere and how was it seeing the completed episodes for the first time?
The Wolf Pack premiere was my first red carpet and I was SO NERVOUS but SO EXCITED. I had never experienced anything like it. It was weird seeing something that had been on my vision boards for so long come to life. I couldn’t be more grateful. And to share the night with such an incredible cast, and someone as iconic as Sarah Michelle Gellar?! That was surreal.
Watching Wolf Pack back was amazing because the series turned out great and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I felt so warm and so proud of everyone involved. That crew was so kind and so wonderful. The cast is so talented. They are magic on screen.
What was it like filming for Merry Kiss Cam as Kim and Crushed as Rachel?
Merry Kiss Cam was such a blast! (I feel like I’m saying that for everything. Can you tell I love being on set?) MKC was also filmed in my hometown, which felt like a dream. My parents even stopped by set one day, and I just felt so lucky.
I have to say, playing Rachel in Crushed might be my favourite role to date. She is f**king CRAZY, which is what made her so fun. Niki Koss directed the film, and she gave me FULL creative liberty to improvise and make the role my own. I’VE NEVER IMPROVISED SO MUCH ON A SET – THANK YOU, NIKI! I will never forget filming that movie. I met several of my now best friends on that set, and also got to work with someone I greatly admire, Bebe Wood. She is now playing Gretchen in the Mean Girls musical movie!
What do you remember from your time filming as Cricket in a Series 5 episode of Bunk’d?
Bunk’d was another super fun set, although we were filming during peak COVID times, so it was not as collaborative. The cast and crew were still SO incredible and kind, despite us having to keep distance and spend most of the day in our private rooms. Still – SO FUN. My character Cricket was another uptight, boisterous perfectionist. I guess I play that well (maybe that’s not such a good thing, haha!). Working on Disney Channel was always a dream of mine, so words really can’t express my gratitude for that opportunity.
Had you always wanted an acting career and how did you start in the industry?
I’ve been doing theatre since I was seven years old, when my mom decided to put me in a play because I was too shy. Now I’m the complete opposite! Since I was seven or eight I knew I wanted to be an actress. I used to sit on my parents’ bed and watch The Office with my family, and I remember all of our worries melting away as we laughed as a family. I’ve always wanted to do that for others – be a source of light in the darkness.
What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?
I’m a comedy girl through and through. Laughing is quite literally my favourite part of being alive, so I try to fill my mind with more light-hearted content. I’m currently re-watching Parks and Recreation and Superstore, both for the fourth time. I can’t get enough of those darn NBC comedies! No one does it quite like NBC. My dream is to be a lead on a comedy series like The Office, Superstore, Parks and Rec, or New Girl. To be on a set where we’re constantly laughing as a cast and crew, while making millions of people laugh, is all I’ve ever wanted.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I spend my free time exploring, trying new coffee shops, meditating, pulling tarot and oracle cards for myself and friends, and laughing with friends and family. I’m also currently getting my Spiritual Life Coach Certification, so that’s been taking up a lot of my time! I’m a very spiritual person, and a lot of my energy and time goes into exploring the metaphysical.
Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping 2024 brings for you?
I have a couple of things in the works that are not yet set in stone, so stay tuned!
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