Last year saw the release of the new live-action Disney series Pretty Freekin Scary, with Emma Shannon playing regular character Nyx alongside a cast including Eliana Su’a as Frankie, with a release in the UK on Disney+. Having played Young Judy Gemstone (Edi Patterson) continuously in the already-released The Righteous Gemstones, Emma will soon be filming Series 4, and she attended her first large premiere when she played Betty Rizzo in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies – the prequel series to Grease. Emma filmed all five series of Better Things, playing Pepper, and in the 2018 TV reboot of Heathers, she played Young Heather Chandler. Further screen projects for Emma have included episodes of Henry Danger as Kelsey Dickle, working on Fuller House, Bunk’d and Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything, and as a voice actor, she played Chloe in Puppy Dog Pals and Mia in Little People. We recently chatted to Emma about playing Nyx in the Disney series Pretty Freekin Scary, her long-running roles of Young Judy Gemstone in The Righteous Gemstones and Pepper in Better Things, filming as Betty Rizzo in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and being part of the TV reboot of Heathers as Young Heather Chandler in 2018.
What is Nyx like to play in the Disney series Pretty Freekin Scary and how did you prepare for your first day on set?
Nyx is a very interesting and fun character to play! One of the best things about playing Nyx is getting all dressed up, as well as the hair and makeup! Pretty Freekin Scary is based off a book series with the same name, and to prepare for the first day on set, I read the books! I also prepared with reading and working on the scripts for the first two episodes!
What are you enjoying most about filming as a regular character on a live-action Disney series and what is the show like to be part of?
Being a series regular on a Disney series has been a dream of mine since I was very little. It’s still shocking to me that I get to live out my childhood dreams! I absolutely adore everyone that I work with!! We all got super close very quickly!! We hang out all the time, on and off set!!
How is it working alongside the rest of the cast, which includes Eliana Su’a as Frankie?
Working with this amazing cast is always such a blast, and makes the work day so much easier!! Because we got close so quickly, we all had incredible chemistry!! I had the majority of my scenes with Eliana, and I’m so grateful to have worked alongside such an intelligent actress! When everyone is on set in a scene together, it is the best!! We really became a family!!
How did you feel when the show premiered on Disney Channel and Disney+ in June last year and how has it been seeing the fan response so far?
Everything was so exciting!! We had a fantastic little premiere!!! Everyone dressed up, and we ate some delicious food!! The best feeling was watching what we worked so hard on all together!! It was so surreal seeing myself in fan edits on social media!! I was also excited to see all good things being said about the show online!!
Have you had a favourite scene or episode to film of Pretty Freekin Scary and what are some of your highlights from filming Series 1?
One of my favourite episodes to film was The Sleepover Life! One of my favourite scenes in the episode is when Nyx, Frankie, Carson, and Remy bump into each other. We all start swinging, and then I spray the can of cheese at Yonas (Kibreab). It was hilarious!!
What is it like playing Young Judy Gemstone in The Righteous Gemstones for HBO?
Playing Young Judy Gemstone is a treat!! I get to be crazy, and have a lot of freedom as an actor!! Edi Patterson is the queen, and I’m honoured to play the younger version of her! I’ve been doing this show for the past four years so it’s very special to me!!
You played Betty Rizzo in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, how was it bringing a well-known character to screens in the prequel series to Grease and what was she like to play?
I was very nervous at first! My character was also kept a secret until the release, which was challenging but so rewarding!! Before I got the audition, I had seen the movie a million times, but I watched it again to take specific notes down. It didn’t really kick in until after the show came out, but being this generation’s Rizzo is a remarkable opportunity I was given!
Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role of Betty Rizzo and how was it reading the scripts for the series?
My dad and I love Grease! It’s our favourite movie, so the audition was very important to me! I completely lost it when I got the call that I booked the role! I worked really hard on the audition, but grasping the fact that it was possible that I got it. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity! While reading the scripts, I could envision everything!! When I saw the Frosty Palace in the script, I gasped!
What was it like on set of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and how did you find the experience attending the show’s premiere?
Walking into Frenchy’s room from the original was mind-blowing! Everything was exactly the same!! Seeing the Frosty Palace and all the cars from the 50s was beyond super cool! This really was my dream role, and it was coming true right in front of my eyes!! There were a lot of emotions!! The Rise of the Pink Ladies premiere was the first real big premiere I had ever been to!! It was so exciting getting interviewed and taking pictures! I also met a lot of very amazing people!! It was also the moment where everyone would find out about Rizzo and Frenchy being in the show!! We got a lot of applause!!
How would you describe your character Pepper in Better Things and how was it filming across all five series of the show?
I grew up on that show! I started the first season at 10 years old, and it ended when I was 15 years old!! I played Duke’s best friend, which was easy because Olivia (Edward) and I are such great friends!! I watched Pepper grow into a confident young woman, who doesn’t care what people think about her!! Pamela Adlon is the kindest and smartest person I’ve ever met, and I’m so grateful to have been directed by Pam!!
Can you tell us about your time voicing Chloe in Puppy Dog Pals and Mia in Little People and what were both like to work on?
Chloe was the cute little girl next door of Bingo and Rolly, and the mom of the puppy Keia! She was a fun character to play with her cute giggles and interactions with the pups!
Mia from Little People was my very first animated show. We found out I booked the show when we went to what we thought was the callback. It turned out to be the director of the show letting us all know we got the part by giving us a little figurine of each of our characters on the show. My voice was so squeaky and cute!
What was it like playing Young Heather Chandler in the 2018 TV reboot of Heathers?
Playing the younger version of Heather Chandler was super cool. I got to dress up in a bunch of different outfits and they took pictures of me for photos that were placed around the set! I performed a scene which I actually got to choreograph on my own!! My inspiration for the choreography was Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine!
What do you remember most from filming episodes of Henry Danger as Kelsey Dickle?
Kelsey was a little girl who saves the bunnies from ‘science experiments’ that her own dad was conducting! I loved working with Cooper Barnes and Jace Norman. I remember being on set with Cooper and Jace as we were shooting, Cooper had to be on the outside of the spaceship, while Jace and I were holding the bunnies! The bunnies were adorable!! Cooper and Jace were pure comedy on and off set!!
Since the start of your acting career, you’ve worked on many other projects including Cousins for Life, Fuller House, Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything, Bunk’d and Black-ish, can you tell us about some of them?
In Fuller House, I played a rich, spoiled brat, which is very interesting to play, but that’s not me at all!! That set was so amazing, everyone was so kind and welcoming!! Fun fact: Fuller House filmed on the old Friends stage!!
Sad to hear that Bunk’d is in its final season. It was such a blast playing the younger version of Lou. While on set of Bunk’d, I remember Cameron (Boyce) said that he remembered me from when I did Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything, which made my whole entire week! He was such a generous and thoughtful person! Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything was the coolest show, and everyone was incredibly welcoming! The cast invited me to sit with them in their hangout for lunch! I just remember feeling so included, and I had the best experience!
Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?
Ever since I can remember, I was a performer! I would perform in front of all of my cousins, and all my stuffed animals! I would dress up as Hannah Montana and do karaoke, including the blonde wig!! I’ve just always loved it and I always will.
How do you like to spend your free time and what are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?
I love going to the beach and hanging out with my friends! I love reading and writing songs!! Some of my favourite films are La La Land, Little Women, all of The Hunger Games movies, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower!! Some of my favourite TV shows are Ted Lasso, Percy Jackson, Only Murders in the Building, and School Spirits!!
Do you have any upcoming acting plans that you can share and what are you hoping 2024 brings for you?
I will start filming Season 4 of The Righteous Gemstones soon and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Judy this season!! I hope that 2024 brings me a TV show, and maybe a few movies!! I’m manifesting big things!! Thank you so much for this interview!! These were very thoughtful questions!!
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