With the popular CBBC drama So Awkward releasing a spin-off film in 2023 – So Awkward Kids Camp – Audrey Aherne-Conroy booked her role of Maddy Thompson alongside a cast including original cast members Cleo Demetriou as Lily Hampton and Alex Carter as Mr Malone. Audrey has since gone on to play the character in the new series of So Awkward Academy, with the episodes releasing earlier this year and available on BBC iPlayer. Having attended drama classes from a young age and being seen by a talent agent at nine years old, Audrey had appeared in numerous commercials before booking her role as Maddy Thompson in the So Awkward franchise. We chatted to Audrey, who answered our questions about booking her role of Maddy Thompson in So Awkward Kids Camp, filming So Awkward Academy and what it’s like working with the rest of the cast.

In So Awkward Academy, you play the regular role of Maddy Thompson, can you tell us about the series and your character?

The series picks up where So Awkward Kids Camp finished. The six kids are all at Cranmede Academy together and we’re all good friends even though we’re all very different. Maddy is upbeat, hardworking and is always trying to do the right thing. She can take herself a bit too seriously but she has a good heart.

What is Maddy like to play and how do you find the experience on set of the show?

I really like Maddy, although she’s quite different from me. Maddy often has scenes with the teachers in which she’s trying to convince them to give her extra schoolwork.

Have you had a favourite episode to film so far, and what are some of your stand-out highlights from filming Series 1?

The scenes I enjoy most are often those when all of the cast are together – in the episode Phantom of the Orchestra, everyone ends up in a cupboard singing along with Mr Malone playing a terrible song on his guitar. It was pretty hard to keep a straight face at times.

How is it filming alongside Cleo Demetriou (Lily) and the rest of the cast, and had you seen So Awkward before auditioning?

Filming with Cleo is amazing since she is kind and brilliant at what she does, and I had watched her from when I was little in So Awkward. Alex Carter is just as fun in real life as his character Mr Malone. The whole cast is all like one big family.

How was it originally booking your role in the TV film So Awkward Kids Camp and how did you prepare for filming?

I travelled back from a holiday for the final audition. It was a very early morning and a very late night so all a bit of a blur. I was still on holiday a few days later when I found out I got the role of Maddy. It was such an exciting time because I had never done anything like that before.

What was So Awkward Kids Camp like to be part of and how was it filming on location?

It was so much fun and the Yorkshire location was beautiful. Everyone loved filming at the lake and on the zip wires. The kids all got to live in the castle that we filmed in – when the crew went home every evening, we had the castle to ourselves.

How was it returning to film So Awkward Academy?

This time we were filming in a school rather than a castle – a different place but so many of the cast and crew were the same. Being back together was really good fun.

Who do you think will enjoy watching So Awkward Academy and how did you feel on release day?

The run-up to release day is always so exciting. I think So Awkward Academy is a fun program for all ages – lots of fans have grown up watching since the early days of So Awkward in 2015 – and now kids younger than me are discovering the show and watching Maddy and her friends settling in at secondary school.

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

I haven’t always wanted to be an actor. When I was nine, an agent came to my drama class, I started doing commercials and those led on to other great jobs.

Is there something you enjoy most about working in the acting industry?

Working with lovely people and travelling to interesting places – my favourite location was Ljubljana in Slovenia where I spent a week filming.

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

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is my favourite TV show and I’ve watched all eight series three times now – it’s a slight addiction. But I also love other TV shows and I’m obsessed with Adam Sandler movies – they are all so funny and clever.

How do you like to spend your free time?

The most important thing is hanging out with my friends, I spend as much time as I can with them. I like to do my hobbies – dance, climbing and going to the gym. But when I am at home, I just love to watch movies and TV.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

I’m going to be filming again soon – it’s a secret for now.

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