For Hailey Philip’s first major professional role in a feature film, she plays Young Jess (Antonia Gentry) in May’s release of the Hulu comedy film Prom Dates, working closely with Millie Thorpe as Young Hannah (Julia Lester), and she was directed by Kim O. Nguyen, with UK viewers able to watch Prom Dates on Disney+. Further screen roles for Hailey have included the student short film Spiral as May, playing Young Claire in the short film Call Waiting, and she has worked on numerous commercials including for Play-Doh at six years old. Answering our questions, Hailey talks about playing Young Jess in Prom Dates, what it was like having her first major professional role in this year’s film release and working on short films.
Can you tell us about the new Hulu comedy film Prom Dates, in which you play Young Jess (Antonia Gentry) and how did you feel when the film was released in May?
Prom Dates is a comedic teen movie that is ultimately about the importance of friendship. It has lots of twists and funny moments. I was so excited when it came out, I was a bit nervous for the reaction from viewers, but everyone in my life is extremely supportive so I was mostly excited!
Young Jess marks your first professional role in a major feature film, how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role and was there anything that drew you to the character?
I found out in my math class that I booked the role of Young Jess and I remember asking my math teacher if I could call my mom, and I went into the hallway and freaked out, I was so beyond excited to play Young Jess! The second I read the audition sides Jess’s spontaneity and ambition really pulled me into the character.
How did you prepare for filming and how would you describe Young Jess?
I prepared with my acting coach Shari Shaw, she helped me really understand Jess and make sure my comedic skills were on point for filming! Young Jess is such a fun character, she’s very ambitious and doesn’t let anything get in the way of what she wants. She’s very spontaneous but always has intention. She’s a very layered character.
What was it like meeting the rest of the cast for the first time and how was it filming your scenes with Millie Thorpe as Young Hannah?
It was so much fun to meet everyone in the cast, everyone was so sweet! Millie and I instantly clicked, our days on set together were so much fun, between takes we would joke around with each other, and admire the prom set! Then on one of the filming days we gave nicknames to each of the amazing crew members who made working on set an absolute blast! Millie is extremely talented, comedy for sure comes natural to her, she’s hilarious both on and off screen, getting to work with her was such a wonderful experience!
How did you find the experience on set of Prom Dates and what do you feel you learnt from your time working on the film?
Working on Prom Dates was an absolute dream! Everyone was so amazing to work beside. Kim (O. Nguyen), our director, was the best and she really allowed us to have fun with our characters! From the moment I stepped on set to the last time leaving, it was an experience that I will forever be proud of and grateful for. I learned so much from working on this project, it taught me that this career, despite all the pressure, is possible and it’s extremely rewarding to be a part of a film like Prom Dates! I also learned more about what happens pre and post production.
Why would you recommend watching Prom Dates and who do you think will enjoy it?
I would recommend watching Prom Dates because it’s brilliantly written and an overall fun movie to watch, it features a very talented cast, and so much love and time from the crew and cast was put into this film and it shows! I think anyone 16+ would enjoy Prom Dates for its humour and fun plot!
You have previously worked on short films Spiral as May and Call Waiting as Young Claire, what were both like to be part of?
They were both amazing experiences! Call Waiting was such a cool experience for me since it was my first speaking role and the start of my love for film and television acting. It will always be a special project for me! Spiral was a student film that I worked on, it was so much fun to be a part of, the crew and cast were so sweet and we had an absolute blast on set! It went on to win an award at a local film festival, which is pretty cool! Playing May was so much fun and getting to tell her story was such an honour.
We understand you have also filmed for commercials, can you tell us about some of them?
One of my favourite commercials I have filmed was for Play-Doh – it was six-year-old me’s dream! I got to go to Hasbro Inc. and see all the toys they have made over the years, and I remember after the shoot they gave me glitter Play-Doh, it was so much fun!
Where does your love of acting come from and was it something you always wanted to do?
I’ve loved acting since I was very young, I was the kid that would perform a monologue at a family gathering. I was such an outgoing kid and I’ve always loved performing, I honestly don’t remember a time when I wasn’t super into wanting to be an actress, it’s for sure something I’ve always wanted to do, and my love for it has only gotten stronger!
Is there anything you enjoy most about having an acting career?
I enjoy being able to step into other people’s shoes and play different characters. I’m someone that wishes I could live ten different lives at once and acting allows me to do that. And being able to make writers’ art come to life is so beyond incredible and extremely rewarding to be trusted to be a part of telling others’ stories.
Have you been given any advice over your time as an actor so far that has stuck with you?
I have received lots of advice and a few pieces that I have kept with me are to immerse yourself in the craft, always be watching current shows, read plays, and know who directors and casting directors are. Another important piece of advice I’ve gotten is to make sure you are acting for the right reasons and that your intentions are right and to only do it if you really love it, because your love and drive for it will show in your audition tapes.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
Kill Bill Vol. 1 is my top favourite film. Everything about it is phenomenal – the cinematography, the acting, the sets, the costumes, it was a very beautifully-directed movie. My all-time favourite TV show is Gilmore Girls, it’s so nostalgic and fun to watch. Gilmore Girls is for sure a show that drove my passion for acting, it’s such a fun show to watch and the mother-daughter relationship and love triangles make it unique and entertaining!
How do you like to spend your free time?
I spend my free time watching lots of TV shows and movies, I’ve recently started going to the gym, which is fun. I spend most of my free time going out with my friends, since getting my licence recently, driving around is my favourite activity.
What are you hoping this year brings for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can share?
I hope this year I’m able to work on more fun TV and/or film projects, as of right now I do not have anything I can talk about.
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