In the new Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, Taylor Cora plays Winter – the best friend of Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) and Roman Russo (Alkaio Thiele), with the series having its premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles earlier this week. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place released on October 29th on Disney Channel and the following day on Disney+, and Winter works with a cast including David Henrie and Selena Gomez (reprising their roles of siblings Justin and Alex Russo from Wizards of Waverly Place), Mimi Gianopulos (as Giada Russo) and Max Matenko (as Milo Russo). With Taylor having attended the show’s premiere in Los Angeles, she had attended premieres previously such as Descendants: The Rise of Red and David Henrie’s Monster Summer. Taylor’s character Winter is her first regular role, having previously filmed two episodes of true crime docuseries American Gangster: Trap Queens and she has worked on commercials, with her latest being IHOP just before booking her role in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Recently, we caught up with Taylor, who spoke to us about being in the cast of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, what Winter is like to play in the show and attending the premiere at the El Capitan Theatre.

How would you describe your character Winter in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place and was there anything that drew you to the role?

Winter is the best friend of Billie and Roman. She’s a bubbly and curious 12 year old, who deep down is actually incredibly smart… and sort of dorky. She pushes Roman out of his normalcy loving shell with her yearn for adventure, and often pulls Billie back to safety when she goes too far with her magic. She’s the perfect medium between the trio, and the best best friend!

How did you feel finding out you’d booked Winter in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place and you’d be a regular character on Disney Channel?

It’s actually a funny story as to how I found out – I was at school when my mom got the call. She celebrated with my dad for like an hour before picking me up early from school. I had a field trip that day so I was sort of confused when she picked me up, and extra confused when she told me it was a “family emergency”. Then on the way home she was playing gospel music and saying: “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! We’re so blessed!” and I was just thinking, “What kind of family emergency…?”. When we finally got home, she sat me down on the couch and went on a long rant that I barely understood, until she finally got to the point. “You’re going to be working with Selena Gomez!” is what she said, right before I immediately started crying. In that moment I felt so happy, and so excited for what was to come. I really am so blessed.

Can you tell us what Winter is like to play and what is it like on set?

Winter is extremely fun, and her randomness is probably one of my favourite parts of playing her. We’re very similar in certain ways, and I always like to say that Winter is me when I was her age. As for what it’s like on set, I love it there. It’s like my second home. All of the cast and crew are always so supportive and the energy is always up. We all have a lot of fun, and even when we need to focus, there’s always a moment or two that lets me know that it’ll all be worth it in the end.

What is it like filming alongside your fellow cast members and how was it meeting them for the first time?

I love my castmates dearly, they are all family to me at this point. But in the beginning, I was sort of nervous to interact with them. Technically, I had already met Janice (LeAnn Brown) and Alkaio (Thiele) through chemistry reads before I got casted, but I didn’t know what it would be like now that I was actually a part of the show. The pilot was filmed without me, so I was a bit discouraged by the fact that they had already spent a whole week together and formed bonds, and I would be sort of like an outsider. But the longer I spent time with them, the more they became like family to me. Janice and I immediately bonded and eventually became like sisters. Alkaio and I have a lot in common and we have a very similar dynamic to Roman and Winter (especially since we’re both kind of dorks with weird humour…). And Max (Matenko) and I have a lot of inside jokes and play video games together. We all have a blast on set, and I wouldn’t trade them for any other cast.

You attended the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, how did you find the experience?

Truly exhilarating, if I do say so myself. If I’m being honest, I immediately felt nervous with all of the people there. I kept telling the cast and interviewers that I was trying not to barf because of how nervous/excited I was, probably grossed them out. I was told by David Henrie that it would be big but I think I really underestimated his definition of “big” because the word I’d use would be “enormous” or “colossal”. But it was super fun, and I met a lot of people who I’ve always wanted to meet. Everyone looked so great, and the episodes they showed were hilarious. Don’t mean to toot my own horn; but Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is a great show!

How did you feel when Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiered on Disney Channel on October 29th and how has it been seeing the fan response to the release?

It all felt so surreal. Months of work put in for this very moment, and it’s finally all here. I personally binge-watched it on Disney+ when it came out the next day. But I was, and still am, ecstatic. And seeing all of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our audience has me thrilled. I mean, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is currently the number one show on Disney+! That is crazy to me! I really just want to give all of the glory to God though, because without him, none of this would have been possible.

What do you feel you’ve learnt so far from having Winter as your first regular role on screen?

A lot. David Henrie especially has really showed me that it’s okay to not know what you’re doing, and it’s okay to ask for help. I’ve learned the importance of staying humble and being there for one another. I’ve sharpened my focusing skills being here. I also feel like, in a way, landing this role has strengthened my relationship with God. Not just because he answered my prayers, but because he’s still so present in my life even after doing so.

Do you have any favourite highlights from filming Series 1 that you can share?

I remember for one episode they had little robots made; sort of like Roombas but without the cleaning, and you could control it yourself. After filming the episode, we were allowed to take a break from school to drive them around set. I remember crashing repeatedly into the other bots. Sometimes on accident, sometimes not. That was definitely a fun little memory that I’ll cherish.

In 2022, you were in the cast of the true crime docuseries American Gangster: Trap Queens, what was this like to work on?

That was really great to do, especially since I had only ever done commercials beforehand, and I didn’t even have to audition for it. Even though I didn’t have any lines, it was still a fun experience. The crew was welcoming, and it was a much more light-hearted environment than the show itself. I was in two episodes playing two different characters, but both episodes I enjoyed filming for. The show gave my 12-year-old self some TV experience before I got the role of Winter!

You’ve been part of a number of commercials including Walmart, McDonald’s and My Little Pony, can you tell us about some of them?

Yes! I’d really only been doing commercials until I got this role. I did an IHOP commercial right before I was casted. But it really is so funny because my first commercial I ever did was the My Little Pony commercial when I was about five years old and I did that commercial with Kylie Cantrall, who you might know from Descendants: The Rise of Red. She was around 10 at the time. And recently, at the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiere, we were able to reconnect! My mom showed her the photo we took together when we were younger, and she immediately recognised me. We recreated the photo, and it really was such a sweet moment. That’s why I often keep in contact with the people I do commercials with, because you never know where you might see them again!

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

Well, I got into it at the age of five. At that time, I was a child model and occasionally walked the runway and did photoshoots. Now, as much as I enjoyed modelling, I also had another desire: to be on TV! At the time, I didn’t really know what went into being an actor, but I always knew that whatever it was, I’d be willing to do it. Luckily, my mom caught this early, and was able to get me signed with an agent: Daniel Hoff Agency and with my mom as my manager, I went on to be… an actress!

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

I really like sitcoms! I’ve watched and rewatched Friends plenty of times. I love The Office, and Modern Family. But I also really like The Walking Dead! Also, as ironic as it is, I think it’s safe to say that Wizards of Waverly Place is also one of my favourite shows. I got really invested, and again, I love sitcoms! My favourite movie is Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, because I love comedy and mystery, and it’s a perfect blend of the two. Right now, I’m currently watching Only Murders in the Building, which I was originally watching because of Selena Gomez, but I immediately realised that it was also a perfect blend of comedy and mystery. So when I finish it, that one might be my favourite.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I really like to watch TV! Mostly sitcoms, but as I said before, I’m watching other things too. I also really like to read, I got a bunch of books for my graduation party, and I’m also attempting to finish the entire The Walking Dead graphic novel series. I have all of the books, just not enough time to read them. I’ve gotten pretty far though. I also like to listen to the Wizards of Waverly Pod on Spotify. I’ve never really been into podcasts, but I figured I’d start listening for “research”. But then I got invested, and now I just do it for fun.

Is there anything you enjoy most about having an acting career?

The food in crafty! Nah, I’m kidding. Probably the people. I’m a big people person, and the cast and crew surrounding a certain job can make it or break it. That’s why I enjoy playing Winter so much, because everyone working on that show cares, and only wants me and the rest of the kids in the cast to have the best time. And even the people who don’t work on the show, but I’ve met through premieres or other work-related events! Like Saniyya Sidney, or Mykal-Michelle Harris. They’re the kind of people that make this job so, so worth it.

In recent months, you have attended other premieres including Descendants: The Rise of Red, The Good Half and Monster Summer, how is it being a guest at film premieres?

It’s truly amazing. Like I said before, these events are opportunities to make new friends and experience new things! Descendants: The Rise of Red was the first premiere I ever attended. And even though I missed and was not able to meet Kylie at that time, I did meet Julian Lerner, who’s a great dude and an amazing friend! There, we also met Brandy, who is my mom’s favorite singer and main inspiration. At David’s Monster Summer premiere, I was able to meet many people like Reagan Revord, who I knew from Young Sheldon. And I freaked out when I saw Cailey Fleming, who I originally knew from The Walking Dead. I feel incredibly honoured and blessed every time I’m invited to a premiere, because I know I’m going to have fun every time.

What are you hoping the upcoming year brings for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

Not any that I’m currently aware of, but I am manifesting a movie and/or a voiceover project. I’ve always wanted to be a voice actor, so that would be a fulfillment of a very big dream of mine. We also all hopefully want a Season 2 for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Those are my main desires for the upcoming year, and I’ll definitely be praying on it.

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