In the recent release of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez plays Charlie alongside his on-screen family Judy Greer and Pete Holmes as his parents and Molly Belle Wright as his sister, with the film being a screen adaptation of the bestselling children’s book by Barbara Robinson. For Hallmark, Sebastian played Dev in Three Wiser Men and a Boy and Theo Jacobs in Holidazed, both released last year, and for Disney+, he plays Nibs – one of the Lost Boys – in Peter Pan & Wendy. Further screen roles for Sebastian have included playing Oliver in Love, Guaranteed with Rachael Leigh Cook and Damon Wayans Jr., Andrew Brewer in The Baby-Sitters Club series, and Four Year Old Kinsey in the supernatural horror film Bed Rest. As a voiceover actor, Sebastian voices Teshi in Netflix series Wonderoos, Nico in CoComelon Lane and Sam in Deepa & Anoop. Sebastian has three projects coming out in 2025 – a guest-starring role in a TV series airing in March, an animated movie and a live-action feature film, and he is also working on a secret voiceover project. We caught up with Sebastian about playing Charlie in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, filming as Nibs in Peter Pan & Wendy, his time in The Baby-Sitters Club as Andrew Brewer and his voiceover work.

You can be seen playing Charlie in the recent release of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, what was it like being part of the screen adaptation of the bestselling children’s book by Barbara Robinson and how did you feel booking the role?

I am so honoured to be part of this film. It is a very special story and I think Dallas Jenkins and all the cast and crew did a fantastic job making the book come to life.

When I first read the script with my dads, we thought that it was so funny, clever and it had a really good message of not judging a book by its cover. When I found out that I had booked the role, I was ecstatic, beyond ecstatic! I was so, so happy!

What was Charlie like to play and how would you describe the character?

That’s a good question. Charlie is funny, dry, sarcastic, very, very sarcastic! He’s tired of the Herdmans bullying him and fed up of having his desserts stolen. He was so fun to play. Charlie was one of my favourite roles ever.

What did you enjoy most about filming with the rest of the cast of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and did you have a favourite scene to film?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was so well cast. They were exactly how I pictured the characters when I first read the script. Even how I pictured them talking. The actors are all extremely talented people. I mean, how can you go wrong when you have Judy Greer and Pete Holmes playing your parents – a lot of laughing happened. The actors who who played the Herdmans (Beatrice Schneider, Essek Moore, Kynlee Heiman, Ewan Wood, Matthew Lamb, and Mason Nelligan) were fantastic – it is wild to think that they could play such mischievous kids even though they’re some of the nicest people I ever met in my life, and some of my best friends (right, Essek Moore?). Also, the actress who plays Alice (Lorelei Olivia Mote) is nothing like her character – she’s just that good!

Molly Belle Wright, who plays Charlie’s sister, Beth, became like a real sister to me. Our accommodations were in the same building and we had a lot of scenes together so we really got to spend time together on set, on the rides to and from set and we even hung out in our spare time. We all became so close and our families did too. We’re all still in regular contact.

I liked filming all the scenes but I think my favourite was maybe one of the hardest. It was a scene that we filmed outside in -37 degrees Celsius where Leroy Herdman (Ewan) chases Charlie and he puts him in a headlock and steals his lunch. It was all filmed outside. It was so cold but production took really good care of us. They gave us heated vests and we kept having to take breaks inside to warm up.

How has it been seeing the fan response to the release of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and how was it attending the film’s premiere?

I am so happy and amazed by how much attention this movie has gotten and I’m delighted that I was able to be a part of this instant Christmas classic that I know people will watch for many years.

Now, the premiere was one of the most exciting parts of making this movie. Not only was it a really fun event to attend but the cast (unfortunately, Matthew Lamb, who played Claude, and Molly Belle Wright couldn’t be there because they were involved in other projects at the time) got to see each other after almost a year of being apart. We had a really fun time and after the premiere, we hung out until really late. Then the next day, most of us all went to Disneyland for an epic, epic day. We were even recognised there by a really nice couple who had been at the premiere.

What was it like filming as Dev in Three Wiser Men and a Boy and Theo Jacobs in Holidazed, both for Hallmark?

Being in Three Wiser Men and a Boy was so much fun. We got to visit an arcade, played laser tag and I even got to dance. What could be more fun than that?

Being Theo Jacobs in Holidazed was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. It was so amazing working with Erin Cahill (Nora), Ian Harding (Josh) and director, Stacy Harding. Ian was so fun to work with. He is so kind and funny. He made me laugh on set and we developed a great relationship. Erin played my mom and in the time we spent together we developed an incredible friendship. My dads and I have stayed in regular contact with Erin. She is awesome! She is one of the kindest people you could ever meet. She just returned from Senegal where she spent some time building a school! Can you believe that?!!

Playing Theo Jacobs in Holidazed was, I think, one of my best performances yet. I am quite proud of it. Watching the finished product was so emotional. I even made myself cry watching it.

Over your career so far, you have appeared in a number of other Christmas-themed films – Christmas on the Vine, Christmas on My Mind, You Light Up My Christmas and Sweet Mountain Christmas, can you tell us about your experience working on these films?

Christmas movies are magical. I absolutely love them because they bring so many cozy memories about the holidays. I have to say that each of them were very special to be part of and I’m still in contact with many of the cast and crew. You Light Up My Christmas, however, was absolutely amazing. I was able to work with the legendary Kim Fields, who has played some iconic characters on television, one being Tootie on The Facts of Life in the 80s. Kim is so nice, kind and very talented. What was even more amazing is that her son, Quincy and I became amazing friends – Quincy is the best! I consider him one of my best, BEST friends and we still chat on a regular basis.

You play Nibs in the Disney+ film Peter Pan & Wendy, what was it like playing one of the Lost Boys and filming for a major Disney remake?

Playing Nibs was a dream come true. Peter Pan is one of my favourite stories and being a Lost Boy was the best. David Lowery, our director, really cared for all the kids on set, and whenever I had a question about my scene he would take the time to really listen. I really wanted to do a great job for David. I also loved that the costumes Nibs wears is a fox costume. At one of the callbacks, I asked David what animal I would be, and he asked me what animal I wanted to be, and I said a skunk or a fox.

Well, the biggest memory I have about Peter Pan & Wendy is the cast! Everyone, from the kids who played Peter Pan, the Darling kids to the Lost Boys all are such amazing and talented people. We call each other The Neverland Family. We became very close because it was almost a year of filming and it was during COVID so we were in the same bubble. I love each and every single one of them. Even the adults were awesome. Jude Law, Jim Gaffagan, Yara Shahidi, and all the actors who played the pirates were so fun to work with. It amazes me that such nice people can play pirates so well. Playing Nibs might be my favourite role. I loved wearing a fox suit. I loved having a slingshot as a weapon. I actually got to bring that home with me and still have it put away. I just think Nibs is the cutest character.

Do you have any favourite memories from your time on set of Peter Pan & Wendy, and how did you feel when the film was released on Disney+?

My favourite memory was filming the pirate ship fight scenes. We had stunt training, worked with amazing stunt people, and the blocking was so fun. I loved pretending to use a slingshot. When Peter Pan was released, it was so cool. Everyone worked so hard to bring the story to life and it was so awesome to see it on screen. We even went to the world premiere in London, England, where I got to see it on the big screen. It is something I’ll never forget. Also, working with Jude Law was fantastic. One time he brought an ice cream truck to set so all the kids could have a treat. He was so cool. I also LOVED acting with Alyssa Wapanatâhk, who played Tiger Lily. Alyssa was such a hero in this movie and she was so kind and fun to be around. But my best memory was meeting all the other kids on set (Alex Molony, Ever Anderson, Josh Pickering, Jacobi Jupe, Florence Bensberg, Skyler Yates, Kelsey Yates, Caelen Edie, Noah Matthews Matofsky, Diana Tsoy and Felix de Sousa – Lost Boys forever!).

What did you enjoy most about playing Oliver in Love, Guaranteed and how was it filming with a cast including Rachael Leigh Cook and Damon Wayans Jr.?

Playing Oliver was awesome. It was a little out of my comfort zone being naughty, but Rachel and Damon were hilarious and we all enjoyed our scenes together. Love, Guaranteed was my second movie with Rachael, and it was amazing to be reunited. She’s so talented and kind and a lot of fun. Damon made me laugh so much, and he’s such a professional. It was so amazing working with both of them. Oh, and I got to eat a lot of ice cream for my scene! How much more fun can it get?

What was Andrew Brewer like to play in The Baby-Sitters Club and what do you remember most from filming the series?

The Baby-Sitters Club was my first TV project with so many other kids. All the cast and crew were amazing. I loved working with Sophie Grace, she played Kristy, and I loved acting alongside Malia Baker, who played Mary Anne. Honestly, she is the nicest person you could imagine and insanely talented. I remember the first episode with Malia, where I got to jump on a trampoline, and I remember when I wore a tuxedo for the wedding scene. I am so happy to be part of a series that was a popular book series. Oh, one of my other favourite scenes is with Sophie Grace and Sophia Reid-Gantzert when we were washing a car and I got to pretend to wash the car with steel wool! It’s a hilarious scene!

How was it being involved with the supernatural horror film Bed Rest as Four Year Old Kinsey?

Well, working on Bed Rest was so cool. We filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba and it was cold, which made for a spooky setting in the final cut. The whole experience was a dream come true. It was so fun to play a little ghost boy. Working with Melissa Barrera was so special. She is so warm and caring, not to mention how incredibly talented she is. I also loved her dogs too. We had a lot of fun together and I learned a lot from her. I also loved working with the cool Guy Burnet, he was hilarious and in between takes taught me how to pose like James Bond. Our very talented director, Lori Evans Taylor, was amazing and really cared for me. Although it’s a spooky horror movie, filming it was not scary at all. I didn’t realise at the time how lucky I was to be working with such talent.

You have been part of many other on-screen projects over the years, including guest-starring in Nancy Drew as Leo, When Calls the Heart as Adam and The X Files as Andrew Eggers, what are some of your stand-out highlights?

When I was in The X Files, When Calls the Heart and Nancy Drew, I was very young.

The X Files was one of the first things I filmed by myself. Now that I’m older, I realise how lucky I am to be able to say that I’ve been part of such an iconic show. I got to film with my acting friend Emma Oliver and with a really creepy character named Mr. Chuckleteeth.

Nancy Drew was great to film. One of the creepiest scenes is when my character is attacked by a “lamia” – like a zombie. It was so exciting! And creepy! Working with Larry Teng was also very special, he’s so good at working with kids, and who knows, maybe I’ll be working with him again very soon – hint hint.

When Calls the Heart was fun too. I had a very small part and just one short scene but, in between filming, the talented Pascale Hutton ran around with me and played. We even got to play in the jail of the set.

As a voiceover actor, you voice Teshi in the Netflix series Wonderoos, can you tell us about the show and your character, and how is it voicing Teshi?

Wonderoos is such an adorable cartoon. It teaches lessons in every episode. It’s called Wonderoos because the characters are all different animals but they all have a pouch like a kangaroo and they all have adventures where they have to figure out what to do. They “wonder what to do”. I loved voicing Teshi, the turtle. He is adorable and he has a puppet named “Little T” that he keeps in his pouch and I got to also do the voice of Little T, which was super fun to do.

How is it being part of CoComelon Lane as Nico, also for Netflix?

Well, I’m just very excited to be part of such a special show that teaches young children how to identify their emotions, and how to work through kid life lessons. What I really love about CoComelon Lane is how inclusive it is, that it accepts everyone, and all types of families from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures. Like how Nico has two dads, just like me. I also loved singing all the songs!

What is it like to voice Nico and how would you describe the character?

I absolutely love playing Nico. He’s funny, silly, sweet, and so thoughtful. Like in one episode when one of Nico’s dads breaks his leg and he can’t garden anymore, Nico goes to get him a flower to brighten his day. Nico also loves animals; his favourites are lions and cows. He is always saying, Maoooo!

What was it like voicing Sam in another Netflix series – Deepa & Anoop – in 2022?

Playing Sam was very fun. He’s so full of energy and loves running. Deepa & Anoop was my first voiceover project and I loved every minute of it. I love that Sam calls himself Super Samo after his toy superhero. I’m also just so happy to be part of a show that revolves around a South Asian family and I’m happy that I got to voice the part of the naughty next door neighbour.

How different do you find on-screen acting to voiceover and what do you enjoy about both?

Both are incredible, but they are quite different. Filming a show or movie is fun because you get to work with other people, see how the sets are made, and get the energy of filming a project together live. Whereas voiceovers for cartoons is usually me in the recording booth working with a voiceover director, awesome composers, fantastic technicians, and producers. Auditioning for film is amazing, but the voiceover audition process is a bit easier because if you make a mistake you don’t have to start the whole scene over like for film. I enjoy both equally and both need different acting skills.

Throughout your career, you have been nominated for and won numerous awards at ceremonies such as the Young Artist Awards and The Joey Awards, how does it feel to be recognised for your work?

It is so exciting to be recognised for my work but I have realised that the real “prize” is the experience I get making each project. Of course, the awards are incredible and I love going to the award ceremonies but I do have to say that I consider them the cherry on top, the bonus. It’s great to have shiny trophies on my piano, but the friendships and people I have met along the way and those I continue to work with is the real win.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get started in the industry?

One of my dads’ childhood friends, April Telek, is a very well-respected and talented actress who has been in the business all her life. My parents tell me that when she first met me, when I was four months old, she was holding me and she said, “You have to get this kid in diaper commercials!”. For a few years, whenever we would see her, she would bring it up but my dads kept saying, “no”. Then one day, Auntie April called and encouraged me to audition for a show called Legion that was being directed by Noah Hawley and so my dads, being fans of Noah’s work, thought, “Why not?”. I went to the audition and I booked the part! It was my first audition and I got the role. That got the ball rolling and as soon as I did a couple of projects, my dads noticed how much I loved acting. My happiness is their number one priority so they had to make sure I was having fun. They obviously still check in with me to ensure it’s something I want to continue doing. I love being part of the industry, meeting new people and bringing characters and different stories to life.

Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch, and how do you like to spend your free time?

I love Scooby-Doo! The films and all the television episodes are amazing. I also love Teen Titans Go!, Captain Underpants and SpongeBob SquarePants. My ultimate favourite film though is Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. It blends my two favourite holidays, Halloween and Christmas, and I love all the songs and how spooky it is. Of course, I also have to highlight The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – one of my favourites to film and one of my favourites to watch.

In my spare time, I love collecting Hot Wheels, reading (I read a lot), playing with friends and gaming. I am playing lots of basketball at school – you should see the Scooby-Doo basketball sneakers I have. They are a piece of art. I am also learning how to play the clarinet in the school band, and I have to say, I’m loving it. I enjoy going to LeBlanc School of Acting to learn new acting skills and I am in a hip hop class and enjoy breaking out some moves, especially The Robot.

What are you hoping 2025 brings for your career, and do you have any roles coming up that you can tell us about?

My hope for 2025 is to book a big role in film, TV, and in an animated series. I would really love to land a lead in a movie or TV series. It would be great to do a comedy and dramatic series.

I have three projects coming out in 2025 but I can’t say much about them. I am able to say that I have a guest-starring role in a TV series which will air in March, no clues though. I also have a fun part in an animated movie that I believe comes out in the summer, and I’m part of another feature film which comes out sometime this year. I’m also working on a top-secret voiceover project and cannot wait for everyone to see it.

Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez is represented by Sarah Davis at Premiere Talent Management and Abby Bluestone at Innovative Artists

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