Morgan York Interview



Please don't take, this is a Totally Morgan York exclusive. Thank you Morgan!


1. How was the experience of first seeing yourself in the big screen?


- It was a little odd at first to see my face so many feet tall up on the big screen! Whenever my lines came on (and I still do this) I hide my face and kind of cringe a little. It's weird to see myself up there beause it's not some other person, it's me, who I see every day when I look in the mirror to brush my teeth. Whenever I hear my voice, too, sometimes I especially cringe if there's a certain line I think I could have done better. But oh well, many people are more critical of themself than of anyone else when it comes to watching yourself perform.


2. Do you ever get overwhelmed at premieres?


- You bet! I had never really been to a big premiere before, so for the Cheaper by the Dozen premiere, I just pictured myself walking down this long red carpet while photographers took pictures on the sides. But it was totally different. I was put on the red carpet and it seemed like there were twenty different people screaming, "Morgan, over here, over here!" I smiled and occasionally turned my head so other cameras could get a good shot, but in my head I was screaming. Now I've come to expect it, but I still feel bad whenever a photographer doesn't get their shot because I'm trying to give someone else a chance. I just want to make all of them happy at once!


3. Do you enjoy being famous?


- Well...the fact is, I'm not famous. I have never, and probably will never, use the words 'famous' or 'fame to describe myself. I don't even consider myself a celebrity either, I just think of myself as a well known actress with a few fans. I think of famous people are those who can't go to a restraunt without getting mobbed. Through my eyes, examples of famous actors would probably be Hilary Duff or the Harry Potter cast. I do get recognized in public, though, but rarely do they call me by name. They usually just ask if I was in The Pacifier, Cheaper by the Dozen, or Hannah Montana (nowadays, the latter is most common). My dad and I call these recognitions "sightings", and there are many ways you can identify sightings. There's the glance, then the double take, then the stare, then the whisper, and sometimes, the occasional point. To be honest, I really admire a lot of my fans' confidence when they approach me. Whenever I see someone in public, I try not to stare (because I know what it feels like) and I NEVER approach them. I'm much too shy, and I don't know what to say! I feel sympathy for those who don't approach me, because I've been in that situation, but then I start feeling nervous. The truth is, I am very shy with fans. I'm embarassed to approach them! Usually it's because I don't know what to say, but my dad gave me advice on what to do: just be friendly and be yourself. So usually, if someone approaches me, I smile, shake their hand, ask what their name is, and we chat a little. Sometimes they ask for an autograph and maybe a picture.


Now, to answer your question: do I enjoy it? I'm not entirely sure, but my answer might be yes. I could do without the gossip and the posers, but now I know that they don't know me and I just shouldn't worry about them. I'm so glad that I'm not famous, just well known, so I have some sweet fans but can still live a (for the most part) normal teenage life. But yes, it really makes my day when I get some fan mail and someone says I've inspired them or something. I also love making people happy, which is why every few months or so I drop by my agents' office to answer some fan mail. It's very heartwarming and thoughtful when some of them send thank you cards!


4. What is your favorite thing about acting?


- My favorite things about acting is that I get to do what I love, make others happy, make a difference, and make new friends. Now, let's tackle one of those at a time, shall we?


Ever since I was young, I loved to pretend and perform. My sister and I would watch movies over and over and act them out as we watched. We'd also come up with plays and perform them for our family and friends. It's a tradition of my siblings and cousins to perform a little Christmas pageant every December for the whole family. I would watch the actors on screen and wanted to try it myself. I loved getting the positive reactions from my family, and I wanted to know what the reactions of the real world would be. That's when I became interested in professional acting, and I've loved it ever since.


Another great thing is that I get to make others happy. I love seeing their faces, and it's great at Hannah Montana because the audience is actually there. It's also the sweetest thing when people ask me if I'm in movies, and I confirm it, and they gasp in excitement. It's so great to think that you are the cause of someone's happiness.


Making a difference is one of the most rewarding things in an actor's life. To know that you inspired someone to act (which people have told me in fan mail) is just an amazing feeling. The fact that you made a difference in someone else's life and helped them to make a decision through your skills. Also (this'll especially help when I'm older and have access to my funds) I get to donate to charity and attend charity events. Making an underprivileged person's life better is the same kind of feeling. If you can help some sick kids enjoy some of their last years in life, then of course I'll take that opportunity. I've done it two or three times now, and I love doing it.


Lastly, I love to make new friends. You won't believe how many friends I've made through acting alone! There's obviously the people I film with, and then there's people I meet on auditions. In January I was watching TV and said to my sister,"Hang on...we know her! We saw her at that Fox audition! Man, she got older!" But making friends on set is great, because then we can keep in touch. On Cheaper by the Dozen I remember all the moms would get together by one of their trailers and just talk.


5. Do you keep contact with any of your co-stars? Who?


- As I just mentioned, yes, I do keep in contact with some co-stars. Let me see...Blake Woodruff and his family are very close to our family now, and sometimes when we're on vacation and they come to L.A. they stay at our house. Forrest Landis was just recently in my sister's class (coincidentally) and we talk to him, his sister and his mom sometimes as well. I used to talk to Alyson Stoner over the internet, but I lost the address or something. I talk to Liliana Mumy over the phone and sometimes I call Piper Perabo on her birthday (Halloween!). There's also Bonnie Hunt, she's such a sweetie. Then lastly, I exchanged numbers with Miley Cyrus and chat with Mitchel Musso online. They're all the best!


6. What was/is it like working on the set of Hannah Montana? Do you get along with everyone?


- They were all so great! Miley, Emily, Mitchel, Shanica (Amber), Anna Maria (Ashley), and Andre (Cooper) were the first kids I met on the show, and they all made me feel so welcome! I was very shy at first, knowing they'd all known each other for months, but I soon got more and more comfortable on the set and now I love going back. The crew's also fantastic as well--Brenda (who does my hair wonderfully), Roger (the director), and Shannon (the dialogue coach).


7. How was it to see everyone again for the second Cheaper by the Dozen?


- It was so much fun, though a little harder because we were away from home this time. It was great to have everyone united again and they were all their old silly selves. The moms reunited and we all hung out in each other's trailers, just like old time. And we got to marvel about how big everyone got, plus Jake Smith and I figured out that when he turned three, I was three days old! Sorry, random fact.


8. How did you get into professional acting?


- As I mentioned before, I've always been into performing. When I was four, I asked to be a professional actor, but my parents thought I was too young, and they were also afraid that I might become self-centered if I ever was successful. My dad finally said yes when I was nine, but warned me not to get too big-headed. So now to show good manners and respect at all times, I thank the hair and make up people every time they do me up so well, and I hang up my wardrobe when I'm finished filming. It's funny and a great life lesson---once you get successful and people start looking up to you, it really teaches you to be a better person and set a good example


9. Do you remember the first autograph you signed? What did it feel like to know that people loved your work so much?


- The first autograph I signed was on the set of The Pacifier. I honestly think people only wanted my autograph because they'd seen me filming, but I was happy to give some to them anyway. It was so exciting for me, but Faith Ford, who played my mother was like, "You enjoy it now, Morgan, but just wait." She was right. It does get tiring after a while but I always have to remember what Hilary said: you shouldn't be impatient because it may be your millionth time, but it's their first time


10. What was it like when you booked your first role?


- I was ecstatic. My dad was was pulling into a Party Store on February 13, 2003 (don't ask how I memorized it) to get valentines to pass out to my class the next day. My agents called and said they wanted to talk to me. Then they told me I got Cheaper. I couldn't believe it, and I would have been bouncing off the walls if I hadn't been in a car. I just couldn't believe that I had actually done it and my dream was starting. It's funny because just that day my dad said they had probably already picked someone. He was right---they picked me! I was just thrilled.