Chatting with Olivia Rodrigo
Lucy: Tell our readers a bit about yourself!
Olivia: My name is Olivia. I'm 17 years old and I like to act, sing and write songs. I’m on a show called “High School Musical, The Musical The Series” and I get to do all my favorite things on that show! I get to act, sing and write music, which is a super surreal experience. I love people, writing and creating.
Lucy: When and why did you start acting?
Olivia: I was probably six or seven. I actually got into it because I love music and singing so much. My singing teacher would watch me perform and she would be like “wow like she's so emotive when she sings and she really can captivate an audience.” From there, my voice teacher told my parents that I should try acting and I did! I remember telling my mom it was like my therapy because I got to go there and completely express all of my emotions that I couldn't express in any other way. I then started auditioning and I didn’t get a role for a while and then I finally started booking things.
Lucy: What was your first acting gig and how has that experience influenced your career?
Olivia: My first real acting gig was a movie called “American Girl Grace Stirs Up Success”. I still can't believe that I did it. You have no idea, my entire childhood was American Girl dolls. I used to make American Girl doll stop motion Movies with my friends. I would spend hours upon hours making doll houses and making stuff for my dolls, I had all of these crazy clothes- I was OBSESSED. I still find it funny that I got to be an American Girl doll for a little while. We filmed it in Europe and it was this crazy whirlwind experience. My first real job and my first time out of the country. It was amazing and definitely something I will never forget. I would say that was the time I realized I could really do this as a job.
Lucy: What has been your favorite role to play?
Olivia: I love the role that I am playing right now in HSMTMTS, I think she is just a really authentic teenage girl. I think as I’m growing up and finding myself amidst teenage boys, school, and drama, it’s been a really neat experience to portray somebody who’s going through the same things as me. I also really love singing and music and being able to do that! It’s been really great.
Lucy: Being a young woman in the entertainment industry can be super tough, do you ever compare yourself to other people in the industry? How do you pull yourself out of that mindset?
Olivia: Oh my god, constantly. I endlessly compare myself to other people and I would love to say that I don't but that’s just like not the reality. Especially in the acting industry since there's just like an finite amount of roles for people. In the music industry however, it's just like people are creating and everybody's doing their own thing. Acting is really tough, though. Social media is definitely tough in the way that you have a numerical value to represent your popularity. Lately, I’ve really been trying to internalize the fact that what other people say or do in regards to me doesn’t have anything to do with me. It has to do with their own projections of their worlds and minds. I also think social media is really hard to live with and I think it’s difficult for everyone. I think it’s super helpful to take a step back. I also think looking up to others can be a really useful tool to help you realize that’s what you want in your life and help you set goals.
Lucy: After a long day on set, what do you do to decompress?
Olivia: Talking to friends really helps me! Especially connecting with people outside the industry. Talking with people who aren’t in your day to day life is super helpful.
Lucy: What was your experience shooting High School Musical The Musical the series like?
Olivia: It’s been absolutely incredible. I’ve grown more in the year that I’ve filmed this show than I have in my entire life. I love meeting all the people that work on this project. I’m growing so much creatively and learning so much about myself. I’m homeschooled, so I always say that this show is like my high school experience for me. The whole cast and the crew are all my really close friends and I’m really grateful for this experience.
Lucy: Let’s talk about your music! What got you into writing?
Olivia: I’ve been songwriting for such a long time. When I was little I would fill notebooks with different lyrics and songs that I never really ended up using. When I was nine years old my dad forced me to take piano lessons, and I hated every minute of it when I was nine years old but I’m so grateful I have that skill now. I think when I was like 13 or 14, I started to write more seriously and think about it more and more and now it’s my favorite thing ever.
Lucy: What is your songwriting process like?
Olivia: It differs. Sometimes I’m writing with other people and ideas come that way or I have a concept or idea in mind. Sometimes melodies come to my mind while grocery shopping. It all really depends on the moment.
Lucy: What is your all time favorite song that you’ve written?
Olivia: Oh boy, ummm- I don’t think that it’s out yet, I don’t think that I’ve posted it but it’s called “baby is you” and it’s a very singer-songwriter, country type song. I was really into Taylor Swift's older music at the time. I think it tells a story really well. Stay tuned for that!
Lucy: What advice do you have for young girls who want to be doing the same things you’re doing?
Olivia: Do this work for the right reasons. Do it because you love it, not for any other reason, and keep working hard.
