Callie Haverda Talks Growing Up, Acting, and Playing Leia Forman on That 90s Show.

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Meet Callie Haverda, the star of the newest Netflix comedy series, “That ‘90s Show.” Hailing all the way from Austin Texas, Callie was always interested in the world of acting. The 15 year-old actress takes a break from packing for a trip to Sundance to chat with me about all things acting, and working in the entertainment industry at a young age. She told me about the first time a film truly caught her attention. “When I was younger, I was obsessed with the movie Nim’s Island in which Abigail Breslin was the lead. She was very young and I always wanted to work on a project like that. As a young kid watching this show I felt such joy and excitement just watching it. I think that really pushed me to work on something like that and be able to affect people in the same way,” she says. At just six-years-old, Callie got her first experience working with professional actors, portraying Sierra in the film, The Adventures of Pepper and Paula.

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It’s not easy to navigate the entertainment industry. There is loads of talent everywhere and artists are always facing rejection. “I was pinned for 12 projects leading up to this one and going through the process of getting down to the top two girls and then hearing that I didn't book it, which was really hard and I was feeling a little bit down in the dumps because of it.” 

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Then, after months of auditioning, Callie got the role of Leia Forman in “That ‘90s Show,” the Netflix sequel to “That ‘70s Show.” “I learned through this that it's important to remember that as an actor, the right project will come along for you. Looking back on it, I'm so glad that I didn't book any other things I had auditioned for because I wouldn't have been able to work on this,” she tells us. “ When the show rolled around, I felt so perfect for it.” Her family then made the decision to move from Texas to California.  

It was exciting for the cast to start filming, but also nerve wracking. Luckily, before production started, Callie made an online friend with her fellow castmate, Ashley Aufderheide. “We started DMing before I even came to California. The very first day that we were there, I called Ashley on set and we tried to find each other and as soon as we did, we immediately hugged. We were so excited. Then we met the rest of the cast and we always made sure we spent as much time together as we could. Ashley invited us over one time. Mace brought us to this Van Gogh experience, and we’d just do little things together like all the time."

The show follows Leia, the daughter of Eric and Donna from the beloved “That ‘70s Show.” After her school year ends, Leia stays with her grandparents and has quite the summer. She befriends the fiery Gwen Runck and her dynamic friend group. She goes through a bunch of new experiences from tapping a beer keg to taking an edible to kissing a boy for the first time. Callie perfectly portrays a character who is going through many new experiences very  quickly. “Leia is growing,” she tells me. “She's becoming more comfortable in herself and I think that's what I love most about her. She's not afraid to do things and it was really exciting being able to see her grow into herself throughout the series and become less awkward and more sure of herself.” Callie tells me what it was like working with incredible actors like Kurtwood Smith, and Debra Jo Rupp. “They made us feel very supported and comfortable. There was so much joy on set every day for them to be back. We also had all the original creative teams, so hair and makeup costumes, everybody was the same from the original show so it was like a reunion everyday on set.

When asked what the main thing Callie hopes viewers of the show will take from it, she answers promptly. “I think every episode has a really great thing that you can learn from each of the characters. We rarely see these real friendships where people can talk honestly about things they’re going through,” she says. Callie is right – the show dives into experiences that teens face daily, from boy problems to coming of age, to family struggles. The show portrays these situations very well. “Another thing is, since it's set in the nineties we barely have any technology in it. No cell phones, no social media. And I think that's really great. We really showcase how you can just have good relationships without your phone and still do great things with your friends. Like Leia and her friends, you can go to a rave in Milwaukee if you want. I hope the show encourages people to step away from social media and connect with the people around them.” 

Callie Haverda is a powerhouse and our team cannot wait to see what else she has in store. The 15 year-old actress is undoubtedly one of Gen Z's up-and-coming talents. Follow along her journey at @calliehhaverda on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.