Mercy: Can you share a little bit about yourself?
Michaela: Hi! My name is Michaela Russell. I am 11 and I LOVE to act, dance and perform. I also have a younger brother who is 8 and he loves to act too. I'm homeschooled and take a dance class four hours a day, three days a week. I love to draw, read, travel, and try new things!Mercy: What started your interest in acting?
Michaela: My interest for acting was for my future. When I was 8, I decided that whatever I wanted to do in the future, I wanted to begin now. Whether it was renovating a house, traveling to Europe, working on international projects and/or perhaps government work. I started thinking, why not begin now. I knew that kids my age were professional actors, making money, and doing what they love so I put two and two together and did the research on how to get started. Also, I've apparently loved to perform since I was two (according to family and friends). So, I went online and first found Backstage (it had lots of great information) and asked my parents to help me get to work! But my main interest for it was making a good impact on the world. After my first experience on set, I decided this is what I wanted to do. I loved it so much.
Mercy: You first worked with Nikki DeLoach and Michael Rady on Love To The Rescue and now on Two Turtle Doves, what has been your favorite part of that?
Michaela: My favorite part about working with Nikki and Michael was how much FUN we had. One time, when we were doing a night shoot on Two Turtle Doves, we were all incredibly tired. So, to keep us awake, we played charades! And then there are the Dance parties in Hair and Makeup with Nikki!! Nikki, Michael and everyone at Hallmark has been so nice to me. Plus, now I have a new 'family' member in this Christmas movie, Zach Atticus. He plays my uncle. We all have fun. Together, we're all like a real family.
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Mercy: Do you intend to make acting your career?
Michaela: I absolutely love to act, and I definitely want to do this for a long time. I also want to be a photographer and work on projects and things that matter to me.
Mercy: Do you have any pets?
Michaela: Yes, I do have a pet and I LOVE her SOOO much! She is a boxer, and her name is Lacy. She is the CUTEST THING EVER!!! What is funny is a few years ago I wrote a presentation in school on why I should get a dog. I gave the presentation to my 3rd grade class, then to my parents before Christmas. If anyone has seen my first Hallmark movie Love to the Rescue you'll see how it parallels something that really happened! There is no way the writer, Sarah Montana, would have known that what she was writing about really happened. It was a lot of fun to do both Hallmark movies this year!!!
Mercy: What is the hardest thing about being a child actress?
Michaela: The hardest thing about being a child actress is my schedule. Since I do dance, and school, and auditions, my days can get busy. Take last week for example. Between my brother and me, we had 10 auditions total. 5 each. Then, I had my dance class that also took up a majority of my day, then I had to get my school done. It's not always this busy, but there are times it is busier than others.
Mercy: Do you get to attend school when you're not on set or are you homeschooled/tutored?
Michaela: I am homeschooled, so I don’t go to a regular school with kids, but I use the same program they do. I can pretty much do school wherever, on set, at home, or wherever I am! This is my first year using online school.
Mercy: Any hobbies? Things you like to do in your free time?
Michaela: I like to draw, read, dance, play with my LEGOs, do crafts, and play with my friends.
Christmas Questions Time!
Mercy: Favorite Christmas Tradition?
Michaela: Doing the Christmas light up countdown!
Mercy: Favorite Christmas song?
Michaela: Well, I don’t really have a favorite…. because I love so many! I like We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells, Angels We Have Heard On High, White Christmas, It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas, All I Want for Christmas Is You, and the list goes on and on and on.
Mercy: Favorite Christmas food?
Michaela: My mom makes this yummy chocolate cake with whipped cream and she rolls it up and puts cherries on the side. DELICIOUS!!
Mercy: Favorite Christmas movie?
Michaela: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Christmas with the Kranks, and when Two Turtle doves comes out, that one will be on the list too. ;). We have our DVR filled with Hallmark movies every year.
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| Courtesy of Hallmark Channel/Crown Media |
Mercy: Favorite Christmas Memory?
Michaela: The year that I gave up all of my Christmas presents to get a dog. One and a half weeks later I got my precious dog Lacy and still winded up with a few presents. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!
Mercy: White Or Green Christmas?
Michaela: WHITE. All of the way. Even though I’ve never been alive during a white Christmas where I live.
Michaela's Links-
IMDB
Michaela and Brasher's Links-
Website
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| Courtesy of Hallmark Channel/Crown Media |
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