Young Australian actress Jordana Beatty beat out dozens of kids to win the title role in “Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer.” Beatty has been working on TV in her home country for several years, but this is he first starring role in a U.S. film.
LCJ: You’re 13 years old and a seventh grader, but in the movie you play a third grader. Do you remember what you were like back then?
Jordana: I remember my teacher and learning mulitplication and division. And I remember learning about Australia and what it used to be like in the olden days. That’s pretty much all I remember.
LCJ: I read that you only came to the United States one month before the filming of “Judy Moody” to work on your American accent. How tough was that?
JB: Well, I had to do the accent for the audition, so I sort of knew it, but there were still a few words and sounds that I couldn’t do and so I worked with a dialect coach for about two weeks and then the accent just starting coming naturally.
LCJ: And you did a great job sounding like an American kid in the movie. How much are you like Judy Moody in real life?
JB: Well, we both get into a lot of different moods. We have the same hair. We’re both very creative and collect a lot of things.
LCJ: Had you read any of the Judy Moody books when you were younger?
JB: Yes, I’d read some of them before the audition and the rest while we were filming.
LCJ: There’s a scene in the movie where you ride a rollercoaster and get puked on. How many times did you have to do that scene?
JB: I was very scared and I think everyone knew that, so there were three cameras on the rollercoaster. When we got back to the start of the rollercoaster after the first take I said “Please don’t make me have to do that again!” So they looked at it and looked at it again and everyone was smiling and the director said that it was perfect, so I didn’t have to do it again.
LCJ: Wow. That’s amazing. In real life do you have any little brothers like Stink or fun aunts like Aunt Opal?”
JB: I don’t have any siblings, but I do have cousins who are girls that I’m very close to. We’re like sisters. I don’t have one aunt like Aunt Opal, but I do have Aunt Opal split-up into a lot of different aunts.
LCJ: Are you back in school right now?
JB: Since I’ve been doing the film here in America I’ve had a tutor, but when I get back to Australia I’ll have one week back in school and then a three week vacation.
LCJ: Have you enjoyed your time here in the U.S.? Because of your experience with “Judy Moody” would you like to come back here and do more American movies?
JB: Yes, I definitely would like to come back to the U.S. I’ve had a lot of fun over here. Everyone on the set everyday was so nice.
LCJ: Do you have some favortire actors or actresses that you’d admire and would like to work with someday?
JB: My two favorite actresses are Amy Adams and Rachel McAdams.
LCJ: Two great choices. What’s the one thing you’d like audiences to remember from “Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer”?
JB: Probably just that kids and families to go and have the best summer ever, not just sit inside in front of the computer and TV all day. They should go out and do something like Judy – get into some great adventures and try something new.
LCJ: Are you hoping they’ll be a second Judy Moody film? There are certainly enough books to make a sequel.
JB: I hope so, because the books are so popular. I found out that President Obama’s children have requested a copy of the movie, because I know they really like the books, which is great. I hope they enjoy it.