Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Kelsey Hale
We got to chat with actress Aubin Bradley who can be seen in The Really Loud House, about her character Lucy Loud, acting running in her family, and performing on stage.
Acting seems to run in the family. Did you know early on that you wanted to follow in your sister’s footsteps?
Yes! Being the youngest child in the family, I started going to Broadway shows and watching TV shows and movies with my sisters and brother when I was a toddler. I also started singing in cabarets in New York when I was like four with my sisters, Catherine and Alex. Early on, my sisters and I were cast in some regional and off-broadway shows, and I loved it! What’s cool is that we are all so different but share a love of performing!
Who are some of your acting inspirations?
Well, my sister Catherine Bradley has been a huge inspiration of mine since I began acting. She is honestly one of the most talented actors I have watched. I would also have to say Jenna Ortega. As the whole world knows, she is playing Wednesday Adams right now on the show Wednesday and is incredible in the role. I would love to get the chance to meet and work with her and get some advice on playing such a deadpan and quirky character. Wednesday is a lot like my role of Lucy Loud, and I think I could learn a lot from her. She started her career working on children’s TV shows and has transitioned to being an incredible young adult actor. I have also heard she is a great person and a lot of fun to work with.
You have been in series such as Modern Love, Madam Secretary, and Invasion. How did your work on those shows help prepare you for The Really Loud House?
In each of these shows, I had lines and was given a script. But, when on set, especially in Modern Love, many of my scenes used improvisation, and I would do several different variations and interpretations. I learned to trust my instincts and to think on my feet. On The Really Loud House, improvisation is a huge part of what we do also. As we film a scene, we usually film it several different ways. It’s a lot of fun trying new things with my character!
Tell our readers about your character Lucy Loud. Are there any similarities between you and your character?
I love Lucy Loud and bringing her to life! Lucy is spooky, mysterious, loves the supernatural, and has many special abilities like teleporting, which makes scaring her siblings quite easy. She has a very deadpan delivery when she speaks. Lucy and I are very different, but we also have lots in common. I also really enjoy scary and dark things and spooky celebrations. I also especially love scaring people and the crew on set. I also love Halloween and was born Halloween night. I love to read like Lucy, and I love her vampire statue – EDWIN! Like me, Lucy is quite wise beyond her years. Lucy does not show a lot of emotion, but underneath her calm exterior, she does have a mischievous side. I am a lot more free-spirited than Lucy and much more high-energy in real life. I am also very silly at times and love joking around with the cast and crew.
Outside of working in television, you have also performed on stage, most recently in Les Misérables. Do you hope to do more stage work in the future?
Yes, in addition to acting, I really love to sing and dance. Also, the experience of performing live in front of thousands of people is one of the most incredible and scary experiences I have ever had. The feeling that you have as you are performing is something I will never forget and hope to do again. I love working on TV and film, but I do plan to work on stage again!
What advice do you have for aspiring young actors?
I would say believe in yourself and be you. Every one of us is unique, and bringing that special part of you to a role is important. You also have to believe in yourself and your dreams. My mom always told me that “if you can dream it, you can make it happen.” Never give up on your dreams!