Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Ryan West Photo
We got to chat with actress Tisha Custodio who currently plays Carolyn ‘Mouse’ Smith in the Disney+ original series Big Shot, starring John Stamos.
Did a television show or movie initially spark your interest in acting?
I would say the movie that sparked my passion was Aladdin. I grew up singing “A Whole New World” at every single family party, and shortly after realized the singing voice for Jasmine is Filipina. That was very important to me because that was the first time I learned that a performer has the same background as me.
Tell our readers about Big Shot and what drew you to the show?
Big Shot is about a temperamental NCAA coach who gets fired and has to teach at a private all-girls school to redeem himself. The main thing that drew me to the project was how distinct and well fleshed out the characters are. I remember reading the script for the first time and seeing all these characters so vividly in my head. They’re just so grounded and real: I absolutely know a real life version of Mouse, Destiny, Olive, Sam, and Louise.
You play Carolyn ‘Mouse’ Smith. Are there similarities between you and your character?
I’d say we’re similar in how we are extremely passionate about what we do.
Was there basketball training or workouts you and your castmates had to do while filming?
Yes! We would have basketball practices the days we weren’t filming. We were actually learning the game and playing with real women basketball players.
What did you learn from working with John Stamos?
The main thing I learned is the importance of being able to play around with other actors in the scene. He was always so good about shaking things up from time to time which made me react on my feet while filming. That was just so great because these reactions are genuine and the scenes feel more alive.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
My best advice would be to never give up. It sounds cliche, but it’s essential while pursuing any art form. I have been auditioning for projects for 3 years before I booked Big Shot. During that time, I booked a few small opportunities here and there, but it took 3 years to land this show.