Photo Credit: Sami Drasin

Photo Credit: Sami Drasin

MM: Speaking of young minds. Have you felt any added pressure when it comes to portraying this character, knowing that teens may be looking to you for guidance in their own struggles, whether it be sexuality or behavioral issues or maybe a sick family member?

HR: I try not to put too much pressure on it, because I don’t think that anyone really is the perfect role model… unless you’re Mother Teresa! (laughs) Then, you really are the perfect role model. But, I just think that people can learn from the mistakes that our characters make, or relate to them either way. I think we’re doing something by getting a reaction.

MM: You definitely are. Any reaction is a good reaction when it comes to TV sometimes. Now, will we see more of the developing relationship between Brenna and her half-sister Natalie (Jessica Meraz)? Do you think there’s potential for that to drive a wedge between Brenna and April?

HR: Definitely. I think that Brenna sees a lot of herself in Natalie, because Natalie is more rebellious and kind of wild. She sees a lot of herself in her and they can relate to each other. In the next episode you’ll see them having a lot of fun together and getting to know each other a little bit more. I think Natalie is influencing Brenna in a not so good way, and Sara (Mary Page Keller) definitely notices and tries to get Brenna to take school more seriously because college is just around the corner, and there’s no sign of Brenna buckling down now, and hanging out with Natalie definitely isn’t going to change that.

MM: Definitely not. If you could guest star on any other ABC Family show, what would it be?

HR: If I could guest star on any ABC Family show? Hm… I love The Fosters. I think that the whole cast is so good and they seem like they work really well together, so that would be fun. But it would also be cool to do a comedy, because I don’t get to do comedy too much.

MM: That would be great. So Leo isn’t behaving so ideally right now, and Dominic (Richard Brancatisano) kind of went through his jerk phase after finding out about Leo. That being said, are you on team Leo or team Dominic?

HR: (laughs) I don’t know which team I’m on! I kind of fluctuate. I have always loved Dominic and you root for him because he was there first and you want him to win so badly. But then, Leo came along and he is very funny and charming. I really liked the scene in the last episode, where April goes to Dominic and says that she thinks her cancer is back. I thought that was cool because, you really wanted her to say something to him when she first found out she had cancer, and she didn’t and it kind of ruined things for them. So, it was kind of like a second chance, whether it’s friendship or a romantic relationship, I thought that was really sweet. I can’t pick a team! I think it sucks that there’s two that you have to pick, because I like both of them so much.

MM: Right. I think that’s what makes a great love triangle though, because you’re so torn between who should be the winner. The writers do a great job of making you love and hate both characters equally so that you’re really not sure who would be the right choice.

HR: Definitely. I guess we’ll see who wins- It’s still up in the air!

MM: Well, maybe in a couple of years. Hopefully you guys are on for many seasons and we’ll have to wait and see. If you couldn’t act anymore what career path do you think you would choose?

HR: If I couldn’t act anymore I think I would go into costume design. I’ve always been so fascinated by costumes, and they really do make the character. It’s kind of like a separate character on top of your character that you’ve made and it kind of ties it all together. So costume design would be really fun. I took a three-day camp at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Marketing), and I loved it. I did that when I was seventeen. If I was going to go to college, that’s where I would’ve been. But it’s so hard to take the time away from acting when you’ve been working so hard on it your whole life, it’s hard to sneak away for a few years and try something else. It’s scary more than it is hard.

MM: For sure. What was the last thing you binge-watched on Netflix?

HR: Oh, the last thing that I binged on was Flea Market Flippers. It’s an HGTV show, and they have these people go to flea markets and find these really crappy, run down items, and they flip them by repainting or embellishing them, and sell the item for more money. (laughs) I became obsessed with it. I’m kind of like an old lady.

MM: (laughs) More like old soul! So now, what’s a random or fun fact about yourself that people might not know about you?

HR: It’s funny, you think because it’s yourself that would be so easy to answer, but it’s not. I don’t even know how to do a cartwheel. That’s interesting, I guess. I guess I kind of do, but it’s hard for me.

MM: I mean, I haven’t done a cartwheel in a very long time, so I think we’re in the same boat.

HR: Yes, also the doctor told me I have vertigo, so cartwheels are probably not the best. That’s my fun fact about me- I have vertigo and I watch Flea Market Flippers. (laughs)

MM: (laughs) That will be the headline! So coming up to the last question- If you had to describe Chasing Life to a stranger who had no idea what the show was about, what would you say to make them watch it?

HR: I would say that we’re a show just about life and in every aspect of it. We have characters that are old, and characters that are younger. There’s kind of something for everyone and we’re a show about people trying to look at life with a glass half-full perspective, and just trying to get by and do our best.

Catch Haley on Chasing Life, Monday’s at 9|8c on ABC Family!

 

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