 It's not every day that one gets to sit down with a 6 year-old child, who just happens to have the mentality of a mature young woman, but I had the wonderful privilege of doing so when I spoke with Bridge to Terabithia's Bailee Madison. Miss Madison portrayed Josh Aaron's sister, May Belle. Her performance was so impressive, it made the experience of interviewing her even more wonderful.
 Bailee Madison
We went on to discuss Bailee's co-stars, Josh Hutcherson and Annasophia Robb. It was clear that Josh and Annasophia left a very positive, lasting impression on her. "Oh my gosh! They were just such nice, fun people. They were fun to play with. They really helped me," she said. It is very important for a 6 year-old to have people around them that can be fun, helpful and attentive. Josh and Annasophia more than exceeded her expectations.
{mosgoogle right} Once you've spent some time talking with Bailee, you begin to notice that her personality is quite similar to her character, May Belle. So just how much does Miss Madison have in common with May Belle? She was happy to reflect, " I'm a rag-o-muffin," she giggled. "She (May Belle) has my clothes and they're all different colors."
The Bridge to Terabithia was a book for many years before it came to the big screen. I asked Bailee if she had the opportunity to read it. "I started reading the book, but I didn't get a chance to finish it." She may not have read the book, but this did not hinder her performance as May Belle - she was fantastic in her interpretation!
As all children do, Bailee has quite an imagination herself, a theme that holds strong in both the movie and the book. So, naturally I asked her if she imagined going to a place like Terabithia. "Hopefully, I would love to be in a place like Terabithia," she exclaimed enthusiastically. Well...who wouldn't?
The movie was filmed in New Zealand, an island just off of the continent of Australia. This was definitely a new experience for the native Floridian. Filming so far away from home did not bother her one bit however. "New Zealand was a blast! I would love to go back there again; like when I tried to touch the sheep. They would just run away." It sounds like Bailee knows how to appreciate the simpler things in life. One could learn a lot from a 6 year-old...
So many things made this movie enjoyable; however, I was more curious to find out what she liked the most about the production. "It was the scene when Josh and Annasophia and me were in the truck. It was so much fun. We were seat-belted in, riding around." Needless to say, Bailee seems like an easy-going child. A truck ride with her co-stars can easily put a smile on her face and create a lasting, fun memory.
The schedule for shooting a movie can be challenging for any young star, especially one who is still in school. How did Miss Madison manage to keep up with her schoolwork, what are her favorite subjects and how did she handle such a hectic schedule? "Well, my mom is home-schooling me. I like learning money and math and spelling words."
As our interview came to a close, I asked Bailee one final question. "Who are your favorite actors and actresses?" Bailee cleverly and emphatically replied, "Josh Hutcherson and Annasophia Robb." Not a bad choice...and how appropriate. It leaves one to wonder if her opinion will change with her next project.
Miss Madison exuded intelligence, thoughtfulness and personal charm in this interview, leaving a lasting impression on her interviewer. It's not hard to figure out how she earned the part of May Belle. After speaking to Bailee I finally understood why she seemed so wise.
She understands the importance of appreciating the simple things in life. Perhaps we should all take a ride in a truck with our friends, or chase sheep in a big field, or just be glad that someone wants to play with us and help us. Maybe, by seeing life through the eyes of a 6 year-old, we might all become a little wiser for it.
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