Texas-raised and currently residing in Los Angeles, Michel Janse is best known for My All-American, Stage V, and The Trevor Romain Show. Janse is also a successful cook at TasteMade. She signed her first agent at the age of nine and has been busy performing ever since.
In “Cupid’s Match,” Janse is Lila Black, a 17-year-old high school student who finds herself in a supernatural world of romance, adventure, and betrayal. When the mysterious Cupid’s Matchmaking Service tells her she’s been matched with Cupid, Lila finds herself initially falling for his irresistible charms. In this one-on-one interview, Janse reveals her passion for acting, cooking, and how she brought the character of Lila to life.
What attracted you to the role of Lila?
Michel Janse: I kind of lucked into it. I had worked with the production company on another project. They remembered me as someone who kind of fit the description of Lila from the book.
Did you audition for the role? What was that like?
Janse: I remember self-taping for it. We did a concept trailer before we got the green light for the pilot. And that was what I was originally auditioning for. They called me in for the audition, then a follow-up audition. For the show’s pilot, they were casting a new Cupid. I had to sit through 13 different chemistry reads with different Cupids before they settled on Robert (Palmer Watkins) who is a great Cupid.
What did you draw from to play a girl caught up in a relationship with the “wrong guy”?
Janse: Lila has a lot of aspects of myself and that’s how I kind of approach acting in general. I studied the substitution method for years, which develops a character drawn from your own life so you can grasp what they’re feeling and thinking. What high school girl hasn’t gotten into a relationship with the wrong guy? So in that regard, I definitely pulled from my own experience. At the same time, Lila is so much more badass than me. I’m like overly apologetic to people and always worried about hurting someone’s feelings. Lila pretty much says it like it is and is blatant much of the time. So that’s been the hardest part for me. But it’s also kind of fun. To be more blatant than yourself is almost therapeutic in a way (laughs).
Did you read Lauren Palphreyman’s book to help you get into the role of Lila?
Janse: Yes, I finished reading it in like 24 hours. It was so good, I kept reading to find out what happens next. It was kind of surreal reading it for the first time knowing I had the role. Like wow, 36 million people have read this and have “pictures” of Lila and now I have those shoes to fill. I kept thinking, I hope everyone likes me.
What do you find most challenging about playing the lead in a new series?
Janse: It was my first lead. I’ve only ever done supporting roles, so it’s been a whole new world to step into. As far as challenging, it’s really been exciting. As actors, it’s something we train for our whole life—to get a lead in something. I was prepared and ready for it. What’s really challenging is the knowledge that so many people have an expectation of Lila already. With most films and TV series, it’s a new script, so you don’t have to worry about previous storylines and expectations. I try not to think about that when I’m on set because if you think about everything you’re doing when you’re on set, you’ll shut down and freak out. So I try to think about myself and the role. Besides, the series is kind of an interpretation of the book. It’s not strictly tied to what happens in the book. So I try to ask as many questions as possible to see where they want to go with it.
Are you still in school? And how’s that working?
Janse: I’m one year away from my Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition. Right now, I’m finishing my studies online at Arizona State, which gives me the flexibility I need. For example, this week, I’ve been on set every single day. It’s a tough balance, but I’m the type of person who wants to do everything she can ASAP. I just found out that I’d be graduating early, so Fall will be my last semester. It’s funny, my degree will have nothing to do with acting.
What can we expect from the Lila-Cupid relationship?
Janse: You can pretty much expect the story arc of the book. As an actor, I don’t get the script until we’re like two days out from the set. So I’m not exactly sure where the characters will go with their relationship. I know there are many fan girls out there who know the storyline, which I’m sure will follow the book. Cupid and Lila have a hot and cold relationship, with moments of love, betrayal, and hate. So you’ll see a wide spectrum of emotions in their relationship through the series.
What’s it like as a young actor living and working in Los Angeles?
Janse: It’s the best thing in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I knew since I was really young that I wanted to live in L.A. I lived in Texas and went to UC Austin for a semester to pursue my nutrition degree and become a registered dietitian. It took a breakup to realize that I wanted to act. So at 18, I packed my car and moved to L.A. The city has so many opportunities and possibilities. I never want to leave. There’s something new every single day. There’s no routine. You wake up not knowing what to expect in three hours. I love that.
Where did your love of cooking come from?
Janse: I have Celiac disease as well as a couple of other dietary restrictions, such as an egg allergy. So I had to learn how to cook for myself. Even eating out at restaurants can be unsafe for me because it’s not like gluten intolerance; it’s an autoimmune disease where the wrong food can make you very sick. So I’ve always been interested in how food affects your body. I started researching nutrition for myself; what is my body doing, why do I get so sick when I eat this and not this? So I wanted to find my own version of foods I can’t eat. I’ve gotten to work as a professional cook in an upscale restaurant. And now I have a show for TasteMade, where I can use my nutrition degree and my cooking experience all in front of a camera. It’s such a weird combination of worlds that I love. It’s cool to see how God works in your life when you’re presented with a challenge and a passion comes out of it.
What attracted you to TasteMade?
Janse: I remember the mornings getting ready for UC Austin and turning on TasteMade and thinking it would be so cool to do that one day. When I moved out here and realized that their studios were in Santa Monica, I told myself I am just going to annoy the crap out of them until they give me a job. So I started a very low-quality YouTube channel filming recipes. And whenever they had a job opening, I would send in my YouTube link. One time they called me in for a 9 to 5 job and I ended up auditioning and they said you should just be the talent on this show.
Did you ever plan on writing a recipe book?
Janse: Yes. I’ve already started writing down some of my favorite original recipes and looking into publishing. My personal goal is to create a cookbook within the next year or so.
What’s next for you?
Janse: I know much of our audience is overseas, so I’m looking forward to seeing more feedback. I would love to do Lauren’s entire three-book series. I’d love to explore Lila’s character even more and complete the entire storyline for all the fans who love her books.
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
