Twelve-year-old Bailee Madison has made quite a name for herself sharing the screen with actors like Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Selena Gomez, Adam Sandler, and many more. Her latest release, "Cowgirls n' Angels," premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF). I sat down with the polite young Madison to discuss the movie when she was in town to promote it.
Can you tell me a little bit about "Cowgirls n' Angels"?
"Cowgirls n' Angels" focuses on a young girl named Ida Clayton. She's never met her dad before. She sets out on this journey in hopes of finding him.
Ida meets a man names Terence Parker, who's played by James Cromwell, along the way. She joins the Sweethearts of the Rodeo and discovers a love for trick riding. She becomes part of the family she never thought she'd become a part of.
It's such a sweet family movie full of love, realness, and truth. I think it's a family movie everyone can enjoy, which I love. It's a film that's very close to my heart. I couldn't be more proud of it, the cast, and the crew. I hope everyone likes it.
How did you get the role?
I got an email on my mom's phone. We were actually in the car. I was in the back seat reading emails to mom and I saw "Cowgirls n' Angels." My agent sent it to me. I opened the attachment and started reading in the backseat of the car.
I remember I was in love with it from the first page on. I was in love with the way Ida was and the way she was so rebellious. She was just herself and her own person. She was taking things in life and learning from them. I just loved the fact that the story was meant for families and anyone of any age to enjoy. My mom read it with me and I called my agent. I met with them and ever since that moment, I've been a part of the "Cowgirls" family. Honestly, I couldn't be more blessed to be a part of it.
Do you homeschool now or attend a regular school somehow?
We're doing homeschooling for the first time. Mom has always been dead-set against it. I've always gone to a private Christian school in Florida. They only go up to fifth grade. I graduated this year, which was very exciting and very sad. I've grown up with everyone in that school.
I was shooting [movies and shows] from the beginning of the school year to when they went on breaks, so it didn't make any sense to enroll in a school I wasn't even going to be at. We tried out the whole homeschooling thing. I'm still in sixth grade now. I just have some P. E. and math lessons left and I'll be all set.
We're definitely in search of a real school. Even if I was there two days out of the year, I would put on my uniform and I'd see my friends and stay grounded. That's the way my family has kept me grounded. I definitely enjoyed that. I think my entire family enjoys real school.
For more articles by Eric Shirey , check out:
Four Screenings Worth Catching at Tribeca Film Festival
Blu-ray Review: 'The Iron Lady'
Famke Janssen Discusses 'Bringing Up Bobby' at Dallas International Film Festival
Eric Shirey is the founder and former editor of Rondo Award nominated movie news websites MovieGeekFeed.com and TheSpectralRealm.com. His work has been featured on Yahoo!, DC Comics, StarWars.com, and other entertainment websites. Eric has interviewed and worked with actors like Harrison Ford, Brooke Shields, Gerard Butler, Famke Janssen, Brendan Fraser, Selena Gomez, and many more.
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