At 9 years old, child actor identical twins Ella Allan and Mia Allan have more than an arm-length of credits behind them, including Parenthood, Young Sheldon and Jane the Virgin.
Currently they can be seen on ABC's Single Parents, playing different characters. But it wasn't always like that; they used to share roles when they were younger.
I've always found it interesting how young performers deal with this adult industry. It's hard to stay grounded in ANY type of environment, but working in the fast paced entertainment field where most of your peers are adults takes extra work.
So how do Ella and Mia Allan handle school, work and downtime? How do they stay focused on work and be children at the same time? Let's find out!
Have you ever celebrated a birthday on set?
Our birthday is November 14, 2010 and we have celebrated a few birthday parties on set; two on Jane The Virgin and two on Single Parents. Both were absolutely amazing! It's actually really fun to be able to have a birthday on set. Both productions got us each a birthday cake and usually right before we left, they had everyone get together and surprise us with cake and candles and everyone sang Happy Birthday! It feels really warm because everyone's getting together to celebrate you on your special day.
Earlier in your career, you played the same character —example: Parenthood. On any given work day, how did you decide who would "go first" to play the character? What did the other one of you do while your sister was working? Did you have two adults on set with you? One at the filming and one at the non-working area?
When we were little on Sons of Anarchy, it was determined by which one was in a good mood and more apt to be handed off to a stranger (Charlie Hunnam ☺) Although his character is rough and tumble, he was so loving and kind. On Parenthood, we were about a year and a half old and our personalities had begun forming. Our parents usually tried to split it up evenly by the scene and have always been really conscious about splitting up the time. Not that production didn't think about it, but it was just something that our parents did to keep us feeling comfortable in different atmospheres and with different emotional ranges. Parenthood was so generous and kind that if one of us got to do a scene that we both had prepared for at home, they would always let the other twin reenact it on set.
There always has to be one guardian per child so, with two children working and one being switched out, we had one of our parents and a grandparent or family member to hang out with the other. When we really started to understand things, they would let whichever one of us that was not filming hang out with the directors and producers in their chairs and they would show us what our sister was doing and what was going on. We would sit on their lap and watch the scene as they were filming it and it was like they were teaching us both, whether behind the screen or in the video village.
SINGLE PARENTS – ABC's "Single Parents" stars Mia Allan as Emma Fogerty,
and Ella Allan as Amy Fogerty. (ABC/Brian Bowen Smith)
On ABC's Single Parents playing two separate characters.
Tell us about your audition.
We had actually booked another pilot before Single Parents called Most Likely To. We had previously worked with the producer and writer of that pilot, Sarah Schechter and writer Brook Maurio (aka Diablo Cody), on a pilot called Raised By Wolves. Both are such amazing and dynamic women in the industry! As things sometimes go, that pilot did not get picked up BUT Single Parents did and came to us after asking us to audition for the twin role they were recasting. We auditioned and then tested and booked the roles!!
Did you have one audition together or two separate auditions?
Because we are playing twins we auditioned at the same time as sisters
Who decided who is playing which character?
For the most part, our parents determined it when we first got the audition, even though we were asked to try both. We just kind of stuck with the characters -- Ella as Amy and Mia as Emma. It's pretty hard for people to tell the difference if we get switched out or even when we're side-by-side and the name of which character didn't seem to matter as much.
For the audition, did you have sides?
All the auditions that we have been to have had sides meaning some part of the script to memorize.
Was it self-tape or in person?
Auditions were in person.
Was there a chemistry test?
We don't remember if there was a chemistry test but there were a lot of auditions! We were so absolutely grateful because we felt like these roles were written specifically for us! We just fit these characters and we have such a blast on set!
What's it like playing opposite each other?
We don't really see it as working opposite of each other. We've always viewed it as working side-by-side each other, each one being unique but together as one whole we make an amazing team! One twin may have strengths in one area and the other twin has strengths in other areas, but we absolutely complement each other. We couldn't think of a better gift than to work on a show as identical twin sisters. It has become a benchmark for us and we would like to maintain that throughout our career. The two of us together are a force to be reckoned with we love what we do.
SINGLE PARENTS - Mia Allan, Ella Allan. ((ABC/Raymond Liu)
How do you learn your lines?
Our dad has predominantly been the person who helps us with our lines. Our mom does help as well. She's great with showing different perspectives. There are also always opportunities while we're on set where some of the actors around us give us tips and advice from what they've learned throughout the years. We have so many teachers because we work with such a good production, cast and a crew.
Who helps you rehearse?
Our dad has been the one who helps us rehearse and our mom is our biggest cheerleader!
Do you use an app to memorize lines?
No, we like to keep it authentic and genuine to stay in the moment and feel the emotions.
Do you read them off a paper script over and over again until you have them memorized?
There are many different ways -- everyone has their own style and system. We read our lines or have the lines read to us and we go over our thoughts and emotions. We memorize the lines and then we attempt to place our feelings and emotions in them and combine them all into a beautiful mess. LOL!
Have you ever been to a table reading?
Every episode there's a table read the week before the next episode. It's always interesting to see how these things come together. They're actually really fun because when you read the script by yourself you imagine how people will say things and then you get to the table read and you'll see the characters put themselves into the role. It is great to watch everybody open up and just be in their own craft!
Which shows had the table read?
Every show since we could read has had table reads. It's the way for everyone to know what's going to happen and how to prepare. Minor changes are also sometimes made.
When did you meet the cast of Single Parents?
We first met the cast of Single Parents at a photo shoot. We came in after the original pilot was shot, so we ended up filming our first scenes in one day. We basically hit the ground running but it felt so natural! We acclimated quickly because everyone was great and made us feel completely comfortable.
Being child actors, do you have your own trailers / dressing rooms?
Some productions have trailers, some productions have dressing rooms. At Single Parents we have a trailer.
Is there a bathroom and TV in the trailer?
Yes, every trailer we have been in has a bathroom and a TV, however it's very rare that we turn on the TV. Isually we are extremely busy or outside having fun with the other cast members. There's not a lot of time to just sit and watch TV -- we are either at school or playing or working hard!
If on location, where do you stay during the filming day?
If we are filming on location they will bring the trailer to that location. However, if we are only staying for a short while they have usually set up situations with owners of houses in that neighborhood that have been rented so that production can utilize the space as needed.
How does school work?
We have absolutely one of the best studio teachers in the business, Ruthie Bailey. We don't go to "regular school" but there a satellite campus that we check in with. We are required by law to have a minimum of three hours a day though we attempt to get more than that if possible. Education is extremely important to us and our parents! We are extremely blessed to have Ruthie because it is a one on one teacher and she is completely invested in us as we are in her. So we feel in someway that we get a better education with the studio teacher than we would anywhere else.
Do you have any advice for child actors?
Always do your best! Have realistic expectations, work hard and have fun with it! As our dad has told us, there's a difference between working hard for a goal and striving to be first in line. If your focus is on fame or how much screen time you get, you're setting a standard that you are as only as good as your last show or commercial. Our parents have done a good job at showing us that our value does not come from this industry. We are lucky to have the parents that we have and our faith in God, because ultimately we feel like we are called to this industry by Him.
