by pankhuri bhutani
photo by adam hendershott
Currently seen in the Selena Gomez produced film This Is The Year (directed by David Henrie), Alyssa Jirrels can be seen bringing the character “Zoey” to life.
Starting to perform at just the age of six, Jirrels’s television debut was marked by Disney’s “Girl Meets World,” which was then followed by her first ever series regular role on Disney XD’s “Mech-X4.”
Jirrels’s inherent talent has also extended to her roles in Netflix comedy “Alexa and Katie,” ABC’s “Schooled,” “The Good Doctor,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” and FOX’s “The Mick.” She can also be seen in the short film “Under the Lights” with Greg Grunberg, sponsored by the National Epilepsy Foundation.
In our chat with Alyssa, she candidly talks about her acting journey, the experience working with David Henrie and her castmates from This is The Year, how it was like playing the role of Zoey in the film, and finally about her plans on upcoming projects!
Hello Alyssa! Thank you for joining us on Unclear. Having been in this industry for quite a while now, what was it that brought you closer to the field of acting?
Alyssa: “I started out doing theatre, that’s really my first love. I did that in the Bay Area until I was about 13 and then moved to LA when I got a manager and started auditioning. I’m much more comfortable with film now, but theatre will always be very special to me.”
You can currently be seen in Selena Gomez's produced film This is the Year as Zoey. How did you initially get involved with the movie and what can you tell us about your character?
A: “I actually did a self tape for Vanessa Marano’s character first and then was asked to tape for Zoey. It all happened pretty quick, I Skyped with David on like a Monday and he gave me some notes on the character, and then that Wednesday I was told I booked the role. Zoey is a gal who has defined herself by other people’s opinions of her and lived her life acting the way that she thinks she should based on her status and the way that she looks. Over the course of the film we get to see her wrestle with that and figure out that it's ultimately much more fulfilling to live your life based off of what you love and what your soul is drawn to.”
What was it like the first day that you walked onto the set of the movie and how did you initially react when you realized you were given an opportunity to portray this character?
A: “I was so stoked. I was at a coffeehouse when my agent told me and I got a lil’ teary and bought a celebratory donut. I think the first thing I did when I walked on set was meet David and Lorenzo and rehearse our most important scenes. It was nice because we got a short period of rehearsal time to really get acclimated with one another and become a family.”
In what ways has this character challenged you that’s been distinct from any other character that you’ve played in your journey as an actor?
A: “I think just trusting myself in a cast of people who were much older and more experienced than I was, was the main thing. I had to make sure that I wasn’t getting too caught up in proving myself and I just allowed myself to have fun. Thankfully David created such a wonderful environment on set that it became very easy to do that.”
This Is The Year is filled with an iconic cast. What did you enjoy most about watching your co-stars interpret their characters and bring them to life?
A: “Oh, so much. I could go on forever. Every one of them just has something very unique and captivating to bring to the table and they just knew exactly what to do, and how and when to do it.”
Was there anything that you added to the role while shooting which wasn’t originally described to you in the script?
A: “Vanessa and I riffed a lot during our scenes; some of our banter and dry sarcasm back and forth to one another was definitely just our personal dynamic coming out. Those are my favorite scenes to watch.”
When it comes to choosing a project to work on, what are the things that you look out for before finally saying yes to the project?
A: “I’m still at the point where I just get auditions for things and try to do what I can with them, so I’ll pretty much take what I can get as long as they will feed me and give me water! But in all seriousness, I think the people attached to the project make the biggest difference. You can have the best script in the world, but if it's not in good hands it won’t be good.”
photo by adam hendershott
What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your professional journey?
A: “Enjoy the process.”
What’s next for you Alyssa? Any projects, you’ll be working on soon that you would like to tell your fans about?
A: “I’ll be in the upcoming Saved by the Bell reboot on Peacock! And there’s a short film that I’m in called Under the Lights that’s coming out soon. It just won a Special Jury Prize at Rhode Island Film Festival (which is OSCAR QUALIFYING BABY!!) and has been killing it all together. Its purpose and goal is to fight the stigma of epilepsy through film, and the whole experience and cause is really close to my heart. I’m also looking to start my own production company, and I’ve got a project that I’ve been working on with some of my friends since the beginning of the quarantine that hopefully will be wrapping up soon. Hoping to start writing and directing my own stuff as well; that’s something that's really exciting to me right now.”
Lastly, what would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A: “Thank you and I appreciate you!! Stay hydrated and wear your mask!!”