This weekend in movie theatres, Greg Heffley is back, along with big bro Rodrick, in "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules." We're always psyched about films made for tweens, starring tweens. We're even more psyched when we get to chat with one of them, like 12-year-old Peyton List, who plays Holly Hills in the new flick.IML: Tell us a little about the new "Wimpy Kid" movie and the character you play.
Peyton: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" is about Greg Heffley entering 7th grade, his second year in middle school. I play Holly Hills...the girl that all the boys have a crush on.
IML: Have you read the "Wimpy Kid" books yourself?
Peyton: My twin brother really loved the books and he was always telling me that I should read them, but I thought the books would be more geared toward boys. After I found out that I'd be playing Holly Hills, I read the books and I ended up loving them! Turns out my brother was right!
IML: Why do you think this book series is so popular with kids and tweens?
Peyton: I feel like it's such an entertaining series and in a lot of Greg Heffley's situations, kids and tweens can relate to what he is going through.
IML: What was the funniest, or at least most memorable, thing that happened while you were shooting?
Peyton: The funniest moment on set was when we were shooting a soccer scene where everyone runs over to see one of the characters Chirag, who got hurt and is laying on the ground. We had been doing the scene over and over again but one take everyone runs in and we hear this loud fart! No one could help themselves and just burst out laughing! Turns out it was Zach, who plays Greg Heffley!
IML: How did you get started in acting?
Peyton: I got started in acting when I was 4 years old and my family had just moved to New York from Florida. That summer, my mom had taken me to see about 6 Broadway plays and I remember just loving them. I could not get enough of them and that is when I told my mom that I knew I wanted to act.
IML: Tell us about an acting experience where you feel like you really learned something about yourself.
Peyton: I did a Lifetime TV movie called "Secrets in the Walls" with Jeri Ryan and Kay Panabaker and I really feel like I learned who I was as an actress. I also learned that I love doing all kinds of different characters.
IML: What would be your dream role as an actor?
Peyton: A role that I would love to do would be an action film where I am a super hero or a girl who starts out normal and then discovers a power. I would love to get to do stunts in a film!
IML: Do you go to regular school? How do you balance school with your work commitments?
Peyton: I don't go to a regular school. I go to a charter school that's online. I can balance school while I'm shooting because they have a tutor on set who I have to work with at least 3 hours a day. On the set of "Diary" I loved tutoring, because we had this big school trailer that we could decorate and we all got to work in there together.
IML: How do you keep up friendships with a crazy schedule?
Peyton: I find it easy to keep up with friends whether it's through Facebook or Twitter (@PeytonList). I also love iChat so wherever I am, I can keep in touch with my friends
IML: What's your favorite way to hang out and just have fun?
Peyton: I love to go outside and ride my bike, just hang out with my friends, swim, and go to the movies.
IML: Good luck with everything, and thanks for chatting!
Peyton: Thank you so much!
Next up for Peyton in May is a role opposite Kate Hudson in the romantic comedy "Something Borrowed." Go Peyton!
