REAL Magazine: What does your creative process look like?
Bailee Madison: This is a very, very hard question! I believe my creative process has always been the same, but as I get older it becomes more meaningful. I try to approach every character that I do by trying to find truthful moments. It’s important for me to do roles that are relatable to girls my age, where they can say, “Oh she’s like my best friend” or “She’s like the girl that sits next to me at school.”
I find that the simpler the process is, the more honest the character is. However, certain projects call for more intense creative processes. For Once Upon a Time, I have the honor of playing young Snow White, the flashback of Ginnifer Goodwin’s character. Ginny has created an effortless, strong, lovable adult Snow White, and for me it’s trying to do that justice. I study clips of Ginny as Snow and I watch the way she speaks, the way she moves, even how she scrunches her eyebrows when she is thinking. I dive much deeper in my creative process for a role like that, and it is the best thing ever.
An advocate for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and Give Kids The World, Bailee Madison shares her love of heels, inspirations, and wisdom well beyond her years in this exclusive interview.
RM: What makes you come most alive?
BM: What makes me come most alive is listening to my worship music. . . and wearing heels. They instantly pick me up and give me energy!
RM: Name an obstacle you’ve faced and overcome.
BM: Every day is an obstacle and learning experience, but a certain obstacle that comes to mind is a hard time in my life four years ago. It was hard for me to accept how you can be so close to someone, and all of a sudden have to learn how to live without them. I did not understand why someone who was like family to me could disappear from my life and move on, as if my family and I never existed. I was beyond crushed and didn’t know if I had the strength to continue in the industry, since this person was no longer there to support me.
It’s taken me four years, but I have finally come to peace with it all. I used to ask, “Why is this happening?” and I’ve come to realize that in the darkest and hardest of times you will never have an answer to that question. I still don’t, but in a way I’m so grateful for that experience because it made me who I am today. Thanks to my family, close friends, and nonstop prayers, I was able to overcome it. I now see this person randomly here and there, and rather than trying to turn around and walk away like that person did, I choose to run up and say hello. It’s like that song, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
RM: What inspires your work in the world?
BM: I am inspired by so many things and so many people, but every time I have the pleasure to visit children’s hospitals and spend time with the children and their families, I’m always deeply humbled and inspired. I’m so blessed to be given a platform through acting to be able to speak out about things I’m passionate about. One of those main things is childhood cancer. I always leave the hospitals inspired to keep going, so that I can hopefully keep spreading the word about childhood cancer. My goal is that one day there is a cure and my voice isn’t needed anymore.
RM: If you could say one thing to everyone on the planet, what would it be?
BM: Appreciate every moment. Live not for yourself, but for others. Remember that nobody is perfect and that we are all in this together.
RM: Do you support any causes or organizations?
BM: Yes! I am so thankful to be a part of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which helps raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. I also am grateful to be a part of Starlight Children’s Foundation, which focuses on not just the child who is affected by cancer, but the entire family. And lastly, Give Kids the World, where their main focus is to bring love, joy, and amazing memories to the child and their family for an entire week. All of these foundations are doing extraordinary things and I am so blessed to be a small part of their huge mission. If you would like to learn more about them, visit alexslemonade.org, starlight.org, and gktw.com.
RM: What do you have coming up and how can we support you?
BM: First of all, thank you so much for supporting! I am so thrilled to be doing a new series [Good Witch] with my friends at The Hallmark Channel, and Catherine Bell, who is my new TV momma. It has a Gilmore Girls / Bewitched vibe. You can support by please watching. I am so excited for all of you to see it!