2011/06/20
by Chanel
Mae Whitman is a force to be reckoned with. Just 23, she has a resume that boasts nearly two decades’ worth of solid acting experience, including countless movies (Hope Floats, the upcoming Perks of Being a Wallflower), tireless voiceover work (it runs in the family), and abundant television gigs (In Treatment and, of course, Arrested Development). She is that rarity, a bona fide child star success story.
Will Whitman’s moving turn as troubled Amber on NBC’s Parenthood finally garner her some recognition for her undeniable range and high-caliber performances? Possibly. But what’s truly important to the actress is the role itself.
TVLINE | Having started out in the business at such a young age, did you ever anticipate what was in store for you? I mean, did you hope to achieve this level of success?
When you’re younger, it’d hard to see it that way. I don’t really remember too much about it, but the general feeling that I do remember was that I just liked it. Being on a movie set when you have a great strong people there supporting you can be very nurturing. You get to explore these creative parts of yourself as a child that most people don’t explore until they’re in college. So for me it was always more about a feeling of fun and entertainment and having my horizons expanded early on. That was why I wanted to continue on in the direction I was headed, and luckily that mentality has stuck with me as I got older. [My career path] has always been about living in the moment and longevity and whatever feels the most organic at the time — and that hasn’t led me wrong yet.
TVLINE | With so many of your characters to choose from, is there any one that sticks out in your mind as a personal favorite?
Every character I’ve played at this point [in my life] has a really special piece of me. When you do a role that you really believe in, as I’ve been lucky enough to do, every single one of them means something different to me. Being a part of Arrested Development, for example, is something I’m thankful for all the time because I am such a huge fan of that show and of all the people involved with it. Plus, Parenthood and the movies I started doing when I was young have all led me to this place, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
