Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Chicken Girls’ Amelie Anstett

Amelie Anstett has commanded the stage in productions like The Lion King and on Justin Bieber’s Purpose tour. This spring, she made her television debut in Season 6 of BRAT’s Chicken Girls, and we got the inside scoop from Amelie.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Amelie: I have always loved performing and making people smile throughout my life, though it wasn’t until more recently that I discovered my passion for acting. Dance has always been my thing—still is and always will be—but when I started acting, it was so cool to unlock another realm in this industry. I have always enjoyed theater and playing characters/entertaining people but never fully pursued acting until now, and I am so happy I have the opportunities to get to do it.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Amelie: I’ve been fortunate enough to have several incredible mentors and supporters in my life, but I would say that moment when I danced for Justin Bieber during his Purpose tour changed my entire life and helped lead my career. Justin is still a big influence in my life and career. Of course, the Biebs is one of my top people to follow; he has a lot of fun and inspirational content that he shares, so I like his mix.

Reese Witherspoon is one of my favorite female role models to follow, especially in this industry. She is such an inspiration to me, having gotten into acting at a similar age and coming from the south. She acted and successfully earned her college degree, and now she has created so many platforms for herself; that inspires me daily.

PC: How have dance and theater prepared you for the transition onto the screen?
Amelie: My whole career started out with dance, and being able to dance is a great feeling that I cherish every day. I began to dance at the age of seven when there were no gymnastics/acrobatic studios in my town, however, there was a dance studio. At first, it was just one or two classes, but soon, teachers were calling my mom and inviting me to participate in their other classes.

Sometimes things work in funny ways. As I got older and started competing, it became a lot more hours of training. Getting into the competitive side of dance helped prepare me for the audition process in some ways, and of course, performing on stage and doing theater performances helped prepare me to be comfortable in front of people. The hours of training really helped to prepare me for the long production days on set.

PC: As you look ahead in your career, what are some goals you hope to accomplish?
Amelie: I have so many big career goals, and I am so thankful to be given the opportunities and have such an amazing support system. I am a big believer in “everything happens for a reason,” so I just continue to follow my path and work incredibly hard to make my dreams come true. One of my big goals is to be able to use my platform to spread positivity and lift people up. I love interacting with my fans and the ones who support me because I want them to know I support them just the same. I think that this generation is different from the rest, and I would love to use my motto, “Be original,” to share that it is amazing to be who you truly are.

Chicken Girls

PC: You’re starring in Season 6 of Chicken Girls. Tell us about the series, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Amelie: Chicken Girls Season 6 is a crazy one, in a good way. [laughs] It has so many new elements and twists compared to other seasons. It also addresses a lot of different issues and situations that many teens and young kids might be going through as well, like eating disorders, getting involved with people that are bad influences, and situations that we all go through or will at some point in our lives: addressing right from wrong, lying to your parents, or just the normal romantic feelings and relationships teens go through. It’s a great avenue for our generation to know that they are not alone, especially right now, during a time when so much is changing for us and our world. It is very important for our generation and people, in general, to know they are not alone. I think when fans see these characters that they adore go through all of these trials and tribulations, it really helps them be able to relate better to our characters and feel a connection with them as well.

The moment I got offered this project as Sadie, I had no doubts about wanting to do it; I was immediately invested and excited to join such an amazing cast of beyond talented individuals. Sadie is TK’s (Hayden Summerall) girlfriend in the show, and man does she have a personality on her. She comes from Texas, so she is a cowgirl. Getting to play her is so much fun. She is definitely a girly country girl, that is very confident/sassy.

PC: It’s a breakout TV role for you. Did anything surprise you about the experience? What was the biggest takeaway?
Amelie: Yes, this is my breakout TV role, and I am so incredibly grateful for being able to play Sadie. I think something that really surprised me about this whole experience was how easy and organized the process was and how great, kind, and considerate the entire cast and crew were. There were definitely so many amazing takeaways from this experience, and I think one of the biggest is the amazing friendships I established with the cast and the exposure I got into another realm of work.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Amelie: Manifest, Outer Banks, Grey’s Anatomy…so many.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Amelie: I love 10 Things I Hate About You.

PC: Favorite book?
Amelie: The Great Gatsby

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Amelie: Legally Blonde

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Amelie: Blink-182

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Amelie: This is so hard. If I had to choose one person, I would definitely say Selena Gomez as a teen.

To keep up with Amelie, follow her on Twitter and Instagram.