Exclusive Interview: Siena Agudong and Drew Ray Tanner on ‘Sidelined: The QB and Me,’ Celebrating Their Cultures, and More

Siena Agudong and Drew Ray Tanner are set to deliver a touchdown performance in their upcoming film, Sidelined: The QB and Me. This heartfelt story brings audiences a fresh take on family, identity, and determination, with Siena and Drew leading the charge as siblings navigating the highs and lows of life, love, and football.

Based on the breakout YA novel The QB Bad Boy and Me by Tay Marley, the film follows Dallas (Siena Agudong), a burdened but headstrong dancer determined to follow in her late mother’s footsteps by earning a spot at the country’s top dance school. Her singular focus is shaken when Drayton (Noah Beck), a cheeky yet secretly grieving high school heartthrob, unexpectedly enters her life with his own aspirations and struggles. As their lives intertwine, the story explores whether they can overcome their personal challenges and grow into their dreams—or if life’s obstacles will leave them sidelined.

Pop Culturalist spoke with Siena and Drew about Sidelined: The QB and Me, building their sibling dynamic, celebrating their cultures and being that representation they didn’t see growing up, and more.

PC: Siena, your character undergoes such an incredible evolution throughout this film. There’s so much nuance in the way you portrayed her journey, as she gradually lets her walls down and allows herself to be vulnerable with others. As an actress, how did you create the space to tackle that arc and get into the headspace of this character, especially during those emotionally charged moments when she’s reflecting on her connection to CalArts and her parents?
Siena: In many ways, I relate to Dallas, which made it easier to bring her to life on screen. But at the same time, that was also the hardest part because I drew on a lot of my own struggles with acting. That personal connection was something I incorporated into the role. We worked closely with Justin [Wu], our director, to develop Dallas’ family background, and I leaned on that to shape those scenes. But a lot of Dallas’s determination for CalArts came from my own experiences as well.

PC: You’re incredible in this. Drew, you brought so much depth and life to this character who’s navigating the dual roles of brother and guardian. So often in film and television, these roles tend to lean heavily in one direction, but your portrayal is such a refreshing blend of both. How did you find where this character sits within you and discover those moments of contrast?
Drew: The road map I tried to follow with Nathan was his journey from wanting to be the coolest older brother to striving to be a strict, perfectly formulated parent. By the end of the movie, he accepts that when it comes to family and love, you have to wear different hats. That’s the mark of a true leader or parent—someone you can look up to.

My mom was definitely that person for me. She was a single mother who raised me and wore so many hats. She came to every one of my football games and supported me at every step in life, but she also knew how to be a parent and discipline me. I drew a lot of inspiration from her and from the people around me.

PC: Beautifully said. Siena, there’s also a lot of physicality in this role because your character is a dancer. How did that training help you tap into the core of who she is? What was the process like learning the choreography for her audition scene? It was so believable I had to double-check if you were an actual dancer.
Siena: We worked really hard. I spent a lot of time during the first few weeks before filming taking as many classes as I could before flying out to Toronto. What I realized is that no matter how many classes or how much training you cram into that time, it can’t compare to the years of dedication a dancer aiming for CalArts—or any professional dancer—puts in.

I went in wanting to look like a dancer, but more importantly, I wanted to feel like one. Dancing and training every single day with our choreographer made that inevitable. Even within the month of filming, I felt a transformation. I started feeling music differently, moving my body differently, and becoming so much more aware of it in ways I’d never experienced before. That awareness helped me bring Dallas to life. The physical training was crucial, but the mental preparation was equally important.

Drew: As you were training to do Dallas justice in her story, where she’s trying so hard to get into college, it’s fascinating to see how much of a mirror that became for your own journey.

Siena: Absolutely. Jeffrey, our choreographer, often reminded me of the lessons Dallas was learning throughout the film. He’d say, “Just go.” That mindset was such a gift.

PC: It feels like Saved the Last Dance for modern audiences. Drew, an important lesson your character imparts to his sister is the value of finding fulfillment outside of your craft and work. How have you personally found that balance in your own career? How does it feed into your art and make you a stronger storyteller and artist?
Drew: I was just having this conversation with my mom yesterday. She flew to California for the first time, and as we were driving around, we passed by the Magic Castle. I started talking about it because I love magic—I’ve always loved it since I was a kid. I know some of the magicians there, and they often mention how it’s harder to get younger people interested in magic these days.

You’re probably wondering where I’m going with this, but don’t worry—I’ll bring it back. Growing up, I was introduced to so many different things, like magic and football, and I never looked at those pursuits as something that needed a huge payoff. It wasn’t about saying, “I’m going to dedicate all this time to magic, and it has to lead to a career.” I’ve always focused on filling my life with hobbies and interests that don’t have an end goal but bring me happiness and joy. If I can perform a magic trick for someone and it makes them smile, that’s enough for me.

I think a lot of us struggle to find things outside of work and our careers that bring us genuine happiness. But I’ve learned to focus on those things, even if they don’t seem to have a practical purpose. It might sound crazy to spend hours learning a magic trick that no one might see, but for me, it’s worth it. It’s brought me so much joy, and that joy ultimately feeds back into my art and storytelling.

PC: Yeah, and then you channel that into the performance you deliver on screen. You’re going to bring smiles to audiences with this film. Siena, Justin fought really hard for proper representation in this story. What does it mean to you to know that you’re blazing a trail for young girls who look like you by leading this incredible film—and that they’ll see endless opportunities because of the path you’ve paved?
Siena: Thank you. Drew and I actually talked about this when we first met—about representing our culture in a way we haven’t really seen on screen before. It’s so important, and honestly, it still feels surreal. I love this question, but it also leaves me a little baffled because I don’t know how to put it into words beyond saying how incredibly grateful I am.

I’m just so happy that people who share my culture and background can see themselves represented on screen. It’s like, “What more could I want?” It’s so cool. I feel so humbled and lucky to be here. But it’s not just about me being up here—it’s about everyone who’s been part of this journey.

PC: Drew, same question for you—what does this moment mean to you, knowing that audiences will see themselves reflected in the work you’ve done?
Drew: It’s an immense honor to be able to do that. When you’re younger—at least for me, and maybe for you too, Siena—the heroes we look up to are few and far between. You start to shape yourself to fit a mold from a young age. Then, as you get older, you realize there’s a need for more stories about people like you.

I had never really had the chance to be part of that until now. I’m so grateful to Justin and to Siena for being an amazing partner in this. Being mixed-race, I know there are so many of us out there, but it’s still not easy to find someone who can believably play your sibling or to convince others that it works. This film gave us the opportunity to show that you can have a mixed-race family—a mom, dad, and two kids—that feels real and relatable.

I had never really had the chance to bThat’s a very real story for so many people around the world, but it doesn’t always get its moment. I feel so honored that we got to showcase that in this movie and, in a way, pay homage to our parents. It’s been such a meaningful experience.

Make sure to follow Siena (Instagram) and Drew (Instagram). Sidelined: The QB and Me premieres on Tubi on November 29th.