Long John Silver's Reference Website

Alicia Morton Chat
November 3, 1999

Q: Do you get nervous when you have to sing?

A: Yes, I do. I get really nervous. But when I start singing, I feel better.

Q: What do you like to do when you are not acting?

A: I like to make jewelry, I love to rollerblade. I love to play with my animals. I have two dogs and a bird. I have a great dane in Lousiana named Brandy. My bird's name is Milo.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not acting?

A: I just said my hobbies, pretty much the same thing. Me and my friends like to make our own shows and do them for our parents. I like to dance. We put on Chicago, the soundtrack, and make up our own stuff. I love Chicago.

Q: Tell us about the Broadway show that you did before the movie Annie.

A: I did Les Miserables. I play Cosette. I did that for 3 1/2 years, the longest or one of them.

Q: Is your hair really red? It was so pretty today on Regis and Kathy Lee.

A: Only my hairdresser knows that. It's light brown.

Q: How did you feel when you got THE telephone call saying you had the role?

A: I was crying, but the happy crying. I was like, "Oh my God!" but I was so excited.

Q: Why did you stay with Les Miz for so long? Most kids don't last as long as you did.

A: I stayed there because I loved the company and I didn't want to leave the people. I really loved doing the show. But then I got to understudy Gavroche.

Q: Was it hard working with Victor Garber?

A: It wasn't hard because they treated me like I had been working forever. So I thought I fit in OK, 'cause they were all Broadway people. It was like a big family.

Q: What is Sandy’s real name?

A: Chester.

Q: Tell us stories about Chester!

A: He never pooped on stage, he was smart. If the trainer said back up, he would back up. He never came up and kissed you so they had to teach him that. They had to put anchovy sauce on my face.

Q: Why anchovy sauce?

A: Because the dog liked anchovy sauce so the dog would come up and lick it off my face. The sauce burned my face so I told the trainer. He had to change it.

Q: Have you met Andrea McArdle yet, the very first Annie?

A: Yes, I have. I’ve known her for three years. Her daughter, Alexis, is my best friend. Yes, she's awesome, I love her!

Q: Were you intimidated doing Annie in front of Andrea?

A: No.

Q: Did you ever ask her for advice about playing Annie?

A: She would give me advice. She would tell me, "You know that look when you and Alexis would mess up the bedroom? That's Annie."

Q: What was your favorite part of filming?

A: "N.Y.C.", because it's so exciting and I got to do so much stuff. It was outside and not in a sound stage. I think the directors of this movie wanted to make this realistic and not so show bizzy. The other movie was good but more of the theater style, but this is more of a movie.

Q: what was Kathy Bates like to work with ?

A: She's really nice. I love her to death. She was so great! I love her personality, she has a great personality, she was so nice to me. Everybody treated everybody equal. You would think that movie stars would be like big shots, but she's not like that at all.

Q: Did any of the orphans fight off stage?

A: We got annoyed at each other now and then. Me and the girl who played Pepper got along really well right off. Sometimes we got annoyed with each other, sometimes we'd push each other, but it was fun.

Q: How long did it take to learn all the songs in the movie?

A: I already knew them pretty much.

Q: Had you done Annie before?

A: I did a small production before, but I played Molly.

Q: What was the audition process for Annie like?

A: It was long and tiring some days. We'd audition, and then break for lunch, and then go back. It was a long process but a fun process.

Q: How did your schoolmates take it when they heard about your success?

A: I go to a professional performance arts school so we don't think much of it. I know they're jealous but no one really talks to me, that’s why I left. Now I'm just homeschooling.

Q: When did you first start acting?

A: I did a school play, The Sound of Music. I played Gretl.

Q: What things (Broadway or otherwise) have you auditioned for but not gotten?

A: A lot of things ... some movies, a couple series. Actually, ABC picked me up and they're going to do a series for me.

Q: Where do you keep all those pets in NYC?

A: In my small pig-sty apartment. My room is a mess, I have too many clothes.

Q: WE know that "N.Y.C." was your favorite scene --what was your favorite song?

A: "Maybe." I like it because it tells a story, she really wants to meet her parents, she knows they're going to come, it shows she has hope. It's a really pretty song.

Q: Do you know that you really look like the famous poster of Cosette?

A: Yes, people tell me that. Everybody says I resemble her, my features, eyes, my lips, and stuff. They say it's a lot like the poster.

Q: How long did you practice the dance moves and all that?

A: Not long, we had a month of rehearsals and then a month shooting. Each day we worked on a new scene.

Q: Which scene took the longest?

A: "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" took the longest.

Q: What was your school in New York like? I hear it's a very hard to get into school.

A: Some of the kids are weird ... Some of them are really nice. Some like you one day then the next day blow you off. Sometimes we hang out and I'll pay for it, but then they're mean to me the next day which I don't like. But I've learned my lesson, I don't do that anymore.

Q: What's your favorite movie?

A: It's a competition between Forrest Gump and Big Daddy. I like Adam Sandler, he's so funny!

Q: Do you like film or live theatre better?

A: Both are so different from each other. I couldn't really compare them. One, you're in front of people and actually do it for them. Another you can go back and fix your mistakes.

Q: Did you mess up a lot on the scene?

A: I hope not. :) I wouldn't necessarily mess up sometimes, they would just want me to try something different. Normally a scene wouldn't take more than five takes.

Q: Are you a good student, and what are your plans for the future?

A: I think I'm a pretty good student. :) My favorite subject is science. I was homeschooling in fourth grade so I didn't really do any science projects, but I have a tutor now.

Q: Would you consider yourself an star or an up and rising star? Also, what works do you have in progress?

A: I consider myself as an uprising star, not quite a star yet, 'cause this is my first movie. I'm not that far ahead right now. I'm workiing on the ABC series now, not necessarily doing anything, just thinking of ideas. It will be filming in Hollywood.

Q: Any funny bloopers that happened to you onstage?

A: Well, in the bargain scene ... Valjean comes to get Cosette at Thenardier's. Thenardier is holding Cosette, all of a sudden he drops her, but I fell on the stool, one leg was on one stool and I was in an uncomfortable position.

Q: Which performers have been major influences on you?

A: I was inspired to sing by Loretta Lynn because I saw a concert of hers when I was two years old. Watching musicals when I was three inspired me to sing and act.

Q: What was your favorite part about the movie?

A: Working with all the cast and everybody that was so nice. Especially the director, he was wonderful and great. I know he'll go places. I loved working with the dog, that was fun.

Q: How old are you? You look really young, and sound so mature. It must be hard to memorize those lines when you look so young, almost like a child.

A: I'm 12 years old.

Q: Which movie did you like better, Les Miserables or Annie?

A: Annie, definitely.

Q: What does it feel like being on the side of a billboard?

A: It's really weird! Now, I'm almost a star, it's just weird ... I remember looking at other peoples' pictures and wishing, "Man I wish I could be up there too." But now it's just weird.