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Big Disney Star Talks About Being Small

My daughter and I have been eagerly waiting for the release of the new animated movie by Japanese filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki — The Secret World of Arrietty.  During the first preview we saw last summer she grabbed my arm in the darkened theatre and whispered, “We’re totally seeing that when it comes out.”

As fortune had it, we actually were lucky enough to see it in a private screening BEFORE it came out. We were invited by the Walt Disney Company to come to their Burbank studio lot and see a sneak peek of the movie.

Furthering our delight, the next day we were asked to come interview the big Disney Channel star, Bridgit Mendler, of Good Luck Charlie and Lemonade Mouth fame, about her role as the voice of Arrietty in the movie that will be released February 17.

We spent the night in Los Angeles and woke up early and headed to the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for the Secret World of Arrietty press junket. My daughter was nervous but excited, and like a good little journalist she had her notes ready.

The small roundtable was filled with fellow OC bloggers and our daughters when Bridgit breezed in and right away put us all at ease by saying, “Yay, it’s take your daughters to work day!”  Everyone laughed and the questions from the young girls started coming.

My daughter kicked it off by asking Bridgit what her favorite scene from the movie was. Bridgit said her favorite scene was when Arriettty goes on her first borrowing mission. Later in the interview she elaborates by sharing with us her emotional connection with Arrietty. Bridgit said when she first started working as an actress she’d come to LA on her own: “… it was kind of like a whole new world for me doing that.  Arrietty is exploring the bigger world and I feel like I’ve kind of been doing that.”

The young girls went back and forth with her, telling her the parts of the movie they liked the most and asking her questions about Good Luck Charlie. After talking about her hit Disney Channel TV show and her music, the conversation circled back around to The Secret World of Arrietty.

“Arrietty is a really good role model.  You know, and in a bunch of different ways.  She’s growing up and she’s adventurous and curious and I mean she was a little rebellious but not too bad,” Bridgit reflects.  ”She makes friends with somebody who is different than her.  And she really helps him when he’s having a hard time.”

After the interview we all went out the deck for a photo opp. The girls were smiling and striking a poses and as I watched them I saw the same role model similarities in Bridgit as in Arrietty.  It’s refreshing — and frankly a relief — to meet one of my daughter’s favorite actresses, someone she looks up to, and be happy for her to aspire to be more like her.

I’ll post my full review of “The Secret World of Arrietty” on February 17. Check back then. But here’s the trailer for you to enjoy:

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