A few weeks ago, my daughter and I began watching an ABC show called The Crossing, and I was so thrilled to discover that Bailey Skodje had a significant role in this captivating new show. Even though we now know this is the first and only season for this intriguing series, I recently reached out to Bailey and her mother because I have been a Bailey Skodje fan for quite a while. In fact, as I determined in my preparations for our chat, I have watched practically everything in which Bailey has ever been featured!
Photo by Karolina Turek
RH: Bailey, it’s so nice to be able to chat with you today.
BS: Ruth, thank you! It’s been really busy for me lately. I actually just got done with an audition.
Oh my, you are one busy girl. How old are you now, Bailey?
I’m nine.
Do you know that I have seen you in almost everything you’ve been in?
Really? That’s great! Thank you, Ruth.
If There Be Thorns with Emily Tennant
So, Bailey, do you remember why you started acting?
Well, my cousin {Emily Tennant} got my sister {Jena Skodje} into acting, and I thought it sounded like fun, so I got interested in doing it too. My mom said that her aunt saw me and said, “Oh, you need to get her an agent. She’s such a happy baby.” And since my mom saw that Emily and Jena were having such a great experience, my mom started thinking about it. I guess you could say I kind of fell into acting. So we gave it a try, and I really loved it.
How old were you when you started acting?
I was two and a half when I did my first commercial. Then I did my first TV show at three. In fact, my mom is surprised that I actually remember doing it. I was on an episode of Cult. I also did a movie with my sister, Jena, right around that same time.
It is amazing that you remember all that, Bailey. Can you tell me more about this movie you did with your sister?
Photo by Melanie Kelly Photography
Well, Jena booked a part in an indie horror film. It was funny because Jena booked the part, and after the fact, they realized Jena had a sister. So they decided that they would love to have me in the scene too. It is a horror film and it was a little crazy, but since my parents were okay with Jena doing it, I got to do it too. It was a small part, but I got to have a tea party on the porch.
I am not certain what the first thing was that I saw you in. It was probably UnREAL. And I will never forget that episode. Very emotional.
I do remember playing Lily Belle in UnREAL. The sad part for me was that I couldn’t keep the bunny. My character had a real live bunny, and I wanted to keep it. I love animals! It was the cutest dwarf bunny, but mom said that we already had a zoo at home so I couldn’t take it home with me.
Photo Credit: Ian Redd
We are animal lovers here too. We have two goats, a dog, and seven cats.
Wow! I’d love to come visit your animals! I really want a horse and a pig. I would love to live on a farm.
I have also seen you in Her Infidelity. In fact, I’ve recently interviewed Clayton Chitty, the lead guy. But I originally watched the movie because of Loretta Walsh.
I was only there for like a day, but I had so much fun on that set.
Now, I’m a huge fan of Signed, Sealed, Delivered, so seeing you in the movie One In a Million was just great! And I think that was your first Hallmark movie, right?
Yes, it was. In the scene, I was at a party, and it was a small role, but it was nice to get to do a Hallmark movie. They are always so much fun.
Jesse Filkow, Mira Sorvino, Elle McKinnon, Cameron Mathison, Bailey Skodje Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: David Dolsen
Well, with A Christmas To Remember, you got to have a bigger role in that one. And our family just loved that movie.
I remember that one really well! I don’t usually get to do scenes with so many animals, but my dad {Cameron Mathison} was a vet. So there were lots of animals. I really loved working with Cameron. He was really fun. My brother, Beckham {Skodje}, who is also an actor, is the one who needs to work with him next. Jena has worked with him. In fact, when Cameron saw my mom, he said, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it! Is Jena here? Oh no, it’s your other daughter!” Cameron had just made Along Came a Nanny with her.
Oh, wow! I just chatted with Graham Verchere recently. He was on that film too. Now, what does your mom have to say about Cameron?
A Christmas to Remember
{Bailey’s Mom: Oh, I just cannot say enough good things about that man. Jena came up to Whistler when Bailey was filming A Christmas To Remember. He saw Jena watching from the side, and he came up to her and gave her a big hug and said, “Hi, Jena, do you remember me?” It was really sweet of him. He’s just a great guy. And the kids had so much fun with him. He was always playing with them and interacting with them. He’s one of those dads that stands out. I think being on set with all the kids during the filming of that movie–there were three kids on that film–I think it kind of made him miss his own kids. He’s just a really great guy.}
I also saw you, Bailey, in Woman On the Run. I watched that because I knew like half the cast as well as the director, Jason Bourque.
Oh, I remember Jason! He’s awesome! In fact, I worked with him on another movie called Are You My Daughter? I like Jason. He is always so nice to me.
{Bailey’s Mom: We’ve been really lucky to have so many great experiences in the business.}
Woman on the Run with James Thorburn
So, Bailey, do you remember anything from filming Woman On the Run?
Well, there was this little baby in the movie. She was a girl named Nevaeh {Grace Olsen}. Now, she did play the part of my brother even though she’s a girl. Her nickname was Nae-Nae. So I would sing “Watch me whip, watch me nae-nae.” And she would smile and laugh. There was a scene in the movie where we are on a park bench, and they just couldn’t get her to laugh. So Sarah {Butler} and me would sing that to her, and it worked.
I also saw Story Of a Girl.
Oh really? My mom said that hasn’t played in Canada yet. So she still hasn’t gotten to see it.
{Bailey’s Mom: Even though Bailey only had a small part in that film, I was really excited about the film once I read the script. I keep watching for it to be available in Canada, but so far, I haven’t seen anything.}
Really? Oh, that’s sad! I hope you get to see it soon. It was a very emotional movie to watch, but quite well done. In fact, it was Alison Wandzura who first told me about that movie.
Really?
The Crossing cast
Yes, and now she’s on The Crossing just like you are. She told me about that show too. And then Christian Michael Cooper told me about it.
I’m also in The Miracle Season.
I haven’t gotten to see you in The Miracle Season yet, but I plan to. What did you enjoy about filming that movie?
With Ava Grace Cooper
It was a small part, but I got to be in that movie with one of my best friends, Ava {Grace Cooper}. But the really cool thing was that I got to dye my hair. The main character’s hair is really light, and my hair is too dark for the role. So, this was the first time I ever got to dye my hair. It was so exciting! The scenes were really fun to do. And it is based on a true story. The real people from the story also came while were filming. The real Coach Bresnahan was there, and I remember she said when she saw me and Ava, “Oh my gosh! Those two little girls are a perfect match for each one of those real-life girls!”
I happen to know that you filmed something that is not on IMDB yet. It’s a short film with Marcus Rosner, right?
Yes, Dance With A Demon.
with Marcus Rosner
What was it like working with Marcus?
Well, in between takes, he would get down on the ground with me, and we played Jenga.
Did you beat him at Jenga?
Yes.
Good! {laughs} Did you do any dancing in the film?
Well, I didn’t really dance in the movie. I do take dancing lessons in real life. Actually, I’m even more into gymnastics.
And now you have a pretty great role on The Crossing. Can you tell us about how you got cast as Leah in that show?
Sure. I did a taped audition first for LA. Then I did an audition up here in Canada. I really didn’t know if I had done a good job in the audition. That’s always hard when you feel like that. But it ended up I got the role.
The Crossing
Now, your character, Leah, was very sick for several episodes. What was it like filming those scenes?
Well, it’s kind of a funny story. I actually fell asleep on the job. It was around midnight, and I guess my mom thought I looked like I was asleep. And the director had to wake me up. It was okay. I think the director said I was a method actor. {laughs}
Well, I think in this most recent episode, the action will be picking up for your character Leah.
Yes, that’s right. My mom likes to think of episode seven as “my episode.” It’s the first one where a little more action happens with my character, so I hope everyone tunes in.
What was your favorite scene to film in The Crossing?
The swimming that I did in the first episode.
{Bailey’s Mom: They did three days of shooting for that. It was an amazing experience. She’s never done anything like that before. Bailey loves swimming, and she was excited because they got to be in a hot tub filming that. She didn’t even want to get out of the water. I had to drag her out to take her for bathroom breaks. She actually ate there in the hot tub with Natalie {Martinez}, the actress who played her mom. They had scaffolding set up in the tub.}
The Crossing
They used pool floaties and tables so we could eat stuff! It was so much fun for me!
{Bailey’s Mom: She got to do things she had never done. She had a stunt double, but she wanted to do it pretty much all herself. Actually, both her and her stunt double got to the do the scene. She even became friends with her stunt double. In fact, Bailey’s stunt double comes from a great family that are almost all featured in the show in the stunt department.}
It was nice to have my stunt double around because there just weren’t any other kids on set. When Christian was on set, I wasn’t, and when I was, Christian wasn’t.
I notice you’re also in an upcoming Hallmark film with my friend, Dylan Neal.
Yes, it’s called Truly, Madly, Sweetly.
I noticed you posted about something special that Dylan did for you.
Yes, he wrote me a letter and put it in my dressing room. That was so nice of him.
Truly, Madly, Sweetly
And you know what? I happen to know that he does that on every Hallmark film. I hear about that all the time from the actors who have worked with him. So what can you tell us about your character and the story of the film?
I know I’ve heard that it’s supposed to come out this fall. Well, there is a cool thing. In the movie, there is a picture of my mom and me in real life. I think they just wanted it for background, and we’re not even sure if you’ll see it in the movie. But that was cool.
In the story, my mom lives somewhere else. I play Lily, and I want my dad to marry Natalie. And I’m super-pumped! There’s a bakery in the story. I got a cupcake, and it was my favorite kind.
And what’s your favorite kind of cupcake, Bailey?
Oreo!
{Bailey’s Mom: I really like the storyline. Dylan and his wife co-wrote the script, and I know it’s based on a book. But the story is a little bit different and pretty fun. And Bailey finally met Alison on set!}
I knew who Alison was, but I had never actually met her! We were usually in the same spot at different times, so I’m glad we met.
What do you think of auditions, Bailey?
I’m not really too nervous to audition. My mom is surprised, but it’s true. I just don’t get really nervous.
Photo by Karolina Turek
Well, that’s good to hear, Bailey. And what about your school?
I go to a really great school where the teachers give me the work ahead of time when they know I’ll be gone. And I am able to keep up. Sometimes I have to catch up on the weekend, but so far, I am not falling behind. Even if I have to do something last-minute. And when I was filming The Crossing, they had a teacher on set with me every day. That helped a lot.
Well, since your mom has had the experience of being in the business with her other kids, maybe it’s easier for her.
Maybe.
Bailey, it was so much fun finally getting to chat with you after all this time! I am looking forward to the rest of the season of The Crossing as well as your Hallmark film this summer. I am very excited for you!
Thank you, Ruth. I loved talking with you. And I hope everyone loves The Crossing too! The season is almost over, but I hope everyone watches it!
It seems like every time I turn around, I locate a young person in the business who has a positive outlook, boundless enthusiasm, and phenomenal family/friend support. Bailey is readily described as an effervescent, engaging young lady with limitless talent and scintillating charisma that makes her the ideal actress to embody a variety of roles on-screen. Her credits rival those of some beginning adult actors, and it staggers the imagination to conceive of the heights this girl will continue to attain as she remains on the path to conquer every one of her dreams. Her natural outgoing style and ability to give mature performances and interact with adults and children alike on an affable, genuine level certainly causes her to be one of those actresses that audiences and cast/crew members alike cannot and will not forget.
So even though The Crossing will end its only season in a few weeks, be sure that you tune in Monday nights to ABC (or catch up on-demand or via their app) and support this lovely and sweet girl whose role will unquestionably tug at your heartstrings as you watch the drama unfold. Additionally, if you are so inclined, do not hesitate to check out all of her links below and follow her on social media where applicable. If there is one young actress who deserves every golden opportunity that is sent her way, it is undeniably the dynamic and impassioned Bailey!
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The Crossing
