A couple of years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to interview an actress by the name of Havana Guppy. At the time, I had no idea that she was related to the another actress whose name I kept seeing–Dakota Guppy. It wasn’t long before I made that connection, and I have been following everything in which Dakota has appeared since that time. In light of her upcoming film tomorrow (March 9th) night on the Hallmark Channel, Love Under the Rainbow, I am honored to present Dakota to my readers today!
RH: Dakota, it’s so great to be able to chat with you today!
DG: Thank you for asking me, Ruth, I’m happy to be here.
I think I’ve interviewed your sister, if I remember right.
Yes, Havana Guppy. She’s my sister.
David Haydn-Jones, Jodie Sweetin, Dakota Guppy Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Courtesy of Johnson Production Group
I thought you two were related. Okay, good. So I’ve been watching you for a while and trying to decide the right time to reach out to you for an interview. And since Love On the Rainbow is coming up, I figured it was the right time.
I’m so glad you asked me. I really hope this is going to be a good movie that everyone enjoys.
I’m sure it will be, Dakota. And you guys have waited for quite some time for this movie to come out.
Yes, we filmed it about a year ago.
I know! I’ve been waiting because I met David Haydn-Jones last year right after he finished filming it. And I can’t believe it took this long!
I am so excited for you and everyone to finally see it.
Garrett Brawith, Justin Mader, Justin Gaston, Dakota Guppy, Shelby Armstrong, and Blaise Todd in The Unauthorized Full House Story
So you have done quite a few things I’ve seen. In fact, as I looked over the list of your credits, I saw The Unauthorized Full House Story. I actually saw that, but I didn’t realize you played Younger Jodie Sweetin. And now, Love Under the Rainbow stars Jodie Sweetin. I found that so cool!
Yeah, that was a shocker when I found out I was going to be working with her! I was like, “Oh! Oh!Wow! What a coincidence!”
For sure! Now, you just turned thirteen, right?
That is correct. I had a big celebration for my birthday that was just great.
So how long have you been acting?
I have been acting since I was two, but my first job was when I was six. I had blepharitis so I had to sit out for a while and get my eyes under control. But once I did, I was able to return to acting.
Well, I’m so glad you got that taken care of. Since you booked your first job at the age of six, what do you remember about that job?
Alcatraz
It was a show called Alcatraz. I was a guest star, and it was pretty cool. In fact, I really didn’t think I would book it, but when I found out I got it, I was so excited I couldn’t handle myself!
How did you get interested in acting?
Whenever my mom got my sister into acting, she kind of put all of us in. I don’t remember ever choosing to be an actor. But I just went with it. And after I started booking roles, I started to realize that acting might be my passion and maybe what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
How many of you are involved in acting?
Well, there are four of us. My sisters Havanna, Madison, Ireland, and me.
Wow! That is quite a family! That must keep your mother very busy!
{laughs} Oh, yeah! She is very busy. She always gets her run on the sea wall and goes to the gym and takes a nap when she needs to. But there’s not like one day where she’s not driving at least one of us somewhere for an audition or a job. We’re a very busy family.
with Jobeth Williams on In My Dreams
I think your first Hallmark movie was In My Dreams. That may have been the first time I saw you.
That’s cool. I think that was my first Hallmark movie.
I see there was a Christmas movie before that, but that wasn’t Hallmark. I don’t know if I saw that movie when it originally came out, but I do know I saw you in The Returned.
Oh, you did?
Yes, I watched it because I had a friend who guest-starred in a couple of episodes. And that’s where I first saw Dylan Kingwell. And I think it was your biggest recurring role to date.
The Returned
Yeah, that is what I’m still known for. People still message me about seeing me in The Returned. I think that’s the role where I kind of got my career going. And from there, I started doing a lot more filming.
You actually filmed that one for quite a period of time because you were on almost all the episodes. What was it like filming that?
It was something I filmed during my summer break, which was kind of strange. Being a kid and giving up your summer break to film something. But really, it was a great experience and everyone was just lovely to work with on that project. By the end of the summer, we really felt like a family. Everything was just wonderful. I think it was worth giving up my summer break to do that.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Dakota Guppy in The Returned
I’m so glad it went well for you, Dakota. You were one of the only kids on that series. And it’s not really a kid-friendly series either.
Yeah, but it was still a great time for me, and I’m so glad I got to do that.
I’m glad you had that experience, Dakota. And I might have seen you on Wayward Pines, but I know there were several kids who were a part of that series.
Yeah, that’s been a while, but it was a great series to be a part of. I was just kind of part of the group for that one.
I also remember your roles in the Christmas movies you’ve done for Hallmark. I remember I’d interviewed your sister, and so I made sure I was watching out for you in these movies. There was Every Christmas Has A Story with Lori Loughlin and Colin Ferguson.
Oh, yes, I remember that one.
Garrett Brawith, Justin Mader, Justin Gaston, Dakota Guppy, Shelby Armstrong, Blaise Todd, and Kinslea Todd in The Unauthorized Full House Story
So not only have you worked with Jodi Sweetin, but you got to work with Lori, who was also on Full House and Fuller House.
It was great to get to work with Lori on that movie.
I’m curious. Since you worked on The Unauthorized Full House Story, did you grow up watching Full House?
I didn’t really grow up watching the show, but I watched it myself before filming that movie. I had always heard about the show, and then I watched it.
Erin Cahill, Dakota Guppy, David Alpay Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
In fact, you were in three Christmas films that year for Hallmark. In addition to Every Christmas Has A Story, you were in Heavenly Christmas and Sleigh Bells Ring.
Yes, it’s always great to do all those Christmas movies.
And I also remember your role in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again. The Postables will definitely remember you.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again
How nice. I’m grateful to the Postables for all their support. Very nice to be a part of that series.
You were also in Travelers.
Yes, I guest-starred on one episode for that series. And even though I only have a small role, there is this one line I had to say, and it was pretty complicated. I had to remember all sorts of letters and numbers for some kind of formula.
With Erica Tremblay Hope At Christmas
Then we will definitely have to watch out for you in that series. Now, this past Christmas, I definitely noticed you in Hope At Christmas. My thought was, “My, how much Dakota has grown up.”
Oh, thank you.
Now what do you enjoy about doing these Hallmark movies?
I love working with the cast and crew because they’re always super kind. And it’s so easy to click with them, I would say. Even though you’ve only just met and you only spend a kind of short time with them, you become fast friends. It’s just fun being on there and being a part of the entertainment scene they have.
Dakota Guppy, David Haydn-Jones, Jodie Sweetin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Courtesy of Johnson Production Group
I quite agree. And, of course, we know Hallmark loves kids. In almost every production, you can almost guarantee there will be kids and/or teenagers somewhere.
Oh, yes, that’s right.
Love Under the Rainbow is your next movie, and it’s coming up this weekend on the Hallmark Channel. What can you tell us about your role and the story of the film?
Dakota Guppy, Jodie Sweetin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Courtesy of Johnson Production Group
I play Sophie, a ten-year-old girl, whose mom passed away. She’s been told that her mom will be at the end of the rainbow. So she’s been obsessed with rainbows. Her goal in life is to find a rainbow, go to the end of it, and see her mom. So as you can imagine, she’s always wearing rainbow colors. So when her dad meets someone else, she kinda thinks something is going on between them, and she can sense the fact that her dad is happy. And so I think Sophie wants them to be together.
David Haydn-Jones, Dakota Guppy Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Courtesy of Johnson Production Group
Sophie is also working on a project, and if she wins, she gets to pick a place to go for a field trip. Well, Sophie has heard about this place where all the ends of the rainbows go. So we’ll have to see if she wins the chance to go to this place. After all, if she can go, she might find her mom. But then again, she might not either.
One of the things that Sophie does have to do is to tell her dad that he needs to follow his heart. It’s clear he’s falling for this other lady, and because she wants her dad to be happy, well, I’ll let the fans watch what happens.
Dakota, that sounds like such a sweet story. I know I’ve talked with the writer, Kirsten Hansen, about this movie, and it really does sound like a wonderful one. She said it’s a very special story, and from what you’ve said, I think Kirsten is right. And David Haydn-Jones plays your dad, right?
David Haydn-Jones, Jodie Sweetin, Dakota Guppy Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Courtesy of Johnson Production Group
Yes, that’s right. And working with him and Jodie was so much fun. Jodie is always so sweet and such a pleasure to work with. In fact, she has always been an inspiration to me. Getting to watch her in Full House and actually playing her in that movie and working with her in this one was just crazy. And in this movie, I love her character so much because she really related to my character quite a bit. Working with her was really lovely.
I have only ever heard great things about Jodie. And David plays the perfect dad. Hallmark loves to feature him as the goofy dad.
Yeah, he was lots of fun on set along with Jodie.
Dakota Guppy, Erin Cahill Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
So now is this the first time for you to play the daughter of the lead?
Actually, no. I played the daughter of the lead in Sleigh Bells Ring.
Oh, that’s right! Well, it’s the first time you’ve played the daughter of the lead in a non-Christmas movie.
Yes, that’s right.
So are there any other upcoming things you can mention?
Yes, I am in the Disney movie Noelle.
Dakota Guppy Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
Oh, that’s cool! I know they planned to release that in the theater, but my understanding at this point is that Disney plans to premiere that on their new streaming service later this year.
Oh, that’s cool. I still hope it will make it to the theater.
Well, maybe it still will Disney can always change its mind. But regardless, you got to be in a Disney movie!
This movie was incredible to be a part of. You know, when I was little, I was a fan of Anna Kendrick’s, and I watched all her movies. But I never would have thought I’d get to work with her!
Donovan Scott, Dakota Guppy Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
Was this a small role?
Yeah, pretty small. I think I was on set about four days.
I can hardly wait to see this! So anything else you can mention?
No, not that I can think of.
I know I see something listed that’s in development or something like that. It’s called Good Boys.
Dakota Guppy Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
Oh, yeah, that one I auditioned for a bigger role, but I didn’t get it. But there’s a choir scene where they needed some kids to sing in that scene. So they hired me and someone else to sing. Even though it wasn’t the biggest role I’ve ever done, I make it a point to not turn down roles if at all possible. I’m not a well-known actor at this point in my life, and I think I need to take every part I can, no matter how small it may seem. If I can do it, I don’t want to be the one who says “no.”
Dakota, that’s a smart philosophy. After all, you never know what a small role like that can lead to. That’s called being a team player and it’s often the life of a working actor. How does school work for you on set? Do you still go to a regular school?
Yes, I do go to a regular school, and at this point, my schooling hasn’t been affected very much. If I’m on set for a more extended period of time during regular school days, then I have a tutor on set.
When you’re not in school or acting, what do you like to do in your free time?
I love to hang out with my friends. I also am a big fan of bubble tea. I also hang out with my family.
That is just fantastic, Dakota. Thank you so much for taking some time to chat with me today.
My pleasure, Ruth. I really hope everyone tunes in and enjoys the movie this weekend!
Well, who would have “thunk” it? From playing Jodie Sweetin to working with her in a film?! I would say that Dakota is experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime kind of existence in the world of film and television right now, and the best thing about her is that she is not permitting it to change who she is intrinsically. She is still the wide-eyed, gifted, grounded young girl who couldn’t believe she booked her first role at the age of six, and no matter the size of the role, you can bet she will give you one hundred and ten percent and then some. She views every opportunity in the world of entertainment as a special moment to pursue her passion for acting, and whenever you watch Dakota on-screen, you can practically bank on the fact that her effervescence and enthusiasm will radiate to her intended audience.
I do hope that everyone in the U.S. will tune to the Hallmark Channel Saturday, March 9th for the highly-anticipated premiere of Love Under the Rainbow where Dakota is guaranteed to steal our hearts with her poignant, sweet portrayal of Sophie. Additionally, be sure that you visit Dakota’s links below and consider following her where applicable so that you never miss any of her projects. (I mean, the girl is in a DISNEY movie!) There is no doubt in my mind that Dakota’s future is promising and bright as long as she remains on her current path and continues to view every booking as a blessing. I am grateful to Hallmark for featuring this exceptionally gifted artist regularly on their network, and I hope that the Hallmark fans will join me in supporting this young lady in the days, months, and years to come as her career continues its steady upward spiral!
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Justin Gaston and Dakota Guppy in The Unauthorized Full House Story Lifetime
From the set of Love Under the Rainbow (with Jodie Sweetin)
