I remember well over a year ago how I savored the delight of interviewing the profoundly talented Lilah Fitzgerald, and recently I realized that the last time I spoke to her, she was still filming Date My Dad for UP TV. In more recent times, Hallmark has featured her in one of the new mystery series Darrow & Darrow, and we even got to see her guest star in one of the Fixer Upper movies. Since this young lady seems to be captivating Hallmark audiences as well as other audiences who prefer family-friendly content, I was quite pleased to speak recently with Lilah (and her supportive mother). In anticipation of the premiere of Darrow & Darrow 2, I ecstatically share this most engaging, informative interview with all of my delightfully supportive readers.
Photo by Emily Cooper Photography
RH: Lilah, it is so good to chat with you today! You have been so busy since we last talked.
LF: Thanks, Ruth, so nice to chat with you too.
In fact, just the other day my mom had the first Darrow & Darrow on, and I saw you and said, “That’s who I’m interviewing!”
It was funny. When I walked onto set for Darrow & Darrow 2, the crew were like, “Oh, she’s back!” They had remembered working with me on the first one. And then just a month before, I had been on Fixer Upper, and a lot of the same people were on that. Because so much of the crew had worked on both films, it was fun to get to work with the same people again.
Darrow & Darrow
It was so much fun to see you on Fixer Upper. They don’t usually have kids in these mystery movies. So now we not only have seen you on Darrow & Darrow, but we’ve seen you in Fixer Upper. So often, they feature adults in these films, and now they’ve thrown a teenager into the mix.
I love mysteries! And getting to be in mystery movies is so much fun!
Our family never misses a mystery movie on Hallmark. We get really excited about them.
The entire time during these mystery movies, you can be convinced that it has to be this certain person that did it. And then you find out that it’s this completely other person.
It’s been great how much we’ve seen you on Hallmark all of a sudden.
I just love working with Hallmark because it’s a family. It is such a fun place to work.
And I want to tell you congratulations on your Joey Awards win for Date My Dad.
Thank you. It was so much fun to get to go up on stage with my other Cooper sisters ’cause we were all there together.
We loved Date My Dad in this household. I know I’ve talked to a couple other cast members about the show–Cindy Busby, Matty Finochio, and now Victor Zinck Jr. I know there hasn’t been anything official about a season two as of yet. We keep hoping.
And I can’t say anything.
I understand that. I hoped that you three winning the Joey Awards would help the show get a season two. So we’ll just keep hoping. I personally loved your character, Lilah, because she stepped in like the mom of the family.
Thank you. That’s how I tried to play it as well. And I feel like every episode just got better and better. Like with episode one, we had all just met each other, but as it got going, we became like a family because we were spending all day every day together.
Did you have a favorite episode or storyline of Date My Dad?
Well, probably my favorite storyline was from episode ten. I loved everything in it, and I loved the quality of the drama in it. But my favorite to film would have to be episode nine. That’s the one where we got to go camping. That was my absolute favorite because we went to this place that was like a mini campsite and we filmed in a cabin which was ginormous. We got all the sports in the Olympics section. But I also love the bullying episode. That was one I was grateful to be a part of because I’ve been through bullying, and I know how much it can affect you. So that was a story that really meant a lot to me.
You know, I loved all the episodes, but that particular episode was such a memorable one. It was something I was so glad to see the show tackle because when I’m in the classroom, I see this kind of thing happen. And it even happens as adults. I’ve had it happen to me, and it happens to other adults that I know of as well. I’ve seen other actors targeted before, and it is always very hurtful to see that kind of thing happen.
It was so good I think because everyone knew it was such an important subject and everyone gave it their all. We knew we had to make sure this one was really good.
But definitely by episode ten, you all were a family, and I remember thinking how I really wanted to see more of your family’s story. I know I would love to see it back, and the fans and cast would love to see it come back too.
Absolutely. So we’ll just keep waiting and hoping.
Back to Darrow & Darrow. I was actually in Vancouver when that premiered, so I had to watch when I got back, and my mom just raved about that first movie. And I completely agreed with her.
I am sooo excited for everyone to see Darrow & Darrow 2.
We are very excited to see it too! So we know you come back and your mother and grandmother come back for sure. Oh and Tom Cavanaugh.
That is correct. The main cast is back, and the central law firm is still there.
Is there anything you can tell us about the story without giving too much away?
I will be playing baseball in this one. And I’m really bad at baseball in real life. When I read the script, I was like, “Okay, I had better start practicing.” {laughs} I don’t want to give away too much, but it is just as good as the first one if not better. It was just so good to be back with everyone again. In fact, I just love getting to come back on projects because then it’s not as much of a, “Oh, goodbye, I’ll never see you again!” It’s more like, “Bye, I’ll see you in the next one.”
It’s gotta be neat working with Wendie {Malick} and Kimberly {Williams-Paisley}.
Oh, they’re so nice! So nice!
Were you familiar with any of their work before you started working with them?
Yes, I had definitely heard of them, and so when I found out they were in it, I thought, “Ooh, that’s a big deal!” It’s really something. Hallmark has some big names now.
Well, we’re looking forward to this next Darrow & Darrow one. And after seeing you on Fixer Upper, I think we’re all hoping that they bring you back to that series again some time.
I really hope to go back, but I don’t know if I will.
You and Colin Ferguson were awesome together.
With Colin Ferguson
Colin was sooo amazing to work with! I learned so much from him. It’s good to get to work with people who are amazing actors and love what they do and are good at what they do. Because then it brings out the best work you can do.
It was great to see him relating to you because I had not seen him in anything where he related to kids. I know his family is very important to him, but seeing him interact with you was such a treat. I thought there was a really good relationship between you two.
I know we got good feedback on Twitter. It’s always stressful doing the live tweeting because you’re really hoping that people are liking the movie, and it was such a relief to see how much people liked the movie and us together.
And then working with Jewel.
Oh my! So there was one scene when I first find out that someone was murdered, and then she comforts me. We did an alternate take where she actually sings to me. Now, I knew she had a good voice because I’ve heard her songs. But she is amazing! I was awestruck by how amazing her voice is! She was just singing live. She must have warmed up, but I hadn’t seen her warming up. It was like there was no auto-tuner. Nothing needed to be fixed. It was beautiful! It was incredible!!
I hear from everyone who has ever worked with Jewel that they can’t believe how beautiful she is.
Oh, yes, she is gorgeous!
And then they can’t get over how talented she is. She can sing, she can act, she can do it all.
She is amazing. In fact, there was another moment. Sometimes when you’re on set, you’re working with these people and talking to them, and then you stop and think to yourself, “Wait a minute. I’m actually talking to Jewel! I’m actually having a conversation with Wendie Malick or Kimberly Williams-Paisley!” And you’re like, “Whoa, this is crazy!”
With Tammy Gillis
Lilah, how old are you now?
Fourteen. I’ll be fifteen in June.
Wait! My daughter is fourteen and will be fifteen in June too! I forgot about that connection!
That is so cool!
Like I mentioned last time, I started noticing you in Harvest Moon, but of course, you were in When Calls the Heart season one also. But from Harvest Moon till now, it’s been incredible to watch your career and see it take off in the way it has. I honestly could see you being one of the actresses in the next few years jumping into lead roles.
Thank you, Ruth, we can hope!
I see you in the same way as I do Jaeda Lily Miller. I think you are at a similar point in your career. I think you both are in the same league, in my opinion. I hope to see you getting supporting roles in a few years and then maybe ten years from now, Hallmark will feature you in one of their astounding films as the lead actress. I would love to see that for you, Lilah. You also have all this talent and are still quite humble about it.
Thank you, Ruth. It’s always better to remain humble and not get a big head. In this business, everything is timing. Sometimes you’ll go out for a role, and then they’ll say that they need a blonde right now, and that’s not me. But if they need someone with almost auburn hair and blue eyes, here I am!
You have the right attitude about it, Lilah. So often actors won’t get a role for reasons they cannot control.
That’s right, if you’re not exactly who they’re looking for, they will probably go with someone else. If they need a girl with brown eyes, they’re probably going to pick another girl instead of me. And that’s just the way it is.
I think that’s the hard part about the business. A lot of things are out of your control.
When it comes to kids, they usually cast the parents first, so you have to match up to that. One time I went out for something that I needed a twin for, and I don’t actually have a twin. So I saw other kids in the audition room, and although I knew they were doing auditions in other locations, the boys who were there didn’t look like me, not enough to be my twin. I don’t know what ever happened with that role. If you didn’t have a twin, you couldn’t really book that role unless you have a doppelganger.
Photo by Emily Cooper Photography
Another thing I appreciate is that fact that your parents have been so instrumental in making sure that you book age-appropriate roles. I know everyone has different standards, but I feel like everything you get cast in is something I would have no problem letting my daughter watch.
I have made sure that if it’s one of those roles where I know my parents would say, “Now close your eyes,” or they would mute it, I don’t want to act in it. That’s the standard for me.
I’m really glad you’ve got that standard. I know every family is different, but I really admire that about you and your parents. I have mixed feeling when I see kids in scary movies, but I know some of the really thrive on doing those kinds of roles.
I might want to be in a scary movie, but at the same time, I scare very easily. But I do think it would be fun to play an evil character, maybe like in a thriller ghost story. It would be fun to play that kind of role and play someone I’m really not.
I’m with you on that, and I understand. I could see you doing that and doing it in such a way that it wouldn’t be over-the-top evil, but it would have enough evil in it to get your point across.
Now Walking Dead type stuff is something I probably couldn’t do because I think I’d have nightmares for weeks. I even tried to watch one episode of Supernatural and I couldn’t sleep for a week. I figured I was old enough that I wouldn’t be scared of it now, but it terrified me. The worst thing is my dog sleeps with me, so he cuddles in. But if he hears a weird noise or a car horn in the middle of the night and it startles him, he will growl. Then I’ll be like, “There’s something in the room.” But then I have to remind myself and my dog that everything is okay and that nothing’s gonna hurt us. My dog, Prince, doesn’t have self-preservation skills at all. He’s a tiny little Yorkshire terrier. He’ll see a dog or a squirrel or a really big bird like a raven or an eagle, and he’ll bark at it as if to say, “I’ll fight you!” Or he’ll try to jump from things that he definitely can’t jump from. If I wasn’t here, he wouldn’t still be alive. He’s very silly and funny, but I am grateful I’m here to keep him safe.
With Graham Verchere
{Lilah’s Mom: Coming from a mother’s standpoint, I can say that I am so grateful for Hallmark. We can just relax and enjoy. The people are great. What I’ve really noticed is that they respect her as an equal professionally, but they also value childhood.}
When you get a Hallmark audition, you never have to worry, “Oh, the audition’s fine, but there might be something in the script that I’m not okay with.” But you never have to worry about that with Hallmark. I know it’s gonna be a good role that’s gonna make me a better actor and something that will also be really fun.
And I think that’s even more important as you’re getting into these teenage years. There are roles out there potentially that they may wish to cast you in because you look older so you can play these older roles. And if they cast you as a sixteen-year-old doing things that you don’t feel comfortable doing, it could be a problem.
Yes, it is a difficult age. But I’m glad I have those standards in place and I plan to stick to them.
Is there anything else upcoming you can mention?
Prayer Variations
Nothing else right now really acting-wise, but I keep pretty active in dance. Those performances are in Vancouver, and I try to keep everyone updated. My dance is really keeping me busy. I have been known to go seven days a week to dance due to all the rehearsals. Recently I got to perform the Prayer Variations, and it was oh so beautiful!
I think that’s great that you’re pursuing both acting and dancing. It’s nice to have both of these artistic pursuits as a part of your life. And dance is something that seems to pop up in a lot of movies these days.
This summer, I got accepted into the Joffrey Ballet Intensive in New York, so I’ll be going to New York for seven weeks for my summer intensive.
Oh my, Lilah, that is really exciting! Is that gonna be hard for your parents?
Well, my mom is coming with me. We’re not quite ready for me to go and board quite yet. In the ballet world, bullying can be tough, and I might have ended up rooming with someone who was really mean to me. So we decided it was better for my mom to come along and for us to stay together. Plus, I’m not really comfortable being alone in New York, and luckily my mom is a teacher so she has the summer off.
Photo by David Cooper Dance Photography
{Lilah’s Mom: While she’s there, another of the nice things is that Lilah will be able to audition for things in New York. Her agency in LA has a New York office. While she can always send off taped auditions, her agents prefer to have her in the room when possible so that casting can meet her. She hasn’t had the chance to meet them in New York yet, so they’re pretty excited that she’ll be there in person. So she’s gonna do this dance thing which she loves, but she’s also going to be able to make those New York connections, so it’s a kind of a double bonus.}
And of course, once they meet Lilah in person, they’ll fall in love with her and want to cast her in everything!
{laughs} It makes a difference if they can meet you because they don’t know how many takes it took for you to tape that audition you sent them. You might have spent all day to get that one scene perfect.
And of course, you’re keeping up with school and getting good grades, I’m sure.
I am homeschooled.
Oh, that’s right, I forgot.
Actually, I’m getting ready to graduate. I’m almost done.
So once you graduate, do you know what you’re going to do next?
Well, I don’t think I’m going to do more schooling until I’m much older. It will just make it easier for me on set. I won’t have to do schoolwork like most of the kids do. That always takes so much time out of the day and gives you less time for preparing for and being in the scenes. So this will make it so much easier.
Darrow & Darrow 2
{Lilah’s Mom: I feel, Ruth, you know how kids are stressed with school. I feel it puts a really undue amount of stress on kids when they’re on set and doing their scenes and then they have to run and work on timetables or whatever, and they don’t expect that of adults.}
Right! And then they still expect you to know your lines and be able to do the scene just as well as the adults do! From what I’ve seen, I think it’s harder to do school on set while acting. They still have to learn their lines and they still have to be fully prepared. I think it would be so hard if you had an emotional scene. I’ve been able to take holidays when I’m on set most of the time. But for like the bullying scene on Date My Dad, I had some really emotional scenes on set. Others were gone for the day, so I was able to go in the schoolroom so that I could be by myself before the scene. You’ve got to prepare for a scene like that. You can’t go from learning math or science or even just having a conversation to bawling your eyes out. You need time to get in that state and maybe call on a memory or put yourself in the character’s position. And you need to be able to do that without worrying about if you’re going to get an A in science. Homeschooling was one of the best decision my parents ever made for me.
{Lilah’s Mom: We have seen the stress of kids who are not able to do what Lilah does in terms of schooling. They’re trying to do both acting and regular school, and I think it really contributes to our workaholic culture where people are just working all the time and they can’t be present in the moment. So when Lila’s eighteen and off and doing her own thing and doesn’t need a mom working with her, it’s a passion of mine that I’d like to put some time to. Right now, I’ve got enough going on, and I don’t want Lilah to be affected because it’s still part of her world. But when Lilah is older, I really feel that something should be done to advocate for these kids, and I plan to see what I can do to help at that time.}
I don’t know how people do acting and school full-time. I know I couldn’t do it. In fact, there are people in my ballet classes who do full-on school and go to ballet five hours a day! I don’t know how they do it.
Lilah, you are growing up into such a fine young lady. I feel like I’m speaking with someone on my same level. You are so grown up, and I just love chatting with you. You and your mother are simply amazing. I would like to say to your mom, “Mom, you did well.”
{Lilah’s Mom: You know, I have to say this. Lots of people wouldn’t realize this, but the film community, especially here in Vancouver–we haven’t been as involved in LA–but it’s like a small town. It’s almost like how I picture Gilmore Girls. You know, Stars Hollow is this little community where everyone knows each other and they’re looking out for each other. And that’s what the film community here in Vancouver is like. Everyone–the director, the other actors, the crew, the photographer…all the people Lilah has worked for, they know her and watch out for her. They have literally been a part of raising her.}
That is just awesome! Thanks for sharing that.
Oh, and I want to make sure that I thank the person that mentioned Nancy Drew when I was in Fixer Upper. This person said that we needed a Nancy Drew series, and I want to say I agree and would love to do something like that!
Now, that is an awesome idea! I would love to see Hallmark do something like that. There are so many talented kids up there, and it would target the young people. That would be such a great idea, and I bet a lot of people would watch. So let’s hope Hallmark or Netflix or someone is listening!
Yes, it would be something I would love to be a part of.
Thank you, Lilah and thanks to your mom today for this wonderful chat. It was great catching up with you.
Same here, Ruth. I hope everyone tunes in to Darrow & Darrow 2! I know it’s gonna be amazing!
Photo by Emily Cooper Photography
What I was unable to inject into this informative, engaging conversation is Lilah’s indomitable, trademark enthusiasm that literally infuses her every response and every contribution to the discussion. The profundity with which Lilah spoke and the electricity that dripped from every ounce of her being made this conversation one of the most exhilarating chats I’ve had with a teenage actress in quite some time. Lilah has two passions, and the way in which she pursues both acting and dance is not only impressive but infectious as well. After speaking with Lilah, whose spunk rivals that of other young actresses I know in the business, I believe I can state with almost consummate certainty that Lilah is destined for greatness of which many can only dream. While I cannot peer into the future and assure her of ultimate success, her drive, her ambition, her talent, and her charisma are components that naturally attract people to her–both viewers and industry professionals alike. Her humility, grace, and composure are refreshing and enthralling, and I can barely conceive of what the future holds in store for her.
Additionally, I appreciate the standards she and her parents have set forth and enforced in an industry where young people are often engulfed by negative influences and adult subject matter long before they are ready. While some young people might scoff at her choices and others might assume that she is relinquishing chances that might give her that coveted “big break,” Lilah is perfectly at peace with the decisions she has made in her career. While I know that everyone has to make his/her own judgments in this matter, I applaud Lilah and her parents for this choice they have wholeheartedly embraced.
So please tune in today (May 6th) to Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder, premiering soon (check local listings) on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. I would also invite everyone to check out all of Lilah’s links below, and I recommend following her on social media as well. She regularly updates her upcoming films and shows, and she consistently shares a wide variety of pictures that provide a brief window into her world. If there is one young lady whom I can recommend for any upcoming production now and in the next year, five or even ten years from now, it would be Lilah. While Lilah is already a known commodity amongst Hallmark audiences, I have no doubt that in the very near future, there is going to come a point when I will beam and say, “And to think I knew Lilah Fitzgerald when…”
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