A-list Nation Magazine Feb / March 2021
Cover Story Brenna D'Amico
Shot by Nathan Tecson
Fashion Editor / Wardrobe Stylist Jazmin Whitley
Tell us a little about your childhood.
I grew up in a Chicago suburb with my sister and my parents. My sister and I were homeschooled, though we were never at home much! We were in a homeschool group that offered co-op classes, field trips, clubs, proms and dances and so much more. When I was 8-years-old I started a musical theater program and I was immediately hooked on acting and singing! My parents have always been very supportive so when I was 12 they found me a manager and an agent and we started sending self-tape auditions to Los Angeles from Illinois. When I was 13 my family and I went to Los Angeles for the first time and I auditioned in person for a few projects, one of which was Descendants for Disney Channel. I got a callback and I ended up booking the role of Jane! I moved to LA full-time when I was 16 and I LOVE it here!
You have worked on some amazing projects do you have a favorite? Being a part of the Descendants franchise is definitely a favorite! I grew up loving the High School Musical franchise directed by the amazing Kenny Ortega, so booking Descendants and getting to work with Kenny was surreal! And that it was the first project I ever booked is still crazy to me. I met and worked with so many incredible people on the franchise and I will forever cherish those memories.
What was one of your most memorable moments on set?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted wishes for children who were Descendants fans by bringing the children to visit with all of us on set and to be a part of everything for the day. I always looked forward to those days! The kids were always so fun and so sweet and so inspiring - I will never forget them.
This has been a crazy year to say the least, what have you learned about yourself during all of this?
Being forced to be alone so much at the start of the pandemic was really hard. Having so much time to think and self-reflect was a little overwhelming! But eventually I started to take advantage of all the downtime by working on things about myself that I felt would help me grow as a person. I’ve learned to not be so hard on myself and to be more accepting of myself and of others, too. Learning to practice forgiveness for myself and for others is so important. For the most part, I really do think we’re all doing the best we can and we just need to give ourselves and others a break. It may sound cliché, but being kind to ourselves and others really does make such a huge difference in your attitude towards people and life.
What is something most people don't know about you?
I was recently diagnosed with Primary Inattentive ADHD and it explains so much about different issues I’ve had in my daily life for years! I often felt defective in so many areas of my life and it was frustrating not being able to get a handle on certain things, especially when I’d see other people managing just fine, so getting the diagnosis was a relief. I’m now learning different tools to manage my symptoms. It’s definitely a process, but I’m making changes and I’m seeing progress so YAY!
Who is on your playlist right now and what was the last thing you binge watched?
My current playlist consists of GIVĒON, Maude Latour, Cigarettes After Sex, Harry Hudson, Dominic Fike, Travis Scott, Machine Gun Kelly, Gun n' Roses, AC/DC – too many to list! Music is my escape! I just started binge watching Peaky Blinders. I can’t believe I hadn’t watched it sooner. It’s so good!
How would you describe your fashion style?
For the most part, my style is relaxed and comfortable. Right now, I’m into wearing a lot of oversized hoodies with leggings and chunky shoes. For a night out I like a cool and edgy look, like a t-shirt dress with thigh high boots or maybe a tight skirt or ripped jeans with fishnets and a crop top. I, also, love big chunky necklaces and big hoops!
Everyone has been sharing amazing dishes they learned to cook during quarantine. Did you learn something new this past year?
I've always loved cooking! My dad is a great cook and he taught me a lot. I've been making a BOMB Chicken Parm. My friends say it’s pretty darn good!
What's your favorite social media app?
Instagram is great! It was the first app I joined years ago and it's fun for a lot of reasons, but I love that I’ve been able to interact with and connect with so many Descendants fans. TikTok is super entertaining too! I love posting videos on Tiktok. I spend way too much time on there though - it really sucks you in!
Do you have any upcoming projects for 2021?
I have a role in a movie called The Never List that was in theaters December 2020, and it will have a VOD release in March. Another movie I have coming out this year is Night, Night - directed by Niki Koss. It was my first time filming a psychological thriller, and I’m really excited for everyone to see it! And, of course, I’m always auditioning so I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Where should our readers keep up with you?
My social media handle is @brennadamico on Instrgram and Twitter. Tiktok handle is @brennie88