Carolina Beach native stars in new Nickelodeon live action movie
The Christmas movie is premiering on Nickelodeon network on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A young woman who grew up in the Cape Fear is starring in a new movie premiering soon.
Lexi DiBenedetto, a 22-year-old Carolina Beach native, landed a role as Laurie Loud in “A Loud House Christmas,” a live-action take on the popular Nickelodeon show “The Loud House.”
This is not her first role in front of the camera. Before her movie role, she starred in “Knight Squad” as Prudence from 2018 to 2019, a show also on Nickelodeon. She’s also made guest appearances in shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Criminal Minds.”
Before she made her move to Los Angeles, she began her acting career in Wilmington when she was five with her first acting coach Tammy Arnold.
“Really, it was such a gift for her to look at me at five and be like I’m going to speak to you like an equal because I think it kind of helped me elevate treating this as a career and not just as a hobby because I wanted to do this as a career, I loved it that much,” DiBenedetto said.
To this day, she says Arnold is someone she calls when she needs advice or motivation to continue on her acting journey.
While still living in the Cape Fear, she participated in community theater at places like Thalian Hall. Her first paid project was “The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail” presented by Big Dog Productions. When she was 11-years-old, local Casting Director Tracy Kilpatrick told her she should go to LA. Her parents supported the idea and took her out west to kickstart her career.
“It takes hard work and patience because you will get a thousand nos,” DiBenedetto said. “I think people hear that and think it’s an exaggeration but it’s not. You literally will get a thousand nos. I think the fact that I’ve had some yeses is really exciting. I would just like to believe that that will lead me to more, more yeses in the future.”
As a teenager, DiBenedetto spent her summers back on the east coast working at Britt’s Donuts on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk.
The 22-year-old credits much of her success to her support system. Her parents have had her back and supported her dream since day one, but she also scored an agent at 12-years-old that has stuck with her through all the yeses, nos, and uncertainties.
“She’s supported me through everything. That’s 10 years of growth, awkward pre-teens, she’s really always been there for me,” DiBenedetto said.
Jennifer Patredis at Innovative Artists is the agent she’s worked with for a decade and Mara Santino at Luber Roklin is her manager who joined her support system not long after Patredis.
To those hoping to take on Hollywood, she says it’s hard but the journey is worth it if it’s your dream. She suggests finding an acting class and getting involved in theater, whether it’s community or in your school.
“I believe that anything you want to do in life is kind of difficult and takes hard work,” DiBenedetto said. “Whether you want to be a lawyer, doctor, or educator it takes a lot of hard work so if this is what you want to do, don’t let that hold you back.”
Even though she’s lived in LA since she was 11-years-old, she spends her summers back here in Southeastern NC. All of her family lives here, so DiBenedetto said she would love to work on something filming in Wilmywood so that she could be close to them.
“I will always be a North Carolina girl,” DiBenedetto said.
In addition to acting, DiBenedetto says she does have an interest in writing as well. She says she loves to tell stories. With the main focus on acting, she hopes to tell meaningful stories throughout her life.
DiBenedetto says she does have another project she’s eager to announce. She can’t say much, but she’ll be in an animated Netflix show that will be out sometime next year. For more information on that and her future projects,
follow her on Instagram.
Get to know ‘A Loud House Christmas’ stars the Allan Twins
The Allan Twins have an increasingly impressive resume despite starting their career a mere 10 years ago. Starting their career together at just six months old, this dynamic duo has had recurring and series regular roles on such shows as FX’s Sons of Anarchy, ABC’s Single Parents, NBC’s Parenthood, CBS’s Young Sheldon and The CW’s Jane the Virgin, to name a few.
In 2021, Ella and Mia Allan are preparing to star in the live action version of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series The Loud House. The newest installment of the series takes on the holidays in A Loud House Christmas streaming on Paramount + starting this coming Friday, November 26th.
We were lucky enough to get a few moments with the twins and ask them about their young yet illustrious careers and where they see themselves headed in the future.
Tell us about your history in acting. How did you start your journey?
Our acting career started at six months old on a show called Sons of Anarchy on FX for season 4 where we switched off playing “Baby Thomas Teller”. After that we booked Parenthood on NBC. We first got to play actual twins on CW’s Jane the Virgin and as series regulars on ABC’s show Single Parents. All that led us to playing twin sisters Lola and Lana Loud on Nickelodeon’s The Loud House Christmas.
Who are your artistic influences?
We have always been inspired by Dakota Fanning. It could also be said everyone we have worked with has been so kind and taken us under wing. It’s easy to be influenced by the actors we have come in contact with on all of our jobs.
Was there one movie that you saw that made you want to go into acting?
We were so young when it started we weren’t really watching movies! The older we got the more it just seemed like a natural part of our life. Now we do love watching movies and shows of all types.
How was working on A Loud House Christmas?
It’s always a bonus to be able to work as twin sisters. We really related to our characters and it was so fun to see how we could bring them to life. Also everyone on the cast got along really well so being sisters in the movie felt very real because the cast had bonded so well. And let’s be honest we got to film a Christmas Movie! It couldn’t get any better than that.
What did you learn from the experience?
There’s always a lot to learn but I would say a good take away would be having to learn to stay versatile and be able to roll with anything that you are presented with.
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? Is there one that is always on at home during the holidays?
Loud House Christmas of course lol. Honestly, there are so many classics we could watch all throughout the year to keep that Christmas Spirit.
What was working on Single Parents like?
It was a blessing. Number one we got to work as twin sisters. Two, we were very grateful to film with other kids about our age. We also couldn’t have asked for better producers, cast, and crew. Everyone seemed to be in sync with each other. Since it was a comedy at one time or another each one of us would break character because someone would improv and we could not stop laughing.
Do you like playing twins in productions, or do you prefer working together to play one role?
In our previous experience we have switched out playing the same role and we have worked together as twin sisters. Switching off always created competition between us where we both wanted to go on. So at least at this point we would prefer to work together. There are very few roles where identical twins play twins and we have been fortunate to have that experience and would love to continue on that path.
How is the process of working on a movie different from working on a TV series?
This was our first movie so we don’t have a lot to compare it to. The process with the movie seemed to move very fast and in a series it takes about 5-7 days to film.
Talk us through your creative process. What tips do you have for actors looking to break in?
Our creative process is basically using whatever experience we have had and do our best to implement that into the characters. Usually we will read the script or (sides) given to us and if there is a character description to gain some perspective into this person.
We read the script in context and try to put ourselves in the shoes of the character which usually brings up some kind of realistic emotion, happy, sad, angry, confused, etc. We will go over it a few times then begin to memorize the script as if it’s a story, not just lines on a page.
The only tips we really have are to stay encouraged and have people around you that support you and can give you honest or constructive feedback. Always remain teachable and remember failure is ok. Lastly, don’t compare yourself with someone else’s journey.
What part of acting do you geek out about the most?
As far as “Geeking Out” we love to watch behind the scenes footage. When you see how things are filmed, it’s incredible to see the actors so deep into the scene and character that you forget there is a camera right in their face.
If you could each only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That’s a trick question… The Loud House Christmas lol. Other than that, probably Elf or Dumb and Dumber.
What has been your biggest failure?
Unrealistically having a fear of failing.
What has been your biggest success?
Working as twins on our last 3 projects!
What’s your next project?
We don’t have anything planned as of yet but we are constantly learning and very hopeful.
What’s your five-year plan?
We would love to book another movie or two as twins. We would love to travel, or on some kind of twin branding/brand, and we want to work on a project together with our brother Justin who is also a really good actor.
What do you love to do outside of acting?
We love anything with makeup! We have really been into collecting squishmallows and we love riding our horse Chili. We are taking singing lessons and dance lessons which are pretty fun. We also love jumping on our trampoline and swimming.
What music inspires you?
We both like a lot of the same music. Most of the time modern pop music music (as long as it is the clean version) Contemporary music and we usually have Christian music on when we go to sleep.
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What other Nickelodeon roles would you like to see the twins play next? Let us know in the comments!
The Loud family gets merry in Nickelodeon’s ‘A Loud House Christmas’
The cast of 'A Loud House Christmas' shares their experiences on the show, how they found out about being casted and more.
Nickelodeon’s “The Loud House“ is getting real in “A Loud House Christmas,” an original live-action holiday TV movie based on the Emmy Award-winning animated series.
A Loud House Christmas brings the town of Royal Woods to life for the holidays and follows Lincoln Loud as he gears up for the ultimate Christmas until he finds out that most of his sisters have plans to be elsewhere for the big day. Determined to remind his family that they all need to be together, Lincoln and his best friend Clyde McBride embark on a mission to preserve the family’s holiday traditions. I spoke with the cast about what makes The Loud House important to them.
Wolfgang Schaffer
What drew you to this project?
I was drawn to the fact that it was based on the cartoon. I watched it so much as a kid; I would wake up in the morning and turn on Nickelodeon to watch The Loud House. I was shocked that they were rebooting this and that I was reading for it. I never thought I would, because you never think you’re going to book something. But I did, and the rest is history.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
It’s grounded in reality. This could actually be a family somewhere: 10 girls, 11 kids living in a small environment. That’s what I think makes the show really stand out, and that’s probably one of the reasons why I love it so much.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
I think that fans will really love the time and energy put into our characters, both in replicating them but also in making them our own. I hope that they appreciate the time we took to make it like the animated series.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
When I got the call, I wasn’t on some roller coaster or anything. I was just sitting around in my house. Probably watching The Loud House. My dad got a call saying they’re just going to call for a few minutes about The Loud House, and that I couldn’t listen. After some time, he got off the phone and he showed me the email that said “Wolfgang Schaffer is Lincoln Loud,” and reading those words I started crying. I was so happy about it.
Jahzir Bruno
What drew you to this project?
When I was younger, I watched The Loud House a lot. It was one of my favorite shows, so when I saw the email and that it was for the role of Clyde McBride, I was surprised because it said ‘live-action.’ So I’m like, ‘Whoa, I’m going to be able to live as Clyde.’ That gave me the motivation to audition for it.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
What makes it different from the cartoon is that you’re actually playing it, you really have to envelop yourself in whatever character that you play. I had to think like Clyde, I had to react like Clyde, I had to think, ‘What would Clyde do?’ That’s what makes it different.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
There’s actually a message behind it, and it’s very real. It’s that family is really everything and I think it’s something people can watch and it’ll bring families together and tighten bonds.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
We got an email that I booked it, and a lot of things were racing through my mind. I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m going to be able to live as Clyde. Wow, this can’t be real right now.’ It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’m very grateful for it.
Lexi Dibenedetto
What drew you to this project?
I was drawn to this project because it was so fun and I was really looking forward to doing something I could really play around with. I’ve worked with Jonathan before, so that made the project really appealing, and coming back to Nickelodeon was really exciting for me. The trip was so much fun, and I knew that if I became a part of it, I was going to have a blast for two months.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
Family definitely. It’s important to a lot of people and I think that’s why they’re so special. There are so many different characters for people to relate to, so I think that really draws it in because you can always find the character that you’re most similar to and be like ‘Wow, I love to sing like Luna’ or ‘I want to go to fashion school like Leni.’ I think there’s something for everyone.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
I think people are really going to love the humor. We have a lot of amazing physical comedy happening, but we also have really, really well-timed one-liners, a lot of which Lola says, and that was my favorite part personally. I hope it translates to others as well.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
I had just come back from school, and I was going to my friend’s restaurant. As I was sitting there, I got a call from my manager. I was like, ‘Oh, this is weird.’ So I left the restaurant. I was supposed to be going on a trip to Costa Rica at the end of May, and she goes ‘Unfortunately, I don’t think you’re going to be able to make it to Costa Rica because you’re going to be in Atlanta shooting a Nickelodeon movie.’ I started freaking out, and my friend was filming me on her phone.
Dora Dolphin
What drew you to this project?
When I read the breakdown of my character, Leni, I was drawn to her special sparkles. I just get these special feelings when there’s certain roles and I just wanted to play her, I could just feel it. It felt right. I love The Loud House and I knew I’d get a big family if I got to work on this project, so I was really hopeful. I’m so incredibly grateful for this experience.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
There’s one boy and 10 girls, as the theme song says, and every single character has a different personality. I think fans and viewers can relate to each one and I bet it’s super fun to find the character you relate to the most. I also just love how they always love each other and come together, and I think that is so special with such a big family.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
Fans are going to look forward to seeing their favorite characters come to life. We put a lot of hard work and dedication into our roles, and the cast, crew and creative team put their hearts and souls into this movie. They’re also going to love seeing our bonds on-screen. We all have different bonds with each sibling and they’ll be able to see how close we are. There’s also little easter eggs for super Loud House fans. I’m super excited about that.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
I did a callback, and when I finished it, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m not going to get my hopes up too much because it’s such a big role and there’s probably a lot of other people auditioning.’ I was actually at a movie theater, and it was the first time I’d been in one in a year and a half. When I got a call from my managers, I ran out of the theater. They said, ‘Dora, you’re playing Leni Loud and you’re flying to Atlanta!’ I still kind of get emotional talking about it because it was an incredible moment. I was mind-blown.
Sophia Woodward
What drew you to this project?
What meant most to me was how beloved the Loud family is and how cherished it was. I saw people’s response to the cartoon and I was like, ‘It would be amazing to emulate these characters and bring new aspects to them while still staying true to the character.’ I think that’s what really drew me to it was how beloved they were across the world and how everyone can connect with them.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
Family for sure. I think why the Louds are such a good family is because there are so many different personalities and they mesh together so well. This film was cast flawlessly and all of us are our characters, and I can’t imagine anybody else playing the characters that they play. I think that really shines through our movie and I hope that everybody acknowledges and recognizes that.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
They get to see the Louds in a totally different form than they ever have. For this role, they chopped my hair off. I used to have long brown hair, but now I love it; I thought it was super fun. But we look so much like them. It’ll be really interesting to see the transition between cartoon and real life versions of the characters. I think that’s so exciting and hopefully really exciting for everybody who watches the movie, and I hope everyone loves it.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
Both my parents happened to be visiting me in Los Angeles for my birthday, and they had traveled from our hometown in North Carolina. I was getting a call from both my agent and my manager, and when you get a call like this, it’s either really good news or really bad news. I was like, ‘Oh no, it’s both of them on a Sunday. Something bad must have happened.’ Then they told me the news, and they said they just wanted me to know right away because it was my birthday. I was really overjoyed, and I got to celebrate with my parents being there.
Catherine Ashmore Bradley
What drew you to this project?
When I first saw the audition, I was super excited. I’ve loved the Loud House ever since I was little; I kind of grew up on it. It was one of my favorite shows, and my family reminds me so much of the Loud House. Especially with Luan being probably my favorite part of the show, I was so excited about it. I went into my sister’s room, I grabbed her little flying pig stuffed animal and I sat in the mirror practicing ventriloquism. That audition really meant something to me because I just really wanted to book it, and especially because I knew my little sister had an audition for her character in the movie.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
What makes it special is actually getting to play not one but two characters. I get to bring in not only the iconic character of Luan being a silly jokester that a bunch of kids can relate to but also getting to play her best friend and alter ego Mr. Coconut, getting to learn how to be a ventriloquist and keep those two characters alive. The bond I have with my sister really shows on stage, so we got the chance to improv together throughout the movie. You can really see our sisterly love, not just with me and her, but with everybody on set because it really felt like a family.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
One of the things I think they’ll love the most is getting to see their favorite characters come to life. Everyone in the cast does such an amazing job of adding their own personal flair to their characters and making it their own. I mean, in this pandemic, we’ve all been so spaced out whether we’re in zoom, whether we’re behind masks, and we can’t all group together. But this movie reminds us how important it is to stay connected to your family, especially during the holidays, because ultimately family love is what really gets you through life and you can definitely see that in the movie.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
The audition process was kind of like a normal audition process. When I found out I booked the movie, not only was I super excited to get to work with this awesome cast and recreate the role of Luan since she’s just so iconic, but also to be able to share this with my sister. It’s kind of hard to explain, but being able to share something so beloved to me, which is acting, but do that with my sister, it was kind of crazy. It was so cool to be able to think of how that was going to play out on set.
Morgan McGill
What drew you to this project?
I’ve been a huge fan of the show ever since I was ten. I used to come home and watch it every day, so my mom said, ‘Oh, you should audition. Tape it.’ I was like, I have to book this; no is not an option. So I worked really hard on getting the role, and now here I am.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
It fascinates me on how they cast all these amazing people and how they fit so perfectly into their roles. It was such a fun time filming it together, and it was literally one of the best six weeks of my life.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
It’s such a family-friendly movie and I think kids and parents will definitely enjoy it. Everyone can. It connects with people and helps them realize that it’s important to savor that moment with your family and friends.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
I had just come back from tennis, and I remember because my mom was videoing me. She’s like ‘Morgan, guess what? You booked Lynn!’ And I remember I had all these racing thoughts going through my head, and we went to Baskin Robbins afterward to celebrate. It was the best day of my life.
Aubin Bradley
What drew you to this project?
I also watched The Loud House when I was younger; I would see it on the airplane when I came home from a vacation or on the Nickelodeon channel. I always thought Lucy was the coolest on the show, so to see myself as Lucy was so exciting. Especially when I learned that it would be a live-action movie, I knew it’d be a step up from before.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
Catherine and I come from a big family, so we can totally relate to the craziness of having one. There’s six of us and there’s always something happening, whether it’s tests from school, doctor’s appointments, work appointments. We all do different activities like dancing, sports, acting; each day is a new adventure. Going into this role, I was like, ‘I’m ready to show this experience.’
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
They’ll definitely love the adventure in this movie. Lincoln wants his family to be together on Christmas to continue the Loud House traditions, but everybody wants to do this or that and not everyone can do it together. It makes Lincoln a little upset because he just wants everything to be the way it is. I think that thrilling adventure Lincoln loves and the scenes for it were crazy. But overall it was all done purely out of the love Lincoln has for his family and to have them all together again, and I think that was really special.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
When I get auditions, they come through email offers, so I just tape it and send it. I recorded it as usual, sent in the tape and then came to producer sessions, which was crazy. The wi-fi went down, it was glitching. Then some time passed and my mom said, ‘Your agents called, you booked Lucy.’ I was about to drop dead on the floor.
Ella and Mia Allen
What drew you to this project?
When we got [to] the audition and read the script, we realized that it related to our family. Even though we don’t have as many brothers and sisters, we have one little brother named Justin and we’re two sisters. Certain people can really relate to it and we love it with all our hearts. We also fell in love with the script. It was so heartfelt and the family has such a strong connection without even knowing who was going to be cast.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
The Loud House is so special because of how the family bonded, especially how Lincoln always wants them to be. It’s really special because it shows other people that being with your family is the most important thing over everything else, and I feel like our movie does its best to show that. Every person that is watching can relate to a certain Loud, so they will feel connected to it. Another thing that makes it special is how Lincoln always tries to find a way for his family to be happy and to be together, and that it’s important to make time for the people you love in your life.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
I feel like each actor plays their character amazingly. The casting was phenomenal, and I’m so thankful that altogether it will make itself an amazing Christmas movie and we’re so excited for it to come out that way. It’s going to tell kids and families to gather around and it’s something that fans are going to cherish and want to keep watching.
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
My sister and I were doing a blindfolded makeup challenge, and it was horrible. So I (Ella) was the one doing the makeup blindfolded on Mia and my parents were like ‘Ella, Mia, come over here!’ We were so confused. We walked out to the living room and our dad was crying. I (Mia) was like, ‘What’s wrong with your face?’ Our mom says ‘Just got a call that unfortunately you’re gonna have to pack your bags and go to Atlanta.’ We couldn’t believe it and we started crying.
Lexi Janicek
What drew you to this project?
I watched this show back in 2016 when it started to come out, and I thought it was a great show. When I got the audition, I was like, ‘Lisa was one of my favorite characters when I watched it.’ I actually started watching it again, and I was like, these new episodes are amazing. I really wanted to do justice for my younger self, so I was super excited for the audition. I also thought it would be cool to be in a family of mostly sisters because I live in a family with all brothers.
What do you think makes The Loud House special?
At the end of every episode, the family comes together, even if they had a very chaotic time because they love each other. I don’t think there’s many families that are going to be closer than the Loud family.
What do you think fans will love most about this movie?
Viewers will love how close the family is and they’ll love to see their favorite characters come to life. I feel that it’ll just enhance the relationship that fans have with the show by seeing them in real life, like ‘Wow, this is what they would look like before they start to grow up.’
Where were you when you got the call for this role, and what went through your mind?
I got the call from my manager and she was like ‘Hey, can I speak to Lisa,’ and I was like ‘I think you have the wrong person.’ I looked at my mom, and I really thought she made the wrong call, until my manager said ‘I want to speak to Lisa Loud,’ and my mouth dropped in my mind. I was so excited because I wanted to do one of these roles forever; I was screaming and jumping all over the place.
