NEWSExclusive! Ciara Bravo Talks Her Move from Big Time Rush to New Show Red Band Society
Fall TV is officially under way, and many new shows are premiering this week. Up tonight is Red Band Society, a comedy-drama on Fox about a group of sick teenagers living in a hospital ward together. One of those teens is Ciara Bravo, of Big Time Rush fame, who chatted with OKMagazine.com about what we can expect from the show. Tune in the premiere of Red Band Society tonight at 9/8c.
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OK!: What is the premise of the show?
Ciara Bravo: Red Band Society is about a group of teens who are in the hospital. It's different, because it's from the patients' point of view, as opposed to the doctors. They grow up and learn all these lessons of adolescence in a hospital setting. I play Emma Chota, who's 16 and has an eating disorder. She's been hospitalized on and off for a year. She's been able to form these relationships with the characters.
OK!: How do you make such serious issues funny?
CB: I greatly admire the writers who work on the show, because they do such a great job of bringing light to serious situations. I think the way they do that is by being honest about it, as frank and real as you possibly can. How do the characters deal with their situations? They accept their reality. I think that's just what they're trying to do, and being funny is a great way to deal with these situations.
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OK!: You're on a set with tons of kids. How did you guys bond?
CB: I was not expecting us to bond as fast as we did, but when we filmed the pilot here in Atlanta, we were all in a hotel together. We were stranded in a city we'd never known before. We would go to sporting games, go to movies. go out to eat. Exploring this new city has helped us grow closer. Though spending 10-12 hours a day together on set doesn't hurt!
OK!: You are most famous for Big Time Rush. How do the shows compare?
CB: They are complete 180s from each other. I couldn't ask for anything better. Being on Big Time Rush was an absolutely wonderful start. It taught me so much about acting, being on set. Coming into Red Band Society felt very easy on that front. But acting wise, they are very different. Big Time Rush was more of a comedy, very light-hearted, and I was the sassy little sister. On Red Band Society, Emma's got a lot of depth to her. I've had a blast figuring her out.
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OK!: Do you still get crazy fans on the street from Big Time Rush? It's such a passionate fan base.
CB: It is incredibly passionate, and I love that. I think the four boys got a lot of that. I've met some amazing fans, but I haven't had the "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" People have been so nice when they come up to me, like "Hey, I love your show, can I get a picture?" We take our pics, I go on my merry way. It's something I haven't gotten used to yet!
OK!: How did you get your start?
CB: I started auditioning when I was about 9 years old. I'm from Kentucky, and I used to fly out to LA for auditions during the summers. My first job was either a Playhouse Disney voiceover or a Natasha Bedingfield music video, for "A Love Like This." I'm in it for two seconds! But when I came home, my English teacher brought it up on the TV and played it for the class. Of course when they pause it, I'm doing some weird blinking thing.
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OK!: What TV shows do you love to watch?
CB: I am a fan of Netflix, and due to that I have watched every episode of Sherlock 20 times. I'm also a fan of Dexter, The Office, Mindy Project. I'm all over the board. When I'm actually sitting in front of the TV, however, it's almost always HGTV. I love house-flipping shows, like Property Brothers. I watch hours and wake up from this trance, like where am I?!
OK!: Which celebrity can you never meet, because you would embarrass yourself in front of them?
CB: Oh, I think you're talking about every celebrity I've ever met. I've never not embarrassed myself. I was at the Teen Choice Awards recently, and and I clotheslined Ansel Elgort. And when I reintroduced myself later, he was like, I met you earlier, right? And held out his hand. And I weirdly shoved my hand into him, shook his hand—then we both looked down at our hands and I said, "Well, that was uncomfortable."
OK!: How are you even tall enough to clothesline him? He's so tall.
CB: He is so tall, and when I say clothesline him, I mean in the gut. Held out my arm, right into the gut.
Are you planning to watch Red Band Society tonight? Which show are you most excited about this fall season? Do you recognize Ciara from Big Time Rush? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @OKMagazine.
