If you’re a fan of comedies, you’re probably familiar with Meg Donnelly and her iconic role in ABC’s American Housewife. As a recent breakout star in the entertainment industry, she has also starred in Disney Channel’s Zombies and The Broken Ones, and has a passion for creating and performing music. Donnelly is known for her spot-on comedic talent and the innovative perspective she brings to every project she’s a part of.
Donnelly spent some of her free time speaking with Her Campus about what she likes to do off set, her favorite guilty pleasure TV shows, where she’d like to be in 10 years and more.
Her Campus: You currently star as Taylor Otto in ABC’s hit comedy series American Housewife. Can you tell us about your experience over the last two seasons?
Meg Donnelly: It’s been so much fun. At first I was really nervous because it was my first time actually working on a TV show, and being a regular was terrifying, but everyone was so nice. I’m so lucky to work with such amazing people like the cast and the crew. We’re just one huge family, and it’s not even a job anymore. I think that’s really special. I graduated high school a couple weeks ago, and they surprised me this huge graduation. My school teacher came out in a cap and gown and gave me my diploma. The whole cast was there. There was a cake. It was crazy! I did not know anything that was happening, so it was a total surprise. It was absolutely insane.
HC: You also starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Zombies, and have finished shooting indie drama, The Broken Ones. How do your experiences acting in television and film differ? Do you prefer one over the other?
MD: With Zombies and American Housewife, they weren’t really that different in the way we shot scenes. It was very much the same, but it was very different because of the musical aspect. Musical movies are very different and go by faster. It’s just kind of a day by day thing. With musical movies, it was so much fun. There’s music blasting, you’re always dancing and the energy is super high. Also, on American Housewife the energy is high in a different way. It’s a comedy, so everyone’s always silly and having fun. I would say TV shows are a little bit more serious than movies.
HC: How did you get into acting?
MD: I started out in musical theater and went to a theater school when I was five just for fun as an after school activity. I tried sports and absolutely hated it. I was doing cartwheels while everyone else was actually playing sports. That was definitely in my vocabulary, but there’s something about performing on stage and the energy that’s so fun. When I was 10 or 11, an agent came to one of the shows and I got signed. It kind of started from that. I don’t really remember a time where it went from being a hobby to professionalism because it was always fun. It was a hobby but also a job at the same time, so that was kind of crazy.
HC: What do you like to do in your free time?
MD: I like hanging out with friends and fans. I take dance class, but I just like to dance in general before I go to bed each night. I usually have a dance party in my room by myself, so I’m always listening to music and dancing. I love writing music, too. That’s something I’m definitely passionate about, so hopefully I can do that sooner or later in my career. I just like to have fun and chill out.
HC: Do you have any guilty pleasure shows?
MD: I love Black Mirror. It’s such a good show. My favorite episodes are either “Nosedive” or “Shut Up and Dance.” I also love The Office—and New Girl is definitely underrated.
HC: Do you have plans to attend college in the future? If so, where would you go and what would you study?
MD: I’m actually studying Japanese, so I’ve been taking Japanese courses. I’ve also been keeping up with a psychology course because I love psychology and think it’s so interesting. Right now at this age, I feel like it’s prime for young girls to book acting jobs, so I don’t want to take a four-year break. But I’ve always had aspirations of going to college since I was little. I’ve always wanted to go. I might do a two-year conservatory at some point or go away for four years, I don’t think right now. And maybe I’d want to study something other than the arts, maybe I’ll do psychology or something like that.
HC: Where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years? Is there anything you’d like to accomplish?
MD: I really want to accomplish music. Now that I have some free time right now, I’ve been trying to work on music a lot. Hopefully in 10 years I’ll be doing music as well as acting. That’s like definitely a goal of mine.