Liliana Inouye is making a name for herself in the new Apple TV+ family series, Amber Brown. Liliana plays Amber’s new bubbly best friend, Brandi (with an I!). I got to sit down with Liliana and discuss the new series and why Brandi is such an important character for people to see.
Ky: First of all, congratulations on the release of Amber Brown. What are you most excited for, as far as people’s reaction to the series?
Liliana: Well, it is such a heartwarming show. I anticipate people will be really touched by the honest way that it shows and explores changes and issues that affects both the tweens and the parents. And I also think people watching the show will really enjoy the humor, because it’s a show that explores really big issues, but it does it in a really fun-loving way.
Ky: Yeah, for sure. I watched the first couple episodes, the humor is really good and spans over a lot of generations. So I think that’s really cool. What are your favorite parts about playing Brandi as a character?
Liliana: My favorite thing about playing Brandi is just how positive she is. And if somebody tries to insult her and say, “Oh, you’re weird,” she usually just takes it as a compliment. “Thank you!” Because she knows that she’s weird. And she knows that that’s what makes her her.
Ky: Oh I totally get that! What did you learn about yourself through playing Brandi?
Liliana: I learned that it’s always possible to find the positive side in situations because she’s really good at that. Even during tough situations, she was always able to make it positive and fun.
Ky: What was the audition process like for you?
Liliana: So I actually got the audition while I was visiting my grandparents in Hawaii. And as soon as I read it, I was like, “I need to audition, this is so neat,” because we’re so alike in our style and personalities. And when I auditioned, I auditioned for Amber Brown. And then a couple weeks later, they had me audition for Brandi, which was very fitting for me. After that, I got a callback and I had to find a studio to film the audition, which was super hard because there weren’t many studios in Hawaii. Then we came back to Vancouver and I did a chemistry read. And when I booked it, I was actually with my Grandma and she’s hard of hearing. So when she saw the number on her phone, she was very confused because she didn’t know who was calling her on the phone. She said, “Stop calling this number!” But then I picked up the phone and talked to them, and then they told me I booked it!
Ky: That’s awesome. That’s a really cool experience. What was the behind the scenes experience like?
Liliana: The behind the scenes experience was super fun. Carsyn [Drew], who plays Amber, and I were best friends on and off set. We were always laughing together and making Tik Toks and being silly. One time we also brought in the adult actors to do a fun Tik Tok with us. It was so much fun.
Ky: That’s awesome. That sounds like a lot of fun. Speaking of the adult actors, you filmed alongside some TV veterans like Sarah Drew, what was that process like for you?
Liliana: It was amazing. She’s such an incredible actor. And I feel like I learned so much from just watching the adult actors on set. Sarah’s just the nicest and sweetest person. She’s so grounded and so welcoming, and it was so much fun.
Ky: That’s awesome. What do you hope audiences take away from Amber Brown?
Liliana: I hope that they can see and especially learn from Brandi’s character that they can always look at the positive side of things and be happy with who they are. Because Brandi, she’s so comfortable with who she is. And she’s so proud of what makes her different. And I hope kids can see that. You don’t have to try to fit in and be cool. I think Brandi does a really good job at showing that in her character.
Ky: For sure. And it’s good that a lot of people will see that in a character, kids and adults both. Both need to see that kind of positivity on screen. So who inspires you in your acting?
Liliana: I love Zendaya. I love watching her shows. She’s such a strong actress, and she has such an amazing emotional range. And I just love watching her; she’s very great.
Ky: Yeah, she’s amazing. What do you hope to take away from this experience when it comes to your next acting job?
Liliana: I hope to take away the joy of meeting new people. It was really the people, from the directors and the cast and the crew, that made shooting Amber Brown so special, and I hope to take away the joy and excitement to future acting jobs.
Ky: Very excited to see what you do next. Do you have anything you’d like to say to aspiring performers out there?
Liliana: Keep taking classes and keep auditioning! Give every audition your all because you never know who might see the tape. And even if you’re not right for the role you audition for, they might call you in for something else in the future. Just be you because nobody can be you better than you!
Ky: Awesome. Well, thank you so much. Congratulations on Amber Brown again and excited to see what you do next!
Stream the full series of Amber Brown on Apple TV+ now!
