BABY-SITTERS CLUB’S MOMONA TAMADA ON PLAYING CLAUDIA KISHI, FASHION AND ACTING

BY IRVIN RIVERA

Canadian actress Momona Tamada plays the iconic and fashionable character of Claudia Kishi from Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club. This is the streaming service’s reboot based on the book series written by ANN M. MARTIN and from the original TV series that ran for one season in 1990.

Tamada can also be seen playing the young Lara Jean in Netflix’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before also on AMC Studios' The Terror and Sony Pictures' The Boys.

In this exclusive interview, Momona dishes on playing her character Claudia Kishi, one of the main characters of The Baby-Sitters Club books. Kishi is the vice president of the Club, as meetings are held in her bedroom due to her personal phone line. She also shared about her experiences on set, dream role, Asian representation, and more.

FASHION STYLING: LUCA KINGSTON, MAKE-UP ARTIST: TERESA AMMONS, HAIRSTYLIST: STEVEN MASON

How was it to play Claudia Kishi’s iconic character for 2 seasons of The Baby-Sitter’s Club so far?

Portraying Claudia Kishi for 2 seasons of The Baby-Sitters Club has been such a dream role for me. I think each time I get to be Claudia I develop an even deeper gratitude towards the character. I’ve learned so much from her that I apply to my everyday life, and I hope others can too.

How would you describe her character evolution?

We see a lot of change in Claudia, especially when comparing her from the beginning of the first season to the end of the second one. I think she learns how to listen and consider the perspectives of others. She also learns how to deal with grief. I believe that Claudia has had such a beautiful character arc these past couple of seasons, and I hope to see more of that if we get to continue on with this series!

How much of Claudia is in you and how much of Momona has blended into Claudia?

I would say I’m 70% Claudia and 30% Momona when portraying the character. While I was discovering the roots of Claudia, I found myself sticking best to her description in the books. But, as I got comfortable, I felt as though my energy and traits were also found in her. This was never forced, but something that happened almost naturally, and I feel a stronger connection to Claudia because of it.

What’s the best part about playing her character?

Everything really, but if I had to pick, I would say her wardrobe! I’ve learned so much about fashion thanks to this series, and I don’t think my interests in fashion would be where they are now without the help of Claudia! She has some of the coolest clothes ever, and I always get super excited over them in our fittings!

What initially drew you to her character?

I was especially shocked to see how much of myself I saw in Claudia when I read the series. Especially since it was a form of representation I had never seen before. Years later when I received the audition sides for The Baby-Sitters Club I just felt so connected to the character and the material, as if I already understood her.

When did you realize the impact you made in terms of representing the Asian community on mainstream media? What was that like?

It’s still such a shock for me to see how much Claudia has influenced the Asian community on mainstream media. It makes sense though, of course, because she is amazing. It’s so heartwarming to see so many different generations connected to this one character. I feel so lucky to be a small part of Claudia’s impact.

What are the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming?

Filming The Baby-Sitters Club has been such a special experience for me. I have to say, I can’t think of any lows that I’ve experienced, since every one of them has been a positive learning experience. I think the biggest thing I learned is that there will always be challenges in this line of work, and no matter how difficult they are, you just have to pull through and remember you are doing what you love.

How did you manage to rise above the challenges?

I try not to think of it as something difficult, because it makes me feel more nervous or less motivated to take it on. If I’m ever struggling to rise above a challenge, I think to myself that at one point I’m going to have to experience it anyway, so why procrastinate instead of enduring it? That usually does it for me.

What’s the most memorable moment for you throughout the whole process of making the series? Who and what inspires you?

The fashion show scene at the end of episode 3 will always have a very special place in my heart, because that was the very last scene we filmed for season 2. I was just having fun with my friends and it didn’t feel like any cameras were there.

The incredible women behind The Baby-Sitters Club inspire me. I would love to experience what it is like to be behind the camera as well one day, so I always gain a lot of inspiration from them and what they have accomplished.

Is there a dream role / character that you wish to play someday? Why?

I love experimenting with different genres, so I would love to continue taking on different roles unlike my previous ones. I’ve always said this, but roles that strive for representation are always roles that I admire, as well as action roles since I love love love action films! As of right now, I want to experiment and see what works to find and expand my range as an actor.

What do you hope to use your platform to support and bring awareness to?

I hope to use my platform for good, inspiring others to do so as well with whatever passions they have.

What are you most excited about in the near future?

I’m just excited to see where the future takes me! I obviously have hope and dreams that I wish to see myself in, but figuring out how I will get there excites me so much!

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

If I had to pick, I think I see myself in an adventure genre. I’m always seeking new paths and trying to enjoy the most of the situation I’m in, so I think adventure fits that pretty well.