'YOUNG SHELDON’S’ RAEGAN REVORD ON BOOKS, WRITING AND ACTING

Rising talent RAEGAN REVORD plays the fan favorite “Missy Cooper” in the hit CBS comedy YOUNG SHELDON. The show was set as a prequel to the Emmy-nominated THE BIG BANG THEORY. The show has consistently been one of primetime's most watched comedies, garnering nearly 14 million total viewers for the second season finale episode. Raegan’s performance as the title character’s sassytwin sister earned her a 2018 Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a TV Series as Supporting Young Actress.

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At a young age, Raegan is keeping herself busy with various projects. Aside from Young Sheldon, she can also be seen in the Primetime Emmy-nominated Netflix comedy series ALEXA & KATIE, TV Land’s TEACHERS, Netflix’s GRACE & FRANKIE, the five-time Primetime Emmy Award-winning comedy series MODERN FAMILY, and David Cross and Bob Odenkirk’s W/BOB AND DAVID. Back in 2017, she made her feature film debut in John R. Leonetti's supernatural horror WISH UPON, opposite Ryan Phillippe and Joey King. The film follows a teenage girl (King) who discovers a box containing magical powers and faces a deadly price for using them. Broad Green Pictures released the film on July 14, 2017.

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Off screen, Reagan writes and works on her children’s book, My Story as a Gold Nugget. She is also an avid reader and used Instagram to launch her own book club, #ReadingWithRaegan, where she shares monthly book picks with her followers. She created Homeless Helpers, a local initiative aimed at providing small care packages and other necessary items for those who are currently without homes. Additionally, she is a passionate and outspoken advocate for rescuing animals and is a Junior Ambassador for Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

In this exclusive interview, Raegan Revord opens up about playing Missy in Young Sheldon, her passion for acing, writing and reading, balancing her time, and being a young person in the industry.

We love your hashtag #readingwithraegan. What’s the story behind it? How did it start?

Thank you! My family and I were talking through some possible hashtags and landed on readingwithraegan because it seems so inviting. Like, come read with me. Let’s start a conversation about the book. Everyone is always asking me what I’m reading and it just fit.

Which books are currently on your reading list?

I love a series, and two that I haven’t read yet are The Hunger Games and the Twilight books. My friends have read them and my parents said I’m getting to an age where I can finally read them. So, I’m really excited to read the books and watch the movies with my friends. (Who are in my quarantine bubble!)

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How is your children’s book My Story as a Gold Nugget going so far?

It’s going well. I actually ended up writing an animated TV pilot pitch for it and I’m finding that is a really long process! And apparently animation is an even longer process. I started writing Goldie when I was about 9, so she’s been with me for a very long time. I’m so ready to release her to the world.

How much do you think your love of reading influences your acting work?

One of the things I love about reading is getting to experience things and people that I normally wouldn’t be able to. This helps me with acting by giving me some understanding and empathy on what a certain character might be going through. It really broadens my horizons. 

How and when did your passion for acting come about?

I’ve always had a passion for entertaining and making people laugh. My parents probably have hundreds of hours of footage of me putting on plays and concerts for them. I would get dressed up and make a stage out of anything! Obviously when I was 3 or 4 years old I didn’t know you could make a career out of it! My mom’s friend connected her to an owner of an agency and she started representing me. Pretty soon after that, I started booking a lot of commercials and once I saw myself on TV I wanted more. I asked my parents how I could do TV shows and movies, so they knew then that I was serious and they got me a manager. Once I was with the manager, I started going out for theatrical roles and landed a guest starring role on Modern Family when I was 6. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a series regular on a TV show. At the time I didn’t know it was even called a series regular. I left Modern Family and wondered, “How do I get on a TV show where I can work every day but don’t have to audition for it every time?” Getting the role of Missy on Young Sheldon really was a dream of mine.

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How would you describe your character Missy’s evolution throughout the seasons of Young Sheldon?

I think I would describe it as a natural evolution. In the first season I was so tiny! I was only 9 years old. You really just saw me at home with my family and interacting with them. Over the seasons you start to see what my hobbies are, my first crush and heartbreak, and this season you will see Missy as she goes into middle school and becomes more of a young lady.

What’s the best part about playing Missy?

Getting to experience living in a different time and place is really cool! I was born and raised in California so getting to play Missy, who grows up in east Texas, has been fun. My mom and dad grew up in the south so it’s been cool to see what it must have been like for them growing up. Pretty much every time I have a fitting my mom freaks out because she wore the exact same thing as a kid. It’s very nostalgic for them. I’m not a huge fan of the clothes from the 80’s though, everything is so tight and itchy. I have been wearing sweats for the past 8 months so it makes putting on the 80’s clothes even harder. Haha!!

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Everyone’s process is different and each has their unique approach.  Can you walk us through your creative process when you go and film a scene?

When I get the script, I read it as a story so I can imagine each character and how the story plays out in my head. For example, when I change a line for Missy or ad-lib, it helps me understand my character even more. I feel like the lines that I offer up come instinctively because I have become so familiar with Missy.

Aside from acting, what else keeps you busy?

Reading! I read a lot. I always have a book with me wherever I go. Writing is my other passion. I started writing a book during quarantine. One day I hope to turn all these books I’ve been working on into movies or shows. And of course, hanging out with my friends. These days we only hang out at each other’s houses, but it’s fun because my friends live on a lake so we are able to kayak and boat around. We skate and bike around the neighborhood – it feels normal.

How do you balance your time?

My mom is my calendar. She helps to make sure I’m prepared and rested for work and school. I also take guitar and piano lessons in my free time. If things start to feel too stressful or busy, she will move things around to give me some down time. The weekend is when I get to be more normal and gives me a chance to relax around the house and be a lazy pre-teen.

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So far, what’s the best advice that you’ve ever received?

When we found out that I booked Young Sheldon, my mom said to me, “Treat everyone from the janitor to the head of Warner Bros. with the same kindness and respect. Don’t just be nice to the people that are higher up and that you think can do something for you.” 

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

I think I would be the Hardy Boys series. I feel like every single page there is some sort of action-packed moment and that’s how I want my life to be. But, if I had to pick a genre, it would be mystery. I love how a mystery book keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing. Just when you think you have it all figured out, boom! There’s a twist. 

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