Battle Los Angeles, Crazy.Stupid.Love, The Dark Knight Rises and Oz The Great and Powerful. At age 13, Joey King already has built a Résumé which several Actors and Actresses might never achieve in a lifetime. Born and raised in Los Angeles, King appears on the verge of Superstardom and a quick perusal of what’s coming next gives us every reason to be excited.
Taking time to chat with us in advance of Oz The Great and Powerful‘s DVD release, I learned that acting is actually something that King always has wanted for herself since the age of four, first getting her start in Commercials. Older Sisters Haley and Kelli, whom she looks-up to greatly, may have paved the way for her with their own respective acting careers, but she makes it clear from the get-go that she is in charge of her own path. “People ask me all the time, ‘Were you forced into acting?” she admits. “I’m like, no. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I hope I get to do it for the rest of my life.”.
On how she became involved with one of 2013’s largest grossing Blockbusters landing the coveted Role of vulnerable and sweet China Girl, she recalls, “I went straight to the Screen Test, which is the final stage of the auditioning process. I was so excited I got to meet Sam Raimi, to audition and do my lines for him.”. She actually was immersed in work when she found out she had been cast in Oz The Great and Powerful. “I was in India filming The Dark Knight Rises and my Sister was Video Chatting with me and told me that I got the Role. It was so unforgettable! Breathtaking.”.
King has nothing but fun memories of working with the Film’s brilliant Ensemble Cast, getting up-close and personal. “Whether it be Zach Braff, James Franco and I playing pranks on each other, to Michelle Williams asking me when I got a Cell Phone so she’d know when to do so with Matilda (Williams‘ Daughter with the late Heath Ledger), everyone was so sweet. I had the best time filming it!”.
Although a Sequel to Oz The Great and Powerful still has yet to be confirmed, 2013 will see not one, but two more important releases from this remarkable young Talent. “I’ve got White House Down with Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx coming out”, she tells me. The Montreal-filmed Action-Thriller is about a Capitol Policeman who must rescue his Daughter and save the President with the arrival of a group of Paramilitary Invaders. “I love Montreal, it’s beautiful there. I love the cold!”, she tells me about her experience filming in our native Canada.
In addition to being a Fan-of and Friends with Taylor Swift, having starred in her Video for Mean, King reveals to me whom she’d love most to work with in the future. “Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain is up there and Jason Bateman for sure. I love him! “. Diplomatically, she tells me there are many more with so much amazing Talent in the Hollywood Pool and surely it won’t be long before she gets her wish.
King also particularly is excited for upcoming Horror, The Conjuring, due this July. “I play one of five Sisters and my name’s Christine. Our Family lives in this house and something’s sketchy about it”, she explains. “I saw the Film recently and oh my God, it’s so scary! I think everyone will really enjoy it and it will blow their socks off!”.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada releases Oz The Great and Powerful on DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Click here to pre-order your copy.
Follow Joey King on Twitter here.
Enjoy the Audio from our Chat below:
(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada | Video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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