Read our exclusive interview with actress Taylor Spreitler, who is currently starring on the hit ABC Family sitcom ‘Melissa & Joey.’ Spreitler stars as Lennox Scanlon on the show, which follows her Aunt Mel, played by Melissa Joan Hart, an Ohio councilwoman who takes in her niece and nephew Ryder, played by Nick Robinson, after their parents become involved in a Ponzi scheme. Joey Lawrence plays Mel’s live-in nanny Joe, who moves in to help care for Lennox and Ryder after he lost his job, due to Lennox and Ryder’s parent’s financial scheme. Taylor discusses with us, among other things, what attracted her to the role of Lennox, and what it’s like working with two of America’s biggest sitcom stars.
Shockya (SY): What initially attracted you to the role of Lennox before the show premiered last summer?
Taylor Spreitler (TS): Well, I liked the break-down for it. I immediately fell in love with it. She (Lennox) was really free-spirited. She seemed like she would be a lot of fun to play. She reminded me a lot of myself.
SY: What are some of Lennox’s attributes that you find most appealing, and which of her characteristics do you wish she would change?
TS: I mean, I really like everything about her. She’s fun and she’d dedicated and she believes what she believes in. You can’t really tell her no. She’s cool because she’s kind of got an edge to her, so I really liked that about her.
SY: The title characters are played by Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. The two are mainly remembered for their 1990s sitcoms. Do they give you comedic acting advice, since this is your first sitcom?
TS: Yeah, they have definitely helped me a lot. Coming from a soap opera (‘Days of our Lives’), and then going on a sitcom, it was really hard to make that transition. So luckily I had both of them there to really help me out.
SY: So what was the transition like from playing Mia McCormick on ‘Days of Our Lives’ (which she appeared on between January 2009 and June 2010) to playing Lennox on ‘Melissa & Joey?’
TS: It was really hard, going from a job where you basically cry everyday to then going to a sitcom where you’re laughing everyday. Just going from drama to comedy that fast was hard, it took a little bit to get used to. I love it now.
SY: What is the working dynamic like with the rest of the cast on ‘Melissa & Joey?’
TS: I mean, we’re all really close. We’re our own little family. We have a lot of fun, but when it comes down to it, we get the job done.
SY: When the show premiered last summer, it received some criticism, saying the cast lacked chemistry. What do you say to people who criticize the relationships between the cast?
TS: I mean, it’s hard to have chemistry with people you just met. I wasn’t a part of the pilot, so I had never met them. I met them at a photo shoot once, and then we jumped right into filming the series. So it was a little hard, but I think it shows how close we are. We’re all so close to each other in real life that I think it comes across on screen now.
SY: Who are some of the comedic actresses who have influenced your work on ‘Melissa & Joey?’
TS: I don’t know about actually influencing my work, but people I’ve definitely paid attention to are Tina Fey. I think she’s kind of the main person. I just finished reading her book (Bossypants). I look up to Melissa a lot.
SY: Before you were saying it was tough transitioning from ‘Days of our Lives’ to ‘Melissa & Joey.’ Are there any similarities between the two shows?
TS: None, at all. (laughs) They’re completely different.
SY: You started your career competing in beauty pageants and modeling for several stores and magazines. Why did you decide to make the transition into acting?
TS: They all just kind of lead into each other. I was always one of those kids who loved to perform and loved to dress up. When I was little, I just kind of told my mom after I got a couple of auditions for commercials, “Mom, I think I want to do this.” It just sort of happened.
SY: What advice do you have for other young girls who want to break into television?
TS: Just keep going. I mean, it’s a hard thing to start in and a hard thing to go through. You just have to keep your head up. It will all work out.
SY: You also guest-starred on ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.’ What was that experience like?
TS: It was really cool. I don’t really remember much of it because I was really little. But it was really fun. It was the first time I had ever seen snow. We were filming across the street from Central Park. What was funny was that I had just moved out of New York when I had booked it. I met with (‘Law & Order’ franchise creator and executive producer) Dick Wolf a couple of times, and we couldn’t really find the right part. Then he found that part (of Chloe Sellers), and offered it to me. I had just moved, and had only been back home (in Mississippi) for a couple of months, and then I had to fly right back to New York to start filming. It was exciting.
SY: Besides acting, you also sing, and have appeared during a pre-game show for the AXA Liberty Bowl on ESPN. Do you have any current plans to pursue a singing career?
TS: Well, you know, there has been some talk about it, but nothing right this second. My sister and I kind of dabble in music, my sister more so than I. But right now, no definite plans.
SY: You’re also known for supporting several charities, including Walk for Autism and the Revlon Walk for Breast Cancer. What motivated you to be so passionate about charities and helping others?
TS: I think when you’re given a voice that actors are given, you know people look up to us. People see what we’re doing and get involved with charities because of the celebrity names that are attached to them, and that’s the only reason. To be in that position, you definitely have to do something that’s worth it. I found great charities that I’m really passionate about and that I love working with, so it’s fun. It’s a great feeling to help others.
Written by: Karen Benardello
