Daire McLeod Talks About Her Big Career Goals And New Role In Apple TV’s ‘Ghostwriter’

A breakout actress!

From Nickelodeon’s ‘Danger Force’ to Disney’s ‘Coop and Cami: Ask The World’, we knew that Daire was going to be a star. Now, you can currently see her play ‘Chari’ in Season 3 of the popular Apple TV original series ‘Ghostwriter’.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Daire about the audition process for the show, advice for aspiring actresses, and more!

Tell us more about your character Charli Allen on Apple TV’s “Ghostwriter”.

D: “Charli is an absolute firecracker. A magician, a wild card, and an incredible friend and sister, She’s ready to defend the people she loves to the end of the earth! She’s always ready to lend a hand and crack a joke to make you smile, intentionally or unintentionally. She’s got no filter and is a little impulsive sometimes, but she still never gives up on what’s right and is determined to solve the mystery, whatever it takes!”

How do you think you relate to your character Charli on Apple TV’s “Ghostwriter”

D: “Charli and I share the same philosophy in life, which is Daire to be different! We both march to the beat of our own drum, we’re outgoing, sometimes we don’t know when to stop talking (but it’s only because we have so much to say!), and most importantly, no matter the difficulties, we never give up, and we face it with a smile and an unbreakable spirit.”

Tell us about the audition process for “Ghostwriter”.

D: “Funny enough, when I first auditioned for Ghostwriter, I had no idea what the project was because of the secret project name! It wasn’t until I happened to be watching the other seasons with my family that I paused the behind-the-scenes to see the clapboard with the project name on it. I went to the callbacks, and when I got to the finals, my mom told me it was just another read so I wouldn’t get siked out. It worked, and they called me a couple of days later to tell me I got the role! I was so excited I dropped to the floor and started crying. I never got it on video, though, because my mom was so excited, too; she forgot to hit record!”

You have recently turned 15 and have a great career ahead of you! What is your current biggest career goal?

D: “One of my biggest goals would be to join the exclusive club of Emmy, Oscar, Grammy, and Tony winners! (EGOT for short) As soon as I saw that Audrey Hepburn had one, I knew I had to get one. I would love to be a girl power superhero so I can do my own stunts and empower young girls to do anything. A career highlight would be if I got to work with Mindy Kaling or Tina Fey. I’ve also always wanted to be in a glee reboot, so if anyone needs a Rachel berry type, I will run to sign up!! I’m also a singer-songwriter, and I would love to sell out Madison square garden on a world tour and open for Taylor swift. Finally, I want to play a character so iconic they make a Halloween costume out of it. Cause it’d be super cool to go one year as a version of myself, lol.”

What is the best piece of advice you have for aspiring actors?

D: “To Daire to be different! Never change yourself to appease others because life’s not worth living if you’re not enjoying it as authentically and unapologetically you. It’s your beautiful weirdness that makes you unique, so don’t be afraid to use it! You need to work hard and remain humble and kind. Hundreds of people work on a set, and every single person is important and works together to create a symphony of awesomeness. So remember to be sweet to everyone and always cheer for others’ successes! Because when you spread kindness, that’s what makes an impact.”

What is your favorite memory from filming “Ghostwriter”.

D: “It’s hard to narrow it down, but two of my favorites are the last day of filming and me and my co-star’s 4 am bike ride. The last day of filming was really sad but simultaneously super fun! We all dressed up in suits and fancy dresses, and I think the coolest thing was our director April knew I’d always wanted to be a director myself, so she let me direct the last shot of the day! I got to coach the actress and create the shot with my co-stars, which solidified my goal of being the youngest person to write, direct, and star in a screenplay. The 4 am bike ride was an accidental offset adventure. Our building had a fire alarm at 4 am in the morning, so my co-star and I decided to go on a bike ride. We rode all around Toronto and the Toronto islands from 4 am to 5 pm for a total of 15 miles (I didn’t realize it, though, because we were having so much fun!). Our legs definitely were sore the next day when we went to set, but we pushed through!!”

Tell us more about how your experience on “Ghostwriter” shaped who you are today?

D: “Ghostwriter has inspired me in many ways, but I think it’s taught me a lot about activism and using my platform to help others. As a book lover, I’ve started a non-profit called ‘Daire to Read,’ which will put a book in the hands of every child who wants one. My first step was partnering with a charity called ‘Love Heals Youth’ for my personal ghostwriter screening. They provide resources and supplies for foster kids transitioning between homes. I asked everyone to bring a book, and ‘Daire to Read’ collected over 100 books to donate to this fantastic cause. Ghostwriter has changed my life, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do what I love and give back at the same time.”

If you could talk to any version of yourself, past or future, what would you tell them?

D: “I really had to think about this. I’d choose to talk to my future self because If I change any of the moments in the past, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I’d reassure my future self; ‘it’s ok not to be perfect, be sure to enjoy yourself and let your freak flag fly!’ You only get 86,400 seconds in a day, so make sure you’re chasing what matters. I’d also ask if we had a French Bulldog yet.” 

What do you hope people learn from watching your journey?

D: “The future is a snow globe of impossibles made possible. I want to inspire people to believe they can do anything. It’s our job to shake our world up and create something beautiful! If you’ve got an idea for cars that run on cotton candy, build it! If you wanna be one of the best world leaders, go for it! Never limit yourself! When you Daire to Dream, you can do extraordinary things!
You can follow me on @daire_mcleod” 

See Daire shine in the new season of ‘Ghostwriter’, available now on Apple TV+!

Photo Credit: Ryan West | Stylist: Veronica Graye | Hair/MUA: Gabriela Banda

Alessia Shaw- Movie/Entertainment Editor– Alessia is a rising Junior in high school located in Southern California! She is an actress, writer and avid mental health advocate. Alessia loves writing in many forms, especially spoken word poetry. As her resume continues to grow, so does her love for the arts. She hopes to continue her acting path and attend a performing arts college in the near future.