COVERSTAR: Catherine Bradley Talks About Her Broadway Career And Nickelodeon Role

A perfect cover star for Christmas!

Catherine Bradley quickly rose to fame for her live-action role as ‘Luan Loud’ in both Nickeldeon‘s ‘A Loud House Christmas‘ and ‘The Really Loud House’. Now, she is our 2022 Winter issue coverstar!

We had the amazing honor of talking with Catherine about balancing acting and school, her hobbies, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?

C: “Very early! I knew at around six or seven that I loved story telling and I especially loved making people laugh! I remember in one of my first musical theatre dance numbers I was Ursula and everyone was dying laughing as I rolled my eyes and literally became her on stage. My mom started taking me to musical theater auditions after that and I got my first big break in the National Broadway Tour of A Christmas Story, where I got to act, dance and sing and make the audience laugh a lot!  My mom always told me to follow my dreams and that if I wanted to make something happen, I could do it.  So, I guess if I can have a career in entertainment doing something that I love, and either telling the important stories that need to be told, or just making people laugh and have some joy in their life, then I am in!”

You’ve also done a lot of theatre performances. We have to ask: What is your current favorite Broadway show and why?  

C: “That is so hard. Of course, I would have to say Harry Potter & The Cursed Child because I had the honor of being in this show and working with some of the most talented actors.  This show just has the best actors, great story telling and literally mind-blowing special effects.  But I would also have to say Funny Girl.  One of my tap teachers, who is insanely talented, had his broadway debut in this show and is so fun to watch. And of course, seeing Lea Michelle portray Fanny Brice and sing was simply amazing!  She was also really funny and she really shows Fanny’s manic-like desire to succeed.  I also really love Les Miserables. My sister, Aubin, who plays Lucy Loud in the series, was Little Cosette and the music and songs in that show are also some of the best songs ever written.  Anyway, I love theatre, but I am really enjoying my tv career right now!  But I will return to Broadway one day!”

You are becoming a Nickelodeon hit! Can you tell us more about ‘Luan Loud’?  

C: “Well, in the new tv series, The Really Loud House, I play both Luan Loud and her alter-ego puppet, Mr. Coconuts. Luan is a fun-loving, silly and sometimes goofy teenager around 15 years old. Luan literally started loving comedy as an infant and doing standup comedy at 8 years old.  She is even a fan favorite at her granddad’s retirement community. Luan is also the ultimate prankster, a master of disguises, a ventriloquist, and a total theatre geek.  Some of her most common pranking methods are “pieing” people in the face with whip-cream pies or putting whoopee cushions under their seats. Her pranks can get quite extreme and she has been known to loose utter control!  Most of all, what I love about her is that she doesn’t take herself too seriously and is true to who she is. In today’s instagram and tiktok world there is so much pressure for girls to be beautiful and to focus on their physical self.  I love that Luan is comfortable in her own skin and is not changing for anyone.  I love that message for young girls today.  I just love that Luan loves to make people laugh and have fun. Ironically, Luan and I have a lot in common.  I love her!”

Were you a fan of the original ‘Loud House’ animated series?  

C: “Yes! I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love the animated series.  The characters have such different personalities which makes it fun to watch.  I live in a large family with a brother and two sisters and we gang up on him in the most loving way, of course, all the time. What I love about our show, is that our Showrunner, Tim Hobert, and Director, Jonathan Judge, have been so true to the cartoon and the characters, but have also allowed our characters to show a more fully dimensional real human side. My favorite episode is where Luan fans will get to see her vulnerability and see her actually work through issues like self-doubt that all teenagers are facing today.  Also, this show is so funny, but not just for kids.  The writing is so good and will really make the kids and especially the parents laugh.  It’s a show that parents and their kids can spend family time and watch together.”

Now that you are officially a part of the Nick family, did you have a favorite Nickelodeon show growing up?  

C: “Besides, the Loud House animated series, I really loved Victorious. It was about students enrolled in a musical academy that were all so talented. I think it was actually Nickelodeon’s first live-action musical series. I just remember watching it and laughing a ton and hoping that I could be on Nick one day. It honestly is a dream come true and now kids are going to meet Live-Action Luan and laugh a lot!”

What is it like balancing your acting roles and being in school at the same time?  

C: “That is the biggest challenge. I love being at my school and I think being in a classroom with a teacher and your classmates is so important because you learn so much from each other. You also learn how to navigate friendships and conflict.  So it’s hard sometimes especially with social media when you miss your homecoming, graduation or other important milestones at school. But I also love being on set with my cast, creative and set family and doing what I love – performing.  It’s like you literally want to be at two places at the exact same time!  Also, I am a freshman so doing six honors classes is a huge challenge while on set.  I come home many days from set with hours of school work to do and well as on the weekends.  The teachers on set are great and I am thankful for my mom as she literally has relearned every one of my subjects so I don’t fall behind.  My mom knows academics are so important to me and she is always there for me. My school and teachers at home are also really working with me to make sure I succeed. My mom always says academics come first! I am really lucky to have a great support system.”

When not acting, what are some of your favorite things to do? 

C: “I love to hang out with my friends.  I am very social and just love the time with my friends where we talk, laugh, and do fun things together. I also love going to the beach, traveling especially to tropical destinations.  Dance is also a huge part of my life. I love to dance, all styles – hip-hop, jazz funk, contemporary, ballet – but I really love to tap!   I love singing so I do that a lot too.  I love school especially debate club.  I also like working with kids and am creating acting workshops free of charge for young children of all economic backgrounds.  I know that acting can be a huge confidence booster and can help kids at young age succeed.  It was for me!”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

C: “You can follow me on instagram at @catherinebradley_ and on tiktok at @catherinebradleyy.”

Read our full 2022 Winter Virtual Issue here!

Photo Credit: Kelsey Hale

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.