“Stargirl”s Artemis Talks Playing Mallory, Natalie Portman, And Balancing School And Work

Everyone is still talking about the Disney Plus Original Movie “Stargirl”, especially since Stargirl 2 is set to premiere this year or the next! And one of our favorite characters was cheer captain Mallory Franklin, played by the amazing actress Artemis.

We had the absolute honor of asking Artemis everything, from her acting story so far, her favorite part about playing the character, and her balance of both college and acting.

Q: How did you first find your passion for acting at the young age of thirteen?

A: “I’ve always loved stories and storytelling. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been an avid reader, then when I was ten, I discovered my love for writing and wrote a novel. Whenever I was writing, I could picture the scenes playing out like a movie, and eventually, I wanted to try my hand at bringing some of my stories to life. So, with a camcorder and my childhood best friend, we would go around our backyards and neighborhoods trying to film these stories! That footage never turned into anything but fond memories, but it helped me realize how much I loved acting.

I told my parents about my dreams of becoming an actor and they were very supportive. I became homeschooled, started taking acting lessons, got my first agent, and the rest is history!”

Q: You were homeschooled until you were sixteen and began pursuing your college career at Harvard University. What was that transition like?

A: “Believe it or not, but in some ways, college has been easier than when I was homeschooled. When I first started homeschooling, I realized how much I had taken for granted the fact that I had always had teachers there to show and explain everything. When you’re homeschooled, at least in the way that I was, a lot more of the responsibility to understand the lessons falls onto your shoulders. It was difficult at first, but I’m thankful that the experience taught me how to think out of the box and how to teach myself. And I believe that these skills have greatly helped me in college!”

Q: How do you balance being both a college student and an actress?

A: “At times, it’s definitely been quite a challenge to balance both these parts of my life. The most extreme examples were some days when I would film Stargirl for about twelve hours, then go home and do my school assignments, sleep for two hours, then repeat!”

However, most of the time I’m able to balance everything in a healthier way, and time management, passion, and discipline have been key. I always plan out everything I need to do in a journal and try to fit those things into my days wherever I can. I’m fortunate to be so passionate about the things I do, which often helps to motivate me to stay productive. However, sometimes I have to make not-so-fun choices such as writing an essay during lunch instead of taking a break with everyone else. It’s times like that when you don’t really feel motivated, that your discipline kicks in and makes you do what you know is good for yourself in the long run. I have my mom to thank for instilling that sense of discipline in me from a young age.”

Q: You were cast as Mallory Franklin in Disney’s Stargirl. How did you land the role?

A: “I actually originally auditioned for four roles in the film – Mallory, Hillary, Summer, and Kim! When I did my first audition, I knew that some of the girls were going to be cheerleaders, so I mentioned my history as a competitive cheerleader and gymnast. A while later, I was contacted and asked to send them some clips of me doing cheer, so I ran outside with my phone and filmed a quick routine in the driveway before the sun went down! I then had a skype call with the dance choreographer, Mandy Moore, and was later offered the role of Mallory, the cheer captain. I do feel that this role was the one that fit me the most out of all the ones I auditioned for and am so happy I was able to bring her to life in the film!”

Q: What was it like playing the part of Mallory?

A: “I had such a blast playing Mallory! My favorite parts to film were the cheerleading routines – they made me realize how much I had missed cheer! When we filmed those scenes, we would start at sundown and go until dawn. It was freezing cold in our miniskirts, but when the music would start playing and we would start dancing, it was like everything else disappeared and I’d just be filled with adrenaline and having the time of my life!

Another great part of filming was that, as someone who was homeschooled from a pretty young age, it felt like I was finally able to have my high school experiences, including prom!”

Q: I know Stargirl is getting a sequel in the works. Are you excited about the upcoming film?

A: “I’m so excited to see the sequel and have been keeping tabs on news on it! At the end of the first film, after leaving her mark on all of the students of Mica High, Stargirl suddenly disappears. So, the students of Mica High, including myself, aren’t in this one, but I’m looking forward to seeing where Stargirl will go next and the impact she has on the new people in her life.”

Q: What advice would you give to someone who’s aspiring to become an actor/actress?

“The first thing I would say is to always strive to improve and grow your skills. Even the most successful actors and actresses are constantly working to become better at their craft.

The second thing is that you need to learn to let go. As an actor, you will hear “no” far more than you’ll hear “yes”. All you can do is give it your all, then it’s out of your hands. Rejection is not a sign that you’re not good – you never know why you weren’t chosen for a part!

And lastly, you need to believe in yourself! I know it sounds cliché, but it’s really important, especially in a career like this. I just know that when I first started acting, I went into my auditions looking intimidated and nervous, and that carried over into the way I did my scenes. Since I grew my confidence and started believing in myself, my work as an actor has improved greatly both in my auditions and on set.”

Q: Who would be your dream co-star to work with?

A: “Oh gosh, about fifteen actors just went through my mind! But I think I’d have to say Natalie Portman. Besides being a fantastic actor, she played my favorite Star Wars character (and anyone who knows me knows I love Star Wars) and she’s a Harvard alum! She’s pretty much done everything I’m striving to do and has been a great inspiration to me.”

Q: Any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?

A: “I have two upcoming projects, one that I’ve already filmed and one that I’m preparing to film soon! Unfortunately, I can’t talk about them yet, but I hope I can share soon!”

Q: Where can we find you to keep up with your journey?

A: “The best place to keep up with me would be my Instagram, @Real_Artemis. I also have a YouTube channel, “Artemis”, where I’ve posted a lot of fitness and health content, but I’m working to rebrand it to be more personal and maybe start posting some music content!”