Eventually, they succeed, while we all praise and condemn their rebelliousness and witness them become a global force; an attainment that is often well merited. Meet Olivia Holt. She initially made her debut on Disney as a headliner of the TV series, Kickin’ It, which aired for 4 seasons. Like her predecessors, Holt is multitalented and recently issued her self-titled EP through Hollywood Records this past summer. Only there’s something different about Holt she’s no pixie. She speaks with astuteness and composure that makes it easy to forget that she’s only 19. On stage, she asserts her talents as a vocalist while in the midst of establishing herself as Hollywood’s next “It Girl.”
Subsequently moving to Los Angeles from Mississippi accompanied by her family at the age of 12, Holt (now 19) reminisces about home and the obstacles she faces being a youth in Tinsel town. “I miss the friends. That mundane routine which actually kind of balanced me out,” she reflects on her Mississippi upbringing. “I feel like it’s very difficult to understand what this industry is and what it’s about. And who to know, and who to ‘not know,’ and who to be connected with and who not to be connected with. I mean, there’s so many ‘in’ ways and ‘out’ ways. It never ends. So being young and also not being from this world or just this town, I’m definitely confused and it’s just a lot of pressure.”
Although she misses the Deep South’s pace of life, she appreciates the perks of having a busy schedule, particularly in the relationship department. “It’s something that I enjoy. I like it when I’m busy doing my own thing, he’s busy doing his own thing, but when we’re together it’s something special. When we have things to share with each other, I think it keeps the relationship alive and more interesting and fun. When you’ve gone weeks, maybe months without seeing each other it’s like that first meetup again, except you pick up right where we left off.” She credits her parents for helping her maintain a strong sense of humility and explains how she always wanted to be a singer, even before she began acting.
She recollects growing up in a house listening to Country & Blues and how she could no longer push aside her desire to become a musician. “It was something that I originally wanted to do, and then had to alienate it for a little bit while I focused on acting. It was something that I missed and I wanted to keep pursuing.” With her forthcoming film, Same Kind of Different as Me (scheduled for release in February 2017), Holt gets a chance to prove her range as an actress and stars alongside Hollywood veterans Renee Zellweger, Djimon Hounsou, Jon Voight and Greg Kinnear.
“One of the best film experiences I’ve ever had. Working with Renee, Greg, Jon and Djimon was a total dream come true. It was so surreal to just watch them do[ing] their thing. I learned a great deal by just watching them and it’s an incredible film based on a true story,” she recalled of her experience. She remembers what it was like to work with Zellweger on set. “I was hoping that I was going to get to know her as a human being, and she is the most down to earth woman I have ever met in my entire life. Very strong and just kind, kind to every person she came into contact with. Being in a room with her was so special.”
“I kind of see myself everywhere. I’ve been really picky about everything that I’ve been doing,” she elaborates on her future endeavors. “I hope to just continue what I’m doing now. Making great movies, sharing my feelings through music, and soaking up as much knowledge as I possibly can through it all. Experiencing life and just keep on learning.”
Younger stars often find themselves in controversy while trying to transition from child star to adult ingénue; but Holt doesn’t feel the need to prove her maturity. “I think it’s baby steps. I don’t think I have to make it, to say the least, to make sure people know I’m not in that world anymore. For me, when you’re young and you’re working on a network that is geared toward a younger audience, it’s perfect. You have the perfect scenario. Now when you’ve gotten to a point when you need to fight it and experience and learn, that’s when it gets a little more challenging. I’m still learning, I’m still figuring it out. I think it’s experiencing your world and embracing it. Not having the world judge and watch your mistakes.”
Holt also donates her spare time supporting children with catastrophic diseases. “I work a lot with St. Jude’s Research Children Hospital (stjude.org), I actually grew up around the hospital. I feel very humbled to be able to be a part of such an incredible thing they’re doing for kids.”