Interview with Allie Gonino from The Lying Game!

Before Allie Gonino began her role as Laurel Mercer on ABC Family’s hit show, The Lying Game, she was a member of the pop group The Stunners, which opened for Justin Bieber on his My World Tour. Multi-talented, this singer / violinist / actor also had a recurring role as Michelle on the series Ten Things I Hate About You. Read Glitter’s exclusive interview with Allie for all the latest on this rising young star!

GLITTER: Describe your character, Laurel Mercer.  What are her top 5 likes and dislikes?
ALLIE: Laurel is a very smart, sweet, yet at times a very naive and vulnerable girl. She uses humor as her one and only defense, choosing sarcasm over malice when it comes to dealing with conflict. Her top 5 likes: Music, Dresses, Movies, Loyalty, High heels. Dislikes: Secrets, Laziness, Poor dental hygiene, Animal Cruelty, Pickles.

GLITTER: What do you hope happens for your character this season?
ALLIE: She’s already getting to do some pretty amazing things like getting to sing and play music in front of people for the first time. I just hope she continues to find herself through her art, and gets some of the sass in her personality back that was more prevalent before she got together with Justin.

GLITTER: What is life like on the set of The Lying Game?
ALLIE: Every day/week is different. I really don’t have a set schedule, which makes it difficult for me to get into a rhythm. So I’ve just been making sure to get exercise everyday and eat well, continue to write and play music. Sometimes I’ll hang out with the cast, sometimes I’ll hang out with friends I have in Austin. It’s been a very introspective time for me. A lot has changed in my life, and I feel I’m just becoming more aware about myself, the world around me, and the difference between reality and illusion.

GLITTER: What is your favorite aspect of filming?
ALLIE: The learning process. Every day is a totally new experience. I never want to feel like I go to the set and know exactly what I’m going to do, because that leaves little room for the Spirit to come into play. So I’m learning how to balance my natural instincts, which luckily are pretty good, and making choices for my character in order for her to grow. It’s challenging in a way that makes me feel that I’m actually maturing as a person, as well as an actor.

GLITTER: You have classical violin training but you have also performed onstage as a singer, yodeler, and fiddle player.  With such a diverse musical background, do you ever see yourself returning to a music career?  And what kind of music would you want to perform?
ALLIE: I’ve never stopped playing and creating music. I just started a new band with a couple buddies and it’s been very rewarding. Currently, the music is a mix of folk/Americana. I play violin as well as sing.

GLITTER: If you could star in a musical, which would it be?  And why?
ALLIE: I would love to play Sandy in “Grease” or Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” “Wizard” is the first movie that captured my little artistic soul. I fell in love with everything about music and film after that. Sandy would also be really fun to play because the music in “Grease” is just so fantastic.

GLITTER: We saw that you hosted a comedy event in Hollywood.  Do you see yourself in a (romantic) comedy any time soon?
ALLIE: Of course! I think every actress has to dream of being in a great romantic comedy. I used to go home after seeing a rom-com at the theater, and then act out a movie of my own. I’m a fan of smart rom-coms like “The Holiday”, “The Family Stone” and “Easy A.”

GLITTER: Describe your style in 3 words.
ALLIE: Eclectic, unique, fearless.

GLITTER: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
ALLIE: Hopefully acting in a film or two, and promoting a great record on tour with my band. But who knows, I could be President of Earth by then. That’d be fine too.

GLITTER: What advice do you have for other Girls Who Rock who want to pursue a career in the performing arts?
ALLIE: If you’re passionate about it, keep your head on straight. The business is not worth your blood or tears, only your sweat. No one’s friendship in Hollywood is worth compromising your natural spirit and wit, much less your chances of making it to the top, so when in doubt, march to your own beat. More often than not, the people who want you to succeed are the people who already are succeeding. These are the people to make friends with, and usually are the ones who can help you make good decisions. Last but not least, STAY HEALTHY. Exercise frequently, and eat healthy food regularly, and feed your body and soul with some type of meditation or prayer. It’s a dog eat dog world, especially in the entertainment business and the most important thing to remember is that the game is not bigger than you. You simply have to figure out how you fit into the picture as you are, work hard, and give back.