MEDIA > ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS > 2006

DAKOTA'S DREAM
from Saddle Club Magazine, March/April 2006

What was it about Dreamer's script that made you want to do it?
It was something different. I got to learn about horses and ride them and take care of them and all that stuff was very foreign to me. So it was neat to learn something that I'd never done before at all.
Was there one horse that you developed a relationship with?
Well, there was this one horse, Pablo, who was like the sweetest horse in the whole entire world. He was the horse I learned to ride on. He was so nice. I really liked going to see him. Now I have a horse of my own that Kurt [Kurt Russell, Dakota's co-star] gave to me. So that makes me ride even more.
What's your horse's name?
Goldie.
You and Kurt Russell must have become pretty good friends.
Definitely. The minute I met him, we felt like we had known each other for the longest time. We're really great friends now.
How was it shooting the scene where the horse bolted with you on its back?
Well, for that scene, I was actually on a mechanical horse and it was running in place. It was really fun and we had a great time doing that, but it was unfortunately on a fake horse.
What other films have you been working on?
I'll be in a new version of Charlotte's Web that comes out later in the year.
Do you enjoy these family friendly movies more than some of the other stuff you've done?
I enjoy doing movies that everyone can see - all ages. My friends can go and see Dreamer without having to beg their parents to go and see it with them, which is good.
Do you find it hard when you have to be mean to a character on screen and the actor is someone you really like?
It was especially hard when I was doing Uptown Girls. I had to be so mean to Brittany [Murphy] and she was really like my best friend. I always find that sad but I just go into my character. Afterwards I go, 'Oh, I'm so sorry. I feel so mean.'
How do you balance your movie career with being a kid?
When I'm on the set, I still feel like I'm being a kid. I do everything the other kids do - I just act, too.
So it's easy?
Yeah, it's fun. I've had the best times on set - on Dreamer especially. I laughed and played with the horses and had a great time.
What would you be doing if you weren't here today?
If I wasn't here, I'd be horseback riding. I'm going tomorrow.
So it's become a real interest of yours?
Definitely. When Kurt gave me the horse, he was like, 'No you're going to ride it, right? You're going to ride it, take care of it and it's going to be your own responsibility. Is that right?'
When did you start acting?
When I was six.
Would you recommend this kind of career to other kids?
If they really want to do it. It'd be hard for someone who didn't really want to do it - that's depressing in any job! But if you feel strongly about it, it's so much fun and I just love it.
Do you like working in movies with other kids?
I haven't done too many movies that had kids in them, except The Cat in the Hat.
When people get starry eyed with you, how does that make you feel?
Sometimes they're real nervous and I'm like, 'Don't be nervous,' but they're always so nice. I like it when people come up to me because that means they enjoy the movies that I've done.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I have a little sister, Elle. She's an actress also. She was in Daddy Day Care and Door in the Floor.
Do you ever give her bits of advice?
I'm never with her when she's doing the movies, so she just gets it by herself.
What are some of the things you like?
The normal things? [Laughs] Well, in school, I love history. History is my favorite subject. My sister loves to draw and she's really into making her lemonade stand right now. She's like, 'I'm going to make the menus, so we can have hot lemonades and cold lemonades.' I was like, 'Hot lemonades?' She said, 'Lemonades without ice!' I said, 'Well, that's what lemonade's about - ice.' She's so funny. She's like, 'Dad, will you get the wood to build my lemonade stand?'
Does anyone help you choose your roles?
My mum and my agent.
Do you read an entire sript before you choose?
Yeah.
When you started out acting were you able to read?
I've been reading since I was two.
Do you think there'll be a day when you're done with acting?
I can't imagine myself not acting. I get bored when I'm not acting.
Do you have a boyfriend?
No, just Goldie.

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