Liliana Inouye Dishes on Her New Apple TV+ Series Amber Brown and Playing Brandi
Today, July 29, the highly anticipated Apple TV+ original series Amber Brown finally drops, and we can't wait to see the best-selling book series come to life.
Amber Brown is a story about a girl figuring out her life in the wake of her parents' divorce—and she gets a bit of help from her new best friend Brandi Colwin, played by rising actress Liliana Inouye. As Amber seeks to find her place, Brandi imparts a bit of her unique sense of confidence and independence upon her friend. Ahead of today's release, we got the chance to chat with Liliana about her passion for acting and what the role means to her. Keep reading to find out what she had to share with us.
Sweety High: When did you discover your passion for acting? Was there any specific a-ha moment that made you realize it was the path for you?
Liliana Inouye: I've always loved performing and being in the spotlight. When I was 5 I did a commercial where I was a little ballerina girl and I had so much fun, I knew I wanted more! Soon after that I started taking acting classes and loved it. I loved having the space and the freedom to play and express myself. I also loved the friendship and sense of belonging that comes with being a part of a group of other actors. It was always about having fun, togetherness, self-expression and self-discovery. About a year ago, I decided to really commit to acting more seriously and got a professional agent. About a month later, I booked this role! Being on the set of Amber Brown made me realize fully that this is the path for me.
(Photo credit: Jason Benson)
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SH: Were you familiar with the book series of Amber Brown before you auditioned for the movies?
LI: No, I was not familiar with the book series. I think the series was popular before my time. But when I came back to Vancouver from Utah after filming Season 1, my grandma had an Amber Brown book laying on my night table, next to my bed. It was so fun to see it and read it. I think the books will gain popularity again with the show.
SH: Can you tell us a little bit about Amber Brown? How would you describe your character, Brandi?
LI: Amber Brown is about a girl who's just starting middle school. Her parents have just divorced and her dad has moved to Paris.
Her best friend and next-door neighbor Justin, has just moved away, and she's going through a lot of difficult changes. But then my character Brandi moves into the house next door and makes everything better!
Brandi is Amber's best friend and neighbor. She is an independent spirit, kinda quirky, and always sees the positive side of things. She has a mischievous spirit but is also such a sweet and loyal friend. What I love most about Brandi is that she is comfortable in her skin and is always true to herself; she never changes who she is to be popular. She is so proud of her quirkiness and what makes her, her. I wish we could all have that Brandi trait of just being cool with who we are and trusting that people will like us for who we are.
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SH: How similar are you to Brandi in real life? What would you say are your biggest similarities and differences?
LI: Brandi and I are very similar. We're both fun and quirky and extroverted and mischievous. We both love crystals and have an eclectic sense of style. Brandi is very positive, and I—well, I have my not always positive moments. I could use Brandi's ability to always take a situation and turn it into a positive.
SH: What was your most memorable moment from the set?
LI: Oh, that's a hard one. I think one of the most memorable parts of being on set was just being a part of this amazingly talented and fun group of creative people.
Seeing the amazing adult actors in action, seeing them being both goofy and silly and also so professional was so inspiring. Of course, hanging out with Carsyn [Rose] all the time, laughing, and doing TikToks was the most fun ever!!
One of my most memorable scene moments was me and Carsyn eating our avocado face masks!
SH: Is there any part of this series you're most excited for audiences to dive into when it comes out?
LI: Yes! I'm really excited for people to see the friendship between Amber and Brandi. They're so different in so many ways but they always have each other's back. Amber helps Brandi think of things more deeply and Brandi helps Amber lighten up and have more fun.
I hope people see that while changes in life can be hard, they don't have to be terrible. You can navigate hard times and still have fun when you have people who care in your life, and who help you look at things another way.
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SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
LI: I really hope my character Brandi inspires kids to feel good about what makes them different and unique—to be happy and proud of what makes them, them without trying to be someone they're not—and to know that the right people will love you for who you are.
Love getting to know the stories of your favorite young actors? Click HERE to read our interview with Martie Blair, who played young Eleven in the latest season of Stranger Things.