TV Guide has a video of Molly up on their website that is worth checking out, here.

CASTLE’S – MOLLY C. QUINN

 

HSM-

You grew up acting in Texas. What was the experience like wanting to become an Actor? And how you were going to go about making it happen?

 

Molly C. Quinn -

I grew up in Texarkana, Texas. It’s kind of a small place so there weren’t very many people taking acting classes. Growing up, everyone’s attitude towards me was, “If Molly can do it why can’t I?” It was very strange and I don’t really understand it, but I had to work harder than everyone because it took me a little bit longer to learn everything. With acting, I could pull from everything and I guess that’s why I was drawn to it. To me it was a therapy session where I got to play. When I was twelve I got the idea of an agent without even knowing what they did. So I started begging, begging, and begging my parents to get me one. Finally my parents were like, “There’s this little summer movie camp in Dallas which is four hours away, and we’ll just let her do that to get it out of her system.” But it just made it worse. Cindy Osbrink from the Osbrink Agency was at the camp and she stood in front of everyone and said, “Raise your hand if you want to be famous.” Pretty much everyone raised his or her hand, but me. I thought that’s not why I want to act. Then she said, “Raise your hand if you want to do this because you want to be super rich.” And all these kids raised their hands, but again I didn’t. I thought I would be totally happy with not making any money from this. Then she said “Raise your hand if you didn’t raise your hand for any of those questions. My hand was the only hand that rose, and pretty much everyone hated me. (She laughs) Cindy Osbrink looked at me and that was it; we had that connection. And that’s what it takes. I constantly remind myself of that and it keeps me grounded.

 

HSM-

What is your strongest advice for the audition process?

 

Molly C. Quinn -

Some people will say, “Oh I didn’t book it.” And I usually say it’s not about booking it. It’s about going in the room, and for those five minutes it’s YOUR part. That’s how I look at it. That’s what helps me now because I have to audition along with everyone else even if I already am on the show CASTLE. In auditions people do crazy stuff.  Some people act shady and try and talk to you to throw you off your game. I tell everyone to put music in your ear, and not just any music. Put in music that you think that character would listen too, so that it puts you in a certain mood or zone. The only time I’ve ever bombed the audition is when I left my music at home.

 

HSM –

Do you have a saying or a motto that you follow, and how do you use it towards the business?

 

Molly C. Quinn -

“Do or do not, there is no try” – Yoda. It’s my mantra because acting is about preparing the material, but it’s also about keeping your body up, keeping your skin healthy, and having a good diet. It’s about everything. I even find myself saying “oh I don’t want to get a facial” and just complaining about stuff, and then that saying comes to my head, “Do or do not, there is no try.’’ If I really want this, then I better prepare for it. I really don’t like training in Karate, but I do it because you never know what you might audition for, and you have to be prepared for anything. I remember Bob Preston, who worked for CESD at the time, said, “If you’re not prepared for that moment, then that moment or that chance might as well not come to you.” Every actor needs to have a song prepared to sing for when you get that singing audition. You have to have that instrument ready because you may get an opportunity to perform and you want to be good. You can’t be mediocre because L.A. is the freak show of the best of the best. The best from every small town in the country and you have to compete with that.

 

HSM –

Your mother came to L.A. with you when you were just thirteen. What is your relationship like, and how has she supported your career?

 

Molly C. Quinn -

I feel like I’m really blessed to have a parent that is very normal, grounded, and extremely intelligent. Our relationship is pretty much a business relationship. If my mom says, “You know you need to work on your upper arm a little bit more or I think you can do this better,” you can’t be offended because it’s your mom. You have to think of it as your teacher helping you. And it can be challenging to separate the teacher from the parent relationship but you have to. I see crazy parents with their kids all the time and it makes me feel even more blessed to have my mom. My mom will say, “Being a good parent is a dirty job.” And it really is.

 

HSM –

I’m sure you find yourself frustrated at times with the industry. What keeps you positive and moving forward?

 

Molly C. Quinn -

I totally find myself mad and crying, but you give yourself those ten minutes and then you’re done. It’s about surrounding yourself with good friends. You cycle through friends. Not only do most people who come out here not stay very long, sometimes the people you meet can be very jaded. They can be into habits that you don’t need to get into if you want to make it to the next level. Even though it’s hard to be alone, because it can be lonely being out here, you’ve got to cut people out and move on. I’ve done it at least three times and I’m just now really meeting people that are good for me. Some are in the business, but most of them do other things. It’s about having a varied group. A group that can lift each other up. A group that is in the same spiritual frame of mind is actually extremely helpful. People think that it doesn’t really matter, but it does. Also, my dog totally keeps me cheerful. I don’t have many bad days but if I come home and I’m finding myself a little down, my dog Piper will do things and I can’t help but smile. I’m a strong believer in positivity. Having positive thoughts and positive affirmation is a very powerful thing. I keep a vision board and I have an Oscar taped to my vision board that says, “The Oscar goes to Molly Quinn.” When I auditioned for Avalon High I put up “Molly Quinn starring as Jen in Avalon High.” It sounds silly but these little things work for me. I think being grateful is important. It’s also about being grateful for what you already have because I find myself being so focused on the next job that sometimes I’m not present with what I have. And when someone else books a part, say, “Good for you! Because I know how hard you worked to get it.” It’s hard not to be self-absorbed. You can give yourself that ten minutes of saying “I really would have loved to do that part,” but then you say, “Good for you.”

 

HSM –

What advice would you give to someone who has just booked a role?

 

Molly C. Quinn -

Once you book something, don’t just coast through it. You need to work harder. You need to make it different and get every last drop out of it. Working harder makes you a team player. Nathan Fillion who plays my dad Richard Castle is there on set 18 hours a day. So when I come in, it’s about making his job easier. Being prepared allows me to help him. Even on the smallest parts you really need to bring it. Really build that part. Really know who you are and why you’re there. I find that a lot of people I come across who are in the business just skate by or just stay out late drinking and partying when they have work the next day. You’re not going to meet the people you want to meet and it’s not going to get you where you want to go. It’s really unprofessional. It’s unhealthy and you’re not going to last long. I’ve seen it a hundred times and that’s why I don’t hang out with those kinds of people anymore. It’s like yeah you’re cool, but you’re not booking anything anymore, and these people just fall to the wayside. You have to bring it otherwise you’re not going to survive. I see a lot of people driven by fame and not by the love.

 

HSM –

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as an Actor here in L. A.?

 

Molly C. Quinn -

Have your goal list and your schedules down. Without these you’re just like a leaf in the wind blowing around and you don’t get anything accomplished. You need to stick to your goal and schedule list. Even if something fun comes up, you have to say no to it. Of course you have to shake it up, but you need to stick to your goals and do things that help you get life experience. You’re going into an environment where people have been preparing and training since they were six and there’s really no way you can compete with that if you don’t prepare. And another thing, don’t get a manager until you’re at least getting 99% call backs and you’re just having a problem getting over that edge. I hear first timers say “I have a manager” and I’m like, “why do you have a manager?” A Manager manages things once you have a schedule going. And don’t just sit there and wait for your manager or your agent to call you because they have other people who they’re working for, and they’re going to be working the hardest for those clients who are working the most. Go in every month and check in with them and establish an actual relationship and not just a business relationship. If you have ideas, let them know. Let them know what you’re interested in because they don’t really know, and you can’t expect them to read your mind. It’s your career. You can never sit back. You always have to be on your toes.

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Hey everyone. It’s been a while since I posted but I thought I ought to give everyone an update.

There hasn’t been much Molly news as of lately. But for those of you that don’t know, Castle is on it’s summer hiatus and won’t be back until the fall for it’s fourth season. Did everyone catch the season three finale? It was really great. I can’t wait until next season. As for anything else, Molly’s newest project, Winx Club, will be airing on Nick at the end of this month. Over at my Winx Club sister site I posted a promo for the show. Molly is playing Bloom, the shows lead character. Be sure to check out and tune in if you can.

Other then that there isn’t much going on. The finale season 3 episode caps of Castle are in the gallery. Molly wasn’t on much in that episode but we did see a bit of her. She was wonderful in acting, and had a scene where she was crying. In her real life, she recently posted on twitter a picture of her new niece which is absolutely adorable. Be sure to follow Molly on her twitter and facebook to get any other updates.

Until next time, Happy Summer everyone. Enjoy the wonderful weather!