Exclusive interview with Allie Gonino

Feb 10, 2012 | Allie Gonino plays the role of Laurel Mercer on the teen mystery show "The Lying Game". Before that she was Michelle on the tv show "10 things I hate about you". Allie gives us some interesting insight into life on set of "The Lying Game" and her thoughts on her character Laurel Mercer. Also she tells us a little bit about her time with the girl group The Stunners who were an opening act on Justin Bieber's "My World Tour".

Note: © myFanbase 2011 - The interview is exclusive to myFanbase and may not be published on other websites or the like. You may share the first 2 questions or up to 160 characters if you link back to this site. Translations other than English and German may be posted with full credit including the writer's name and link to this site.
Foto: Allie Gonino - Copyright: Sierra Prescott
Allie Gonino
© Sierra Prescott

1. On "The Lying Game" you play Laurel Mercer, Sutton's sister. What do you like about your character? And is there something you don't like?

I have so much fun playing Laurel. Sometimes I feel like I'm reliving some moments I had when I was a sixteen year-old. But our lives are very different, which is also interesting because there are a lot of situations she has to deal with that I've never had to. I have siblings, but they're all much older than I am and we didn't really grow up together. Getting to play scenes with Alex [Chando] is neat in that way. It's nice to get insight to what having a sister close in age is like. I love that Laurel doesn't bathe in self-pity when she's having to go through all this crazy stuff. (You'll get to see even more craziness in the next episodes.) She remains strong in the face of adversity and that's what I admire. As of now, there's not really anything I don't like about her. I think for a spoiled sixteen year-old, she's turned out quite well. Maybe she could get some more friends though!

2. Do you think it is possible for Laurel to not realize that it's not really her sister who's living at their house at the moment?

I've been asking myself that same question! She's a smart girl, I don't know how she hasn't figured it out yet. But I'm justifying it by the relationship with Justin and her new music venture. Her head's been elsewhere, involved with her boyfriend and music. I also think she might just be grateful that her sister is finally being nice to her, and she's so innocent, I don't think she would even question the change.

3. Laurel and her boyfriend Justin got intimate quite early in their relationship and then he hurt her deeply. Would you understand if she took him back?

Unfortunately, young girls in love, especially when they lose their virginities to their first love, try to make the relationship work long after it should have been over. I was the same way with my first love. There were so many signs and situations that clearly should have broken us apart, but because he was my first love, I wanted so hardly to believe that we were supposed to be together forever. So yes, I understand that Laurel has taken him back. But if I could give her advice, I'd say leave him.

4. Do you actors know what's actually behind the big lying game that's going on with the twins' adoption? Are we gonna learn what behind it within this season?

We only know a small portion of the story, which the audience will find out at the end of this season. There's still a huge part we don't know, and we've all made our theories. It's funny because even the writers don't know what's going to happen. We always try to get secrets out of them, but even if they tell us something, it usually ends up that they change it before the script comes out. But there is a HUGE lying game taking place, right under our noses, and I can say with certainty everyone will be shocked.

5. On the one hand "The Lying Game" has a young cast and on the other hand some more experienced actors like Charisma Carpenter and Adrian Pasdar. Is it like a huge family on set? Do you learn from each other?

We absolutely learn from each other. And it really does feel like a family on our set. We call Andy Buckley the "mayor" of "The Lying Game" because he's always giving tours on set to people, and knows everyone's name, (I'm still learning.) We definitely take acting cues from our on-screen veterans, but I also love getting to know them each personally. They're all smart and fun to be around.

6. Are we going to see and hear you perform on the show more often?

You will! Laurel has just joined Baz's band, Strangeworthy, and they'll be playing shows/recording in the next few episodes.

7. Did you know the movie "10 Things I Hate About You" before you started working on the show? Did it have any influence on how you portrayed your characters?

I actually had never watched the movie before I booked the role on the TV series. I don't even think there was a Michelle character in the movie, I'm pretty sure she was just added to Chastity's team for catty-effect.

Foto: Allie Gonino, The Lying Game - Copyright: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Allie Gonino, The Lying Game
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

8. What were the best parts of working on that show?

"10 Things" was great experience for me, because it was my first recurring role on a show, so it really taught me how to be consistent with a character. I also loved playing a bitch! She was always so mean and had so much attitude. I'm sure I got to feed a lot of my dark side with that role, similar to how Alex must feel getting to play Sutton. It was good for me because it forced me to always perform well, knowing I could lose the job at any time because I wasn't a regular. I got used to being on a set and I'm sure it prepared me to work on "TLG".

9. "10 Things I Hate About You" was your first recurring spot on a tv show. What was different and what is similar on "The Lying Game" now?

I'd say it's much different on "TLG" because I'm locked into the show and my character has her own story line. I get to invest a lot more of myself in the role because I'm playing someone with an actual following. I also get to know the crew and cast at a more intimate level because I see them every week instead of every once in a while. I think the most obvious difference is the fact that I don't live in L.A. anymore. My whole life has really changed because of this show. I'm living in a new city and I'm having to build a new friend group. I think the only similarity is that even though I am a working actor on a series, I'm not having to carry the show. A blessing really. I get to learn acting in a safe environment, and be creative, but the show isn't depending on me to succeed.

10. You were part of the girl-group The Stunners. How did you get into dancing and singing and being a part of this group?

I started taking ballet when I was seven years-old, and singing professionally at the age of 9. I mostly performed country music and classical ballet until I was fifteen, then when I moved to Los Angeles, I decided to go in a new direction with my music. I wanted to incorporate dancing with my singing, so I knew pop music would be the best avenue. I got a call from the Stunners' manager, Vitamin C, and she really wanted me to audition for the last spot in the group. I was hesitant to join, because the idea of 5 head strong females in the same group quite terrified me. Plus I was going to be the oldest. But I did it for the experience, and it turned out to be a really wonderful one.

11. The Stunners were the opening act on Justin Bieber's "My World Tour". What was that experience like? What does a day on such a tour involve?

The Bieber tour was incredible! It went by so fast, and I can't believe it's already been a year and a half since we did that. The fans are probably what I remember most. They were so supportive of us. It was totally weird sleeping on a bus most nights. Usually we'd have a show two nights in a row, then get a night or two off. If we'd slept on the bus, we'd sleep really late, then go explore the new city we were in. On show days, we had to get to the arena by 3, go to sound check, then do our hair and make-up. It was such a long process of getting ready, only to be on stage for fifteen minutes. But it was a blast and I loved getting to travel the country.

12. Please tell us a little something about Justin Bieber. What is he like off stage?

We didn't spend too much time with Justin outside the arenas. Usually we'd spot him and Sean Kingston riding around on their Segways. At that time he was just sixteen, and seemed pretty normal. I remember he was hanging out in our dressing room once, we were stretching and warming up before a show, just being goofy. He said he thought I was "weird". I said, "I know. It's because I am."

13. Since myFanbase is an online magazine about TV series, do you have one or more favorite show(s)?

My favorite TV shows are "F.R.I.E.N.D.S.", "Sex and the City", "Modern Family", "New Girl", "Will & Grace", and "The Golden Girls".

Thank you, Allie, we wish you all the best for your future!

Thank you!

Nicole Oebel - myFanbase