If you read my interview with Chris Evans, then you know the film GIFTED focus on the choices of what is best for Mary (played by McKenna Grace), a child math genius. McKenna did an amazing job portraying Mary, child caught between two worlds, who is also trying to figure out her place in the world and in the life of Frank, her uncle.

Note: I was invited as media to the movie screening and press junket interviews. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

Since I enjoyed GIFTED so much, I was excited when Role Mommy Writer's Network and Fox Searchlight invited me to interview both Chris Evans and McKenna Grace about their role in the film.

Since this is a movie about a child math genius, I wanted to ask McKenna.....

Which subject would you pick to be a genius in?

McKenna Grace: Social Studies. That would make my life a lot easier. Social Studies is really hard, and sometimes it can be pretty boring. I think that if I could be smarter at it, I think that it would help me a lot in school.

McKenna was SO sweet. And her answers to the other interview questions was amazing. Read on to learn more.

Working with Fred on Set

McKenna Grace: Oh my goodness. It really wasn’t Fred. His name was Bob, and he was so great. He was so soft and snuggly. I loved to snuggle him, and he would purr and meow. Well, that’s what all cats do, but I just love cats. He was my best friend, and he loved treats. They were always giving him treats, and he was just a really good cat.

How did you handle all the hard math problems on the set?

McKenna Grace: I memorize the equations. My mom and I, we turned it into a little song that I sang in my head. I still remember that tune to this day because it was so catchy, it had to be a catchy tune or else I would forget it

What do you think about bullies and how should people work against them?

McKenna Grace: Well, kindness, kill them with kindness. I think that no matter what, we should all be kind to one another. If you see or experience bullying, then you should tell an adult and try and fix it by telling someone or maybe saying hey, that’s not right to do that.

I think that you should be friends with everyone that, just everyone, because if someone is alone, then you should sit next to them because you don’t know what’s happened to them in their life. They could be looking happy or fine on the outside, but they could be really hurting on the inside.

Why should people see this movie

McKenna Grace: This movie is a really great feel-good movie, and it has a happy ending. I think that it carries a great message, and the message that it carries is family, that it comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs. And you may not be blood relatives with who you stay with, or you may have one mom, or one dad, or two moms, or two dads, or a mom and a dad, or just live with your uncle like Mary does. But at the end of the day I think that family is the people that you love and that love you and who you care about.


Well said McKenna! Indeed GIFTED shows us what to means to love and be there for your family in so many ways. Make sure to go see it!



GIFTED TRAILER


MOVIE SYNOPSIS

Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man raising a child prodigy - his spirited young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace) - in a coastal town in Florida. Frank's plans for a normal school life for Mary are foiled when the seven-year-old’s mathematical abilities come to the attention of Frank’s formidable mother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) whose plans for her granddaughter threaten to separate Frank and Mary.

Octavia Spencer plays Roberta, Frank and Mary’s landlady and best friend. Jenny Slate is Mary’s teacher, Bonnie, a young woman whose concern for her student develops into a connection with her uncle as well.

Cast: Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, and Octavia Spencer

Director: Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer)

To learn more about GIFTED, visit -www.GiftedMovie.com

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