Cassandra Scerbo – The Perfect Soulmate

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What drew you to the role in The Perfect Soulmate? It’s a darker character for you.

A) I had been approached about some other films, but they didn’t feel right for me at the time. When this script came around, it was so out there and so crazy. I was excited for a challenge and to play a very different character. Personally, I feel I look super different in this role. My character is very much a bookworm. Costumes did a great job with all the outfits and really playing her down. All the facets of this was interesting. I guess that’s what drew me to the role – doing something new and different. It was playing someone with all these mental issues and it was really fun. I love a good challenge!

Q) Is this a maturity or growth in roles that are coming your way more?

A) I was going from doing teen roles and young adult roles like on “Make It or Break It.” Bring It On is such a popular franchise and there are so many girls in the dance world and cheerleading. I feel like they all knew me from that type of character. Many people knew me as a teenage gymnast from “Make It or Break It” so having to transform was difficult and almost reinvent yourself. Of course, back when I was on the show there really wasn’t much social media. Everything in life is so different. Even fashion is different now! Always reinventing yourself is always finding something new and growing with your audience and your career.

Q) What are you doing this year to stretch yourself?

A) I think every year it is important to grow and I’m always trying to get the word out there for my charity Boo 2 Bullying and helping other charities. I just became an official ambassador for Padres, which Eva Longoria is the spokesperson for. It’s an organization I’ve been involved with for years thanks to my best friend. I think the most people you can touch in your lifetime and the most you can do feels the best. It does make sense not to spread yourself too thin and be involved in too many things. I generally respect everyone who tells me that, but I can’t help myself. I want to put my hands on everything that I can be a part of or cause where I can help make change. If I ca n touch even one person or inspire someone or help them is always my goal. I am just going to continue with the Boo 2 Bullying thing, which has grown so much. We have new incredible ambassadors this year and more programs coming out. That’s really where I feel I have been stretching myself the most. You always want to play the most outrageous, cool and strange roles. I just think that’s the art itself. For me, as a person, it’s just continuing to give to the charity world and use my platform to make a difference. I really, really want to get back into my music. It’s hard though when you’re doing so many different things. I’ve been learning the guitar though and getting back into the music world is something I would really like to do this year.

Q) What others can do to make a positive impact during this tumultuous climate? Why is it important for you to use your platform for more positive change?

A) I feel every single person has a voice, but when you have fans and followers to me it’s your duty. For whatever it is you believe in. Not everyone has to agree and that’s okay. It’s also about respecting others. I can’t stand when people go at behind a computer. I think it’s very coward-like. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and options whether it be politics, religion or whatever! We should encourage each other to have voices. If you don’t agree with something that’s okay, but I think it’s always important to use your voice no matter what. Personally, I don’t like discussing politics. It’s not my thing. I sit out of it because I think it is very “if-y” subject. So, I keep my thoughts to myself. But I do post a lot of spiritual quotes and I accept everyone’s religion, but I definitely post about mine. I like to post stuff about spirituality and I do connect with a lot of people on that level. And I do like to post about current events that are bothering me at that current time, whether it be some type of bullying situation or animal abuse. I have such a soft spot for animals. I’m going to do my best to speak up a little bit more about that. I think it’s always important in life, no matter what platform.

Q) How get into character and deal with dark emotions of the role?

A) Some people like to use substitution. I don’t. It’s a certain form of preparing for taking on a character. I don’t like to use that. I like to really, really feel like the character. What I did was I researched – I researched children of abuse because my character has been abused through their whole life from her mother and father – both physically and mentally. There are some flashbacks in the movie of her being abused and then I like to try to put myself in the shows. I will write as the character, thoughts and feelings. I’ll write down scenarios that I keep in my mind to allow me to get to certain emotions for scenes. I find as I write it has a domino effect. More thoughts come up as the character and what she may or has been through. I create scenarios and a life timeline for the characters. And, as I said, I research – whether it be articles or videos. I also always make sure to read scripts multiple times because there is always something you might miss or you might have a different though about a scene. Sometimes you miss little quotes or character traits that happen between two characters or more. So, I read the script multiple times, I researched and I created a timeline for my character so I could really live it truthfully. To get into the head space for really crazy things I did some things to make myself to feel unhinged and crazy. So, I’d do some things physically to get myself in the headspace.

Q) What were some moments where you really felt on edge by the character?

A) Even though she is going to come off really crazy, I felt for her. I think at times people will feel for her or at least see why she is the way she is. Hopefully, it will touch some people and people will learn from the story about how certain things like child abuse and neglect effect people later on in life. Anybody going through something like that can reach out and take a stance. Also, things like domestic violence how it effects this woman and yet she still cares about this man. I just hope that always someone can take something from this movie and how they can learn they can help another person. That’s always number one. Of course, we want them to be entertained, but I think this movie does a great job at really showing how under these terrible circumstances that people live in and hopefully people would want to prevent that after seeing this movie. I guess I did find myself really feeling for this character in moments where she loses all control. I was intrigued, for sure, as this character because I’ve never felt like that before. I’ve never dealt with an out of control feeling. I’m a very in control of my life person. I always have really good will power and morals and a wonderful support system in my family unlike this girl. So, she loses control in these moments. You see why she loses control and it’s because of everything she has been through in her life. She begins to spiral out of control. It is bottled up and all these horrible things that happened to her end up coming out later in life. So, for me, I would say the parts where she loses all control was very interesting for me to play.

Q) What do you think it is about Lifetime films that make guilty pleasure watches?

A) I do think that’s why I had a lot of concerns and this was super challenging for me. Sometimes how these movies are written come off super cheesy and that was what I was trying so hard to avoid. They give you some of the best stuff to work with though. They give such cool scenarios that so many studios don’t give you to work with and Lifetime makes sure not to make it cheesy. I asked the writers, “How much room do I have to play with? Am I allowed to change things around? I want to make things as realistic as possible. I don’t think the character would do this.” Also, just as an actor (like I said before) that’s really hard to not play these characters without coming off way too dramatic. So, it was like holding my breath and doing these weird things to create strange feelings as opposed to overacting because sometimes the scenes are just so outrageous. But I think it is a guilty pleasure because it’s fun to watch crazy scenarios. It’s like why people enjoy watching “Law and order” or “The Blacklist.” They are just so outrageous and it takes you so out of your normal life. It just takes you so far away from what you see in everyday life. So, it’s more exciting than the average film. I think they really just milk it and you can’t argue with the fact that they are just really fun. People watch reality shows because they love to see trainwrecks happen. They enjoy Lifetime films because they are just so outrageous and as an actor that was a challenge for me because I didn’t want to come off ridiculous. I think I did a good job! They are a lot of fun and I’ve done one before. People loved it. The movies are really fun and they have a great audience.

Q) As we get towards summer, what are some of your favorite summer fashion trends or ones you recommend?

A) Honestly, I’m really into this whole 90’s vibe or early 2000’s happening. I’ve found myself in and out of Urban Outfitters like ten times the past two weeks and the new Juicy Couture line they just came out with. Champion, Vans and Converse – I’m really loving this whole throwback moment. That’s been really fun for me, personally. I basically have been living in my Vans, Converse and Adidas outfits. That’s kind of been fun for me. Also, this whole “free people” vibe with off the shoulder, very ruffly white crop top shirts with denim jeans and skirts. All that stuff is really fun for me. I guess fashion is always a revolving circle. You always go back to an era at some point in time and I’m really liking where fashion is going now. I like the throwback that is happening.

Q) I know your family has a restaurant in South Florida. Where are some local hot spots or places you like to do here?

A) Really my family thing to do is just be at my house and go swimming with my nieces. We just hang out on the couch, cook and do whatever. I honestly just like going to restaurants I have been going to my whole life. My dad is friends with restaurant owners. I think it is just the Italian, East Coast thing. I always make sure I stop by Runway 84 when I’m home. It’s my favorite restaurant in the world and it is in Ft. Lauderdale. I always like to go to Deerfield Beach. It’s my cozy hometown beach. I also love Cooper’s Hawk that is a new wine tasting bar slash restaurant in Coconut Creek. I love the food and their wine tasting. I like to go there with my parents. I’m more of a family person.

Q) You touched a bit about wanting to get into music again. Who are some of your current favorite artists?

A) I listen to an array of artists. Right now I’m hooked on Sampha. I think he’s great! I also am hazing a major Janis Joplin moment. I’ve always loved her and have been listening to her songs a lot lately. I honestly think that Justin Bieber has come out with some pretty great tracks lately. I’m a Belieber!

Q) Are there any other projects that you have been working on?

A) In the summer I have Sharknado 5 coming out, which was fun because we got to travel all around the world and was a great experience. It was so much fun to do with the cast. I love what they are doing with my character. She’s such a female empowering character and totally all about the girl power. She has formed an underground army of shark slaying girls. They are called The Sharknado Sisters and they are really badass. It’s so incredible to play the leader of this pack of strong females. So, I’m loving that and it was fun. I also just finished up another movie in Birmingham, Alabama called Truth or Dare. I really liked that film because the actors were so talented and so much fun to work with. There are some crazy scenes in that as well. It is a psychological thriller from the director, Nick Simon, of The Girl in the Photographs. He went to film school and was mentored his whole life by Wes Craven so he is basically a horror film guru. This was the last film that Wes Craven produced before he passed away. So, it was really cool and an honor to work with him and my cast in that. Also, I’m just gearing up for Back To School programs with my Boo 2 Bullying charity.