Haley Ramm – Chasing Life

By starrymag | July 27, 2015

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

Q) Talk about how you and Brenna have matured throughout the seasons of “Chasing Life.”

A) I really just feel like ever since “Chasing Life” has come into my life I have matured a lot. I booked the pilot when I was twenty years old and now I’m twenty-three years old. So, I think there has been a lot of change. It’s been fun to see Brenna changing too, especially this season she grows up a lot. She is having to make real choices about her life and what she wants to do after high school. She doesn’t want to go to college, but her mom wants her to go so they are going at it even more. I think Brenna is like the black sheep in the family. Everyone loves her and everyone has this understanding of her, but I think with her mom it might take her a minute to get there. Growing up is fun and I think it is cool to look back on the years and see how much you have grown up and how you would handle situations differently.

Q) How do you think Brenna has been handling all of the adult situations she has been put in more and more over the seasons?

A) I think that Brenna handles situations pretty well. She deals with a lot of issues that are very mature and I think she has had a lot come her way pretty early in life. You really see that in Season 2. We find out a lot about our dad and his wife and his secrets he was keeping from us. I think for a young girl to be told her dad wasn’t really who she thought he was is pretty huge, but the way she handles it (the way the writers have written her handling it) is really great. I feel like this season too Brenna is kind of the one who can keep the family together. She is kind of the peacemaker this season. She doesn’t want anyone to fight or anything to be wrong. She is there for her sister all of the time. Mostly I think Brenna and April (Italia Ricci) have some tiffs this season. I think Brenna needs it to be about her every now and then because she is a teenager and she needs attention every now and then as well.

Q) Do you think April takes on a motherly role with her sister?

A) I think their age difference has a lot to do with it. Brenna is seventeen years old and April is like twenty-four years old. So, I think it is natural for April to go into the motherly state with Brenna.

Q) The relationship they have is back and forth where Brenna sometimes is the mom and April is the mom. We all need those moments.

A) We were talking the other day because towards the end of this season there is some sister drama between the three of us. We were talking about sister relationships. I grew up with a brother so I’ve never had a sister, not even like a sister figure. Sister relationships are so complicated, but so beautiful. And I think you see a lot of that in Season 2, especially towards the end. It’s such a strong connection and there can be so much agony and heartbreak with your sister, but so much commitment and passion, too. I think the relationships are so interesting and all of my friends who grew up with girls in the family I find it interesting how they are all so different and yet the same.

Q) We saw Brenna is getting to know Margo on a more personal level.

A) I think after Greer left, Brenna just needed to have a new relationship with someone and try to get back into the dating game. It’s kind of like Margo (Aurora Perrineau) is there for it. We’ll find out more about Margo’s crazy world in the next episode. We have Leisha Hailey guest starring, who was on “The L Word,” and she is hilarious! So, I’m really excited for that episode and people to see her scenes. We’ll learn a lot about her. It’s pretty funny.

Q) Will we get to see the difference in relationships? Obviously, Margot is a different age than Brenna and Greer.

A) Yeah, that definitely is something that comes up, the difference is age. It’s not really between her and Margo, but between her and someone you will meet in the next episode who is played by Leisha Hailey. I don’t think I can say more than just a problem comes up.

Q) Will there be any backlash to Brenna dating an older woman with the way Sarah handles it?

A) No. I think there are some things that are just out of Sarah’s (Mary Page Keller) control when it comes to Brenna. Sarah is not really too into this storyline with Margo.

Q) We have had some text and emails between Brenna and Greer. Is there a chance for her to return in the remaining Season 2 episodes?

A) I think we will see Greer (Grace Dzienny) pop up. She will make an appearance!

Q) Do you feel like it is hard for Brenna to move on with Greer kind of still in the picture?

A) I just think it s a whole first love situation, really the first person that we saw Brenna have something real and passionate with. I think it is hard for anyone getting over their first love. It’s a whole different type of relationship than we all have in our lives. I do think that Greer is hard to get over.

Q) Fans have really taken to the Grenna relationship. It felt like they had these meet-cutes together and ABC Family has a knack for meet-cutes with LGBTQAI relationships.

A) They do! We do have some things coming up this season where Brenna joins an LGBTQAI club at school. Those were so fun to film because it feels good to talk about it and to know that young people are going to watch that. A good friend of mine plays one of the characters in the group. So, it was fun getting to star with my friend.

Q) With the new forced transition, how will Brenna adapt to her new surroundings?

A) I think that moving to public school is actually the best thing that could happen to her. She meets a lot of cool new people. It’s a good change for her.

Q) You are now an ambassador for the campaign for AARDA. How does this auto-immune disease effected your family?

A) My mom suffers from quite a few auto-immune diseases and it is something that no one really talks about because no one really knows about it. I’m talking about people in general and also doctors and scientists. There is not enough money going towards research so they don’t know the cause or the cure. We just really want to raise awareness and money to try and make an impact on people’s lives who are going through this. To me, it seems like such a silent disease, but it is so powerful. That is a little bit heartbreaking to know there are so many people going through these auto-immune diseases and there is over fifty different types of auto-immune diseases. No one is really looking after them. There is no money being raised. So, we just really wanted to do that. We’re planning a walk on November 8th and we’re looking forward to that. It’s nice to be involved with a charity that does feel close to my heart. I think it makes all the difference and it even makes it easier to talk about.

Q) How can people get involved with the cause?

A) The challenge video that I have been posting around shows how to help. I think people like making fun videos themselves. I encourage anyone and everyone to put it in people’s’ minds and tell people what this is. With the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, they obviously raised a lot of money and awareness. I know a lot of people didn’t know what it was so just to have it on people’s radar helps people know it is something they could end up with. It’s not super rare. Once you have an auto-immune disease you are susceptible to getting even more. You can go to http://www.aarda.com to get involved.

Q) What can you tease is in store for the rest of this season on “Chasing Life?”

A) For the rest of the season, people can look forward to lots of ups and downs. There is a lot of love, some heartbreak and really cool new characters. We have a lot of great guest stars and I’m excited for people to see who is coming in.