Landry Bender – Best Friends Whenever

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What is your favorite Disney show besides “Best Friends Whenever” and why?

A) “Hannah Montana!” I was mesmerized by it. I think the reason kids love Disney Channel so much is because they like watching people around their age and relating to them. Miley did such a great job at showing you a real girl aside from her pop star alter ego. It’s something that I always thought was so cool to watch.

Q) Talk about filming the holiday centered “Best Friends Whenever” episode  and what are you looking forward to most this Christmas.

A) If you’re not in the holiday spirit already, the episode will definitely do the trick. We filmed this in August and I’ve been in the Christmas spirit since! It’s a great episode about giving, being dependent on others and of course friendship.  Christmas to me about love and family, being with them and sharing that is always something I look forward to each year.

Q) What is a day of filming “Best Friends Whenever like?”

A) The best! I love rehearsal days too, but when we’re actually filming there’s so much positive energy/adrenaline. Depending on my call time I’ll get there and have breakfast/a snack and then a lot of times go straight to school. I get an hour of school in, go to hair and makeup, put on wardrobe and then go to work. I get the rest of my schoolwork done in the remainder of the day, eat lunch, finish shooting, go home and SLEEP.

Q) You have great comedic timing, has comedy come naturally or is it something you have honed and studied?

A) Thank you so much! That’s a good question. My whole life I’ve been surrounded by very funny people so I guess you could say I learned some timing from them, but I definitely wouldn’t say it was ever something that came “natural.” I watch the show and watch different things I’ve done and am ridiculously hard on myself. I see flaws that others probably don’t, but I feel like it’s that way with anything. Weirdly enough, I like to study myself and see the things I dislike to try to improve as much as I can.

Q) What has been your favorite episode to film and why?

A) The Christmas one, actually! It’s so cool when you get to shoot a holiday themed episode without it actually being that time of year. We had so much fun whether it be with the clothing, warm drinks and decorations. It felt exactly like December even if it was the summer.

Q) Is there anything that you have added to the role not originally scripted?

A) There are always little lines and gimmicks that we all try to throw in and every once in a while one will stick. I love the fact that my character loves to eat so anytime she’s really doing nothing in a scene or they want some kind of “busy work” I’m always like, “Cyd would probably eat here”, and props will grab a snack and it’s in the scene!

Q) There was a crossover episode with the “Girl Meets World” cast, is there anyone else you would love to see guest star?

A) Yeah, we had so much fun with that! We’ve all pitched certain people to our creators, but I have my favorites and dream co-stars: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon, Neil Patrick Harris and Miranda Sings.

Q) What is your favorite aspect of your character?

A) The fact that she so real. It seems like a weird answer, but it’s so true. She “marches to the beat of her own drum” while still having everyone’s best interest. She has this coolness and confidence to her that I’ve loved playing around with.

Q) What is your latest guilty pleasure? Are you into any particular band, game, music group, or book?

A) Lately I’ve been OBSESSED with the Solitaire app on my phone. I’m absolutely terrible at it, but I find it so fun and have no clue why.

Q) What do you hope fans take away from watching the show?

A) I hope they take away that it’s so great to have someone by your side. Cyd and Shelby (Lauren Taylor) go through so many obstacles with time travel, but being together makes it all so much easier and fun. This is something we continue to touch on more and more throughout the season and is such an important aspect of the show.  Sure, we time travel, but the friendship aspect is what give the show it’s “real.”