Quinn McColgan recently starred in the HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce,” in which she played the daughter of Oscar winner Kate Winslet. Quinn, who just completed third grade at Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, Md., started modeling and acting the summer before second grade. She’s an avid reader, loves to play lacrosse and enjoys old movies.
DT: Mind if I ask you a few questions?
QM: Sure. Go right at it.
DT: What do you like about acting?
QM: When you act, you’re sometimes someone who is not really you, so you get to be a different person. And it’s really fun to meet all the actors and actresses and even the crew. It’s a very cool thing to be able to do.
DT: Who is a Hollywood star you would most like to meet?
QM: I am a big fan of Harry Potter and the person I would like to meet is Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger. I am crazy about her. I have her pictures in my room on my desk.
DT: Do people ask you for your autograph?
QM: Yeah. My grandparents asked me and my friends ask me constantly. Some of my brother’s friends who are in sixth grade who I don’t even know are asking me and I’m like, uh, who are you?
DT: Has anybody recognized you just walking down the street?
QM: I have had a lot of people when I go some places. Like I ate in a diner with my grandparents and as I was walking out a lady came up to me and said, “Hey, aren’t you the movie star?” I said, “How do you know that?”
DT: How much was your character like you?
QM: The character was a lot like me. I like to play sports like my character did. She related to me a lot, actually. Like sometimes she would draw things on her face. That would be something I would do if my mom and dad let me. Like if I’m at a carnival, I let them paint my face. But in the movie, I die. That’s not like me because basically I never died yet because I’m standing right here talking to you.
DT: What was the toughest part of your role?
QM: I think (dying) was one of my toughest scenes to do because I’ve never really seen anyone die. I’ve never really went to a funeral, except once when I was a little baby. So I never really knew how it would look. They were constantly flipping me over and putting fake needles in me. It was extremely hot in the room and I stayed in bed covers the whole time (five hours), like 1,000 bed covers. It ended up Kate actually had to hold a mini-fan and fan me.
DT: Did you get to sit in one of those cool chairs with your name on the back?
QM: Yes. You always see them on TV shows, like behind the scenes. And then I’m like, Wow, I really am behind the scenes! I actually got to keep the back of the chair that says “Ray.” And the inside says “Quinn McColgan.”
DT: I saw you did voiceover work on a NOVA program called “The Pluto Files.” Can you tell me about that?
QM: Well, that was the first job I ever booked. It was talking mostly about … me and this other boy were writing letters to the person saying we didn’t think Pluto should not be a planet.
DT: So you were sticking up for Pluto?
QM: Yup. I think of Mickey Mouse and a dog, for some reason.
DT: What’s been your favorite gig so far?
QM: I did one for Ortega tacos. I really like tacos. It’s one of my favorite foods. So I got to eat tacos all day. I also did a Tyson chicken nuggets commercial. So I had to eat chicken all day. I actually had to take a bite and spit it in a bucket. I like the food commercials.
DT: Has your fame gone to your head?
QM: No. I don’t think so. Not yet. Probably not ever. I’m hoping that. —Drew Ostroski
