Mandy Moore Mara
Want the inside scoop on the action? We quiz the actress and singer for the low-down…
How would you describe your character in TRON: Uprising?
I play a mechanic called Mara in TRON: Uprising. She’s great friends with two of the main characters in the show, Beck and Nate, who are voiced by Elijah Wood and Nate Corddry. They all work in a garage together and they are the best of friends because there are no families on the Grid, which is where the action of the show is set.
Are you anything like Mara in real life?
Mara is a loyal friend and she’s got her head screwed on straight. I like to think I’m similar to her in that respect.
Are you a good mechanic?
No way! I’m terrible when it comes to technology and fixing things. I don’t know how to change a tyre or anything like that. I’m really inept when it comes to anything mechanical!
Are there any other similarities between you and Mara?
Mara has some amazing blue hair, which I like a lot – but I don’t look as edgy as her in real life. I’m much more reserved with my hair. For starters, it’s definitely not blue!
You provided the voice of Rapunzel in the movie Tangled and now Mara in TRON: Uprising. Is it a rule that all of your animated characters have to have cool hair?
Ha ha! You know what? I’ve never thought about it, but you’re right. Rapunzel had great hair, but Mara’s hair is a lot funkier. In my next animation, I’m playing a cowboy sheriff cat – but she hasn’t got any hair at all.
What is the show called?
At the moment, it’s called Sheriff Callie’s Wild West – but the title keeps changing. It’s something I’ve been working on for a couple of years and it’s incredibly cute. It’s a new Disney Junior show and my character has a cute little pink hat, but no hair. She has a cactus best friend and I get to sing country songs for the project, so it’s very sweet. It’s adorable.
Are you a fan of animals?
I love animals. At home, we have two cats and two dogs – and they are awesome. Want to know a secret? My husband is obsessed with cats! When he’s away from home, he likes to sing about the cats and he talks about the cats all the time. It’s all about the cats.
Do you get to sing as Mara in TRON: Uprising?
I hope not! I think that would be really weird for the TRON universe. TRON: Uprising is super cool and it’s not the sort of animation where you’d see the characters burst into song. It’s much more edgy and intense than that.
Can you tell us a little more about your character in the show? Is Mara Beck’s girlfriend?
No, she is not Beck’s girlfriend. They are all best friends, but that’s all for now.
Does that mean they might get together in the future?
I don’t think so. Well, it’s not explored in the first series of the show. Mara ends up with a huge crush on a character called The Renegade, but she doesn’t realise it’s Beck in disguise. She doesn’t realise that he is the hero.
How does your work on TRON: Uprising compare to your work on Tangled?
To be honest, it’s pretty similar. I spend a few hours in the sound booth and I act with my voice, although TRON: Uprising is a bit more edgy. The action is a little more intense and thrilling. I have a lot of fun with it.
What’s it like in the sound booth?
It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work because you have to use your imagination a lot. You have no visuals apart from a couple of sketches, so you have to imagine everything in your mind. It’s fun because it allows you to go into the depths of your imagination to picture what this world looks like and where your character is going. It’s like being a kid again.
How do you prepare for the sound booth?
I don’t know if I do anything special to prepare. I make sure I have some water with me, but that’s about it.
What advice would you give to youngsters who want to become a voice actor?
I’m not very creative, so I’d just say be as unguarded as possible when you practice with your voice. Let yourself go and feel free to explore different sounds – even if it feels totally goofy or totally weird. That’s where I think some of the greatest and most memorable voices come from.
What were your favourite cartoon movies when you were growing up?
I have always loved Fantasia because it is mesmerising and beautiful – but my favourites were probably The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. I love the classics. They are such great movies!
Did you always dream about becoming an actress when you were younger?
I’ve always wanted to be in the entertainment industry. Ever since I was six years old, I wanted to be an actor or a singer. I was in a lot of school plays like Gypsy, The Christmas Carol and Bye Bye Birdie – but I didn’t always get the lead role.
Did it bother you if you didn’t win the lead role?
No, it didn’t bother me. I was excited to be included, so I was always happy to play anything – especially because I was doing the plays with a lot of my friends. All I wanted was to be around my friends and to be in good company.
What advice would you give to youngsters who want to follow in your footsteps and take up a career in acting?
It’s important to follow your dreams if you want to become an actor, but it’s also important to understand that a lot of disappointment comes along with this job – but you can’t take it personally. Even to this day, I still get disappointed when I audition for something and I really want it, but it doesn’t end up going my way.
What’s the best way to handle rejection?
You have to learn something positive from the experience. You have to think to yourself, ‘What can I do differently next time?’ Or maybe you weren’t doing anything wrong, but it wasn’t the right opportunity. Remember that there’s always a next time, but don’t take it personally. Do not let the rejection deter you from doing something that you love. Keep your dreams alive everyone!
Mandy stars in Tron: Uprising, Disney XD
Tagged in Mandy Moore TV Disney