Fans of one of the most iconic Disney Channel shows ever, Wizards of Waverly Place, would remember Alex’s best friend, Harper, who was memorable for her crafty outfits. Real-life actor Jennifer Stone who portrayed Harper recently went on the ILYSM Podcast to discuss everything from her life before Wizards, her favourite memory on set, and her new life as a full-time nurse.
Life before Wizards:
She got started in acting because her brother was playing too many video games and got dragged into drama camp for the summer. Jennifer, seeing people act, really loved it and started taking classes.
Auditioning for Disney:
She originally landed in a show called Bus Life that never premiered that would’ve starred Vanessa Hudgens, Brandon Smith, and Moises Arias. After it didn’t get pick up, she was actually asked to audition for Alex. Stone then was asked to quickly audition for the friend character which she only had 10 minutes to prepare. After a chemistry read with Selena, Jennifer booked the role!
On the iconic Crazy Hat Song:
People actually ask her to sing it all the time! She had to rewatch the song on YouTube because she forgot how to do it!
Favourite memory from the show:
Pep talk before the show started in front of the live audience! Stone also mentions the whole cast is busy with their own lives but they still keep in touch through a group text.
Adjustment to life after the show:
After the show, Stone surprisingly only landed horror roles. Right after that, she got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes so it was a real adjustment. It was hard for her to audition because she was gaining weight so fast and also started to lose her vision and it took her four years to get the right treatment.
On her weight:
In a recent TikTok trend where they mention how messed up beauty standards were, many were pointing out celebrities they used to think were fat and Jennifer has seen herself listed as one of them which was horrifying to her. In hindsight, she was diabetic and didn’t know it. She recalls the messages on Twitter back in the day of people sending her nasty comments. Her overall message for girls is to find worth in how they make other people feel and leaving the room better than she found it rather than focus on physical appearances.
How she manages to remain normal despite being a former Disney star:
Stone attributes her parents to being grounded. She says her mom never cared about celebrity culture or the business and just wanted her to fulfill her dreams. Meanwhile, her dad is a farmer so they are very far removed from the crazy fame aspects of the acting world.
On how she is able to manage time as a nurse and as an actor:
For those of you who don’t know, Jennifer made headlines last year for becoming a nurse during the Pandemic which surprised many people about the former child actor. While many thought she gave up acting altogether, Stone says she is pursuing both! She would work three 12 hour shifts days a week while auditioning for the rest of the days as an actor! Talk about a busy schedule!
You can watch the full interview here:
It looks like Jennifer had a pretty unique experience working both as a nurse and as a child actor! We love how humbled and inspiring she is. What a role model!
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