Sophia Woodward about being Luna Loud: “It’s more than I could ever ask for”

Photographer: Ben Cope
MUA: Jenna Nicole Official
Hair: Sydney Rose
Wardrobe stylist: ASHLEY PRUITT

Talented and beautiful Sophia Woodward was born in Oklahoma City, although she grew up in Virginia and then Montana, where she became involved in the local theater program, Alpine Theater Project. Her sustained efforts earned her -among others- the role of the energetic, cheerful, and charismatic rocker Luna Loud, from “The Really Loud House”, which has been a challenge and an adventure at the same time.

In this interview, Sofía herself tells us about her beginnings, the changes she had to make to become Luna, her acting aspirations and more. So keep reading!

Sophia for people who are reading this and don’t know much about your career, can you please tell us, when exactly did you start acting? And how was your process of getting into the industry?

My process of getting into the industry was pretty bizarre. I started acting in local musical theatre when I was 9 and immediately fell in love with it. When I was 12, I attended a modeling workshop at a local mother agency on a whim and ended up getting offered a contract. A few months later, I found myself on a cruise ship to Mexico competing in front of panels of casting directors, managers, and agents in acting, modeling, and talent competitions. I ended up winning top child actor and just another few months later booked my first television job. Things only snowballed from there and I’m beyond grateful for it. 

In general terms, what tools has Sophia the actress given to Sophia the girl?

Being an actress has been a very large part of my identity and my relationship with myself. My parents were always so supportive of my career, but, luckily, they were never stage parents. Meaning that they supported me, but they made it clear that acting was my thing and that I needed to put the work in to get where I wanted to be. I’m incredibly grateful for this approach and it made me incredulously self-sufficient from a very young age. I’ve always had an above-average work ethic, & it only grew with my entrance into the industry.

Of course, we need to talk about “The Really Loud House”, where you are going to star as Luna Loud. What can you tell us about this experience?

It’s more than I could ever ask for. I’ve never been in a more creative, encouraging environment. Everyone on this project burns with love for what we get to create every day and I’m so honored to be a part of it. 

In this show you are going to act, sing and play guitar, how about that? It´s going to be very demanding, right?

Luna possesses a layer of character study that none of the other characters in the series possess due to her musicality. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve always had a passion for music and I’m ecstatic that I get to play around with that aspect of myself in this series. It’s definitely a challenge when I get a piece of music about a half hour before I go shoot it, but in what other environment do you get paid to perfect skills that you’re already passionate about? I really lucked out. 

You even had to cut your hair to look more like the original character. How did you feel about that?

Oh, man. Cutting my hair was a whole journey in itself. Before we shot the Christmas movie last year, I pretty much looked the same my entire life. When I was asked if I would be open to cutting my hair into a pixie cut, I said yes. I didn’t think twice about it really. I figured hair grows back and I need to get as close to Luna’s character as possible to do her justice. So, I chopped all my hair off, and proceeded - to my surprise - to have many meltdowns over it. Before I cut my hair, I only ever associated the idea of femininity with men. What men find desirable, what men think women should look like, and what men are attracted to. After I cut my hair, I felt like none of these things. It was a huge adjustment for me, I truly didn’t recognize myself. Little things about me changed. For example, I used to only wear huge, oversized, baggy clothes. After my haircut, I felt like I couldn’t anymore because I looked too much like a boy. As a young girl, I subconsciously derived so much self-value, identity, and security in not even necessarily my appearance, but what boys thought of me. So, when I felt undesirable, I found myself feeling very lost. It took a little bit for me to develop an entirely new and much healthier idea of womanliness, completely devoid of what I think men want. And, for the record, I can now say with total confidence that I absolutely love my haircut. 

In your opinion, what values does this series transmit to the young people who watch it?

Well, the main thing is the importance of family and the celebration of individuality in communities. Every character is completely different from each other and that’s what makes them all so vital to the stories we tell together. Kind of following up with my journey with my hair, I think what’s so important about this show - and what I came to learn in my relationship with myself - is that it displays various types of femininity. 10 sisters, 10 totally unique, beautiful, and completely valid forms of girlhood. 

What are your acting aspirations? What kind of roles would you like to play within the entertainment industry?

I hope that I continue working on projects I’m passionate about with people I can learn from, similar to this project. I’ve always wanted to do a period piece, but I definitely have to work on my British accent for that to happen. 

If you could choose a movie that already exists, to be YOU the protagonist, what would it be and why?

I feel like I would love to play Clarice in “Silence of the Lambs.” It’s my favorite movie of all time and I’m obsessed with Jodie Foster’s performance in it because it seems so simple to an untrained eye. However, there are so many layers to Clarice and when you really are able to catch them, you can see them play out on Foster’s face. I just would love the opportunity to play a character like that. 

What things are you passionate about besides the stage?

I mean I’m obviously a huge music fanatic, but I’ve also always enjoyed writing. I took more poetry and English classes than any other subject in high school. I especially love mixing the two & writing my own music. On my days' offset, you can definitely find me on my couch in my condo writing songs out of old notes I find on my phone. 

Sophia thanks so much for sharing this interview with us. Now, let’s try something fun. Short answers for these riddles

-Madonna doesn't have it, the Pope has it but doesn't use it, Miley Cyrus has it short and Schwarzenegger has it long, what is it?

A last name!

GREAT!

-It has a tail but he can never wag it

Genuinely not a clue.

Hahaha, Ok, we´re talking about a piano

-Who has life hanging by a thread?

Zero

It’s a spider

-A star that does not shine, what is it?

Technically, in astronomy terms, a star with too low luminosity would be called a “brown dwarf.” But I doubt that’s the answer. 

Hahahaha, easier than that. It´s a starfish