Exclusive: Mimi Gianopulos Chats Family Dynamic, David Henrie, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, & More
The Russo Family is set to return in the new Disney Channel series, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Star of the new series, Mimi Gianopulos, sat down with BB and fellow press members to chat about this new generation of Wizards.
On landing the role: “For me it was an amazing process, it was really fast, so I think I sent in a tape over the weekend and then got in front of everybody on Tuesday and had the role by Wednesday night. It was a super, super fast experience and I just remember getting that call and I joked with my husband later. I was screaming and sobbing so loud you probably could’ve heard me from space. I was just so, so, so excited, so it was a really, really quick whirlwind of a process, but it’s truly a dream come true.”
On re-creating the family dynamic that made the original series brilliant: “It’s easy when you’re acting opposite David [Henrie]. He is so funny and so good at what he does and so at home in who Justin is. I really felt like it was my job to sort of meet him where he is and really create a realistic family. The writers gave us so much great stuff to do, but really wanted to show this is as a real marriage. We’re both married in real life and so there are oftentimes scenes they’ll write us where I’ll go, ‘Do they have cameras in my house, because my husband and I have had this exact conversation.’ A lot of that came so easily, we immediately got along, and with the kids, I mean, they’re incredible. I’m not a mom yet in real life, but I always joke this is great training. And we just sort of tried to find things about one another that felt real and felt like a real point of connection so that that would come across in our chemistry.”
On what she loves about her character: I love this character. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better character for me. I’m a lot like her, but she’s also different from me in certain ways. It’s so much fun playing a mom, it’s so much fun playing a mom to these kids in particular, and I really like the way the writers give me so much to do in the dynamic with Justin and in the dynamic with the children, but also with being an investigative reporter. I think it’s really realistic—you’re watching a working woman with a really cool career also be a mom, also be a wife. She’s funny, and it’s so much fun to play her. It’s really a joy.”
On her first introduction to the franchise: “I have two little sisters that were obsessed with the show, so it was the only show I liked watching with them. I was like ‘This is great!’ A lot of other kid shows, I was like ‘I don’t know about this.’ But it became our show and we watched it together and it was so nice to get to have that bonding experience with them and those memories, and they’re in college now, so when the show was announced and they got to tell other friends that I was on it, it was really a full circle moment for all of us. I think they were so, so, so excited, so it’s really cool for me to be like ‘Hey, that show that was our show? I get to be on the continuation of it now,’ so it’s really a joy, I feel so lucky.”
On building chemistry: “It goes back to what David [Henrie] said earlier about being very intentional about the culture and the tone that is set. It is one that is joyful and creative and collaborative It really comes from him and it’s something that I really wanted to uphold and support and be part of. I try to bring my best self to work every day. It’s easy to do because it doesn’t feel like work and everyone that we work with is so wonderful, not just the cast but the crew and the writers and truly everyone. I just feel so lucky. It really happened very organically. All the kids bonding, their families, it’s been so joyful, truly.”
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premieres today, October 29, on Disney Channel.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Photo Credit: Disney/Maarten de Boer