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‘American Housewife’s’ Meg Donnelly Talks Taylor Otto, Moms and Zombies (Interview)

Hello my dear readers and welcome. If you follow my weekly recaps of ‘American Housewife‘ you will know that it is one of my favorite shows. I can go on forever about it, and about how much I can relate to it. Well, today I had the pleasure of speaking with Meg Donnelly, who plays Taylor Otto the oldest child of Katie (Katy Mixon) and Greg (Diedrich Bader) Otto on the ABC comedy American Housewife.

Meg Donnelly and I talked about everything from what got her started into acting as well the topic of if the zombie apocalypse occurred how would she fair and every topic in between. We have watched Meg grow up during the last two seasons of the show. She started out as an average grumpy teenager but as the episodes progresses, we see her mature. As a mom, I am going to give the credit to Katie Otto, but I am sure the amazing writing staff for the show should get the credit. Check out our full interview below!

'American Housewife's' Meg Donnelly Talks Taylor Otto, Moms and Zombies (Interview)
Pictured: Meg Donnelly
Photo Credit: The Riker Brothers

Rachel: How old were you when you started your acting career?

Meg Donnelly: I started acting around the age of five as an after-school activity because sports did not go well. It was like musical theater.  Katy Mixon also grew up in the theater, which is really funny that we both have that in common. Then, when I was 11, I started working professionally because an agent came to one of my recitals and said, “I want to sign your daughter”. My parents and I were like “What does that mean?”. We have been learning together because my parents have not been in the business either, so we have been going on this journey together. It has been so much fun.

RB: Who influenced you the most in your decision to take up acting?

MD: You know, ‘High School Musical‘ was a big part of my life. Ever since I watched that when I was five or six, I knew I wanted to do this-whether it was acting, singing or both. I just knew I wanted to be in ‘High School Musical‘.

RB: How is it working with the dynamic cast of ‘American Housewife‘?

MD: It is so much fun and the thing is, it is not just the cast. It is the crew as well. All of us are just a huge family. Everyone who is working behind the scenes is just as equal as the cast. It is really funny because of Diedrich and Katy, the two other kids and I, learn so much. They are both so talented, and just to see their work process is so interesting. I love learning from them. They treat us like their own kids and maybe even like best friends too, which I think is really really cool.

RB: How is your relationship with your on-screen siblings, Daniel DiMaggio and Julia Butters?

MD: Amazing, the three of us are only children. So, to have siblings is great. Julia is always dancing and always saying the funniest things without trying too so she is basically “Anna-Kat”. We have so much fun having dance parties together. Daniel is basically like his character, but he is not money obsessed in real life. He has that sarcastic sense of humor that has me cry laughing. When you least expect it, he will come out with a joke. I am really close to the both of them and I am so happy that they are my TV siblings.

RB: What are some similarities and differences between you and your character Taylor?

MD: I say that Taylor is way sassier than I am. She has progressed more from the first season through the second season. She is more of a teenager who is throwing those backhanded comments and talking back and I’m definitely not like that. That would be really bad. It is really fun to do actually, because you kind of get it out of your system. Plus, saying all these sassy things is so much fun. Taylor also played sports in the first season, and I can NOT play sports so that was interesting and cool. We are similar in that she if she wants something, she goes for it. She is stubborn, and she also breaks down. She overthinks things and that is relatable.

RB: Are your real parents anything like your TV parents?

MD: No, actually they are quite the opposite. My parents are both kind of hippies. My mom is not like Katie Otto at all. I mean, she definitely speaks her mind, but she is not like the West Port Moms either. She is like a happy medium. She does have “Katie Moments”, but I think all moms have their “Katie Moments”, which is what makes the show so relatable. Whatever Katie says out loud, moms watching the show are thinking “wow I was just thinking that”. That is what I think is really cool about her. Now with Greg Otto, my dad is the complete opposite. My dad is super chill. I am trying to think if my dad has ever had any “Greg Moments” but I don’t think so. I feel like it is the dynamic between the two that makes them relatable. They definitely have similar moments and are very relatable to parents as well. So, no they don’t have the same characteristics. I do love Greg so much he is my favorite character.

RB: We talked about ‘High School Musical‘, so how was it working on Disney’s ‘ZOMBIES‘?

MD: Yes definitely, it was a dream come true. It was one of the best times of my life. We flew up to Toronto Canada 10 weeks, we were the break we were on between season 1 and season 2. I flew up to Toronto and the flew back. It was so much fun. There was a lot of singing, dancing and acting. Funny thing about this as well-when the movie came out, the cast and crew would come through singing the songs from the movie. My little sister Julia Butters (who plays Anna-Kat), knew all the dances and all the songs. It was so crazy and so surreal.

RB: In case of a zombie apocalypse, which world would you survive in-Disney ‘Zombies’ or ‘The Walking Dead’?

MD: Definitely ‘ZOMBIES’. I don’t know that I have the skills needed to survive a real zombie apocalypse. With ‘ZOMBIES’ I know how to talk with them. Like saying “It’s okay.” or “It will be all right”. However, the flesh-eating ones? Nah.

'American Housewife's' Meg Donnelly Talks Taylor Otto, Moms and Zombies (Interview)
Pictured: Meg Donnelly
Photo Credit: The Riker Brothers

RB: What are some other projects you are working on currently?

MD: I have a few things coming up, but I really want to focus on music as well. I love acting so much, but, I feel that music is the next step in my career that I want to take. I really want to do both. I am going home for a little bit to New York, and I am going to be recording music. I am really excited about it. So, we will see what happens with that.

RB: I have been looking and researching but with no luck, has ‘American Housewife‘ been renewed for season 3?

MD. We are actually waiting to hear back. The latest we can wait to hear is May 15th so keep your fingers crossed.

 

There you have it, dear readers. We all learned so much more about this young lady today. I can see such a bright future ahead for her. No matter which avenue she takes-whether it’s music, acting or both-I have no doubt she will be amazing at it. Until then, I am on the edge of my seat waiting to hear those magic words- that ABC will renew ‘American Housewife’ for season three.