New York, May 31: Australian newcomer Jordana Beatty brings quirky redhead Judy Moody to life in the new film “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.”
“I loved playing the character because she had such great imagination, she's spunky, independent and she never cares what anyone else thinks. She just goes with here instinct. And that's what I liked about her because we had some of the same qualities,” says Beatty.
The film, based on the popular series of books by author-screenwriter Megan McDonald, chronicles Judy's quest to have the most amazing summer with the help of her little brother Stink (Parris Mosteller) and free-spirited Aunt Opal (Heather Graham).
It was McDonald who discovered the relatively unknown actress and suggested to producers that Beatty audition for the title role.
“I was just looking around on the internet and I found this article about some up and coming young actresses and I saw Jordana's picture from when you were probably only 8 or 10 years old. And she had this great red hair and she was smiling this wonderful smile and it just stopped me, I thought ‘There she is. That's Judy Moody,' ” she says.
Judy's best friends may have left town for the summer, but that doesn't stop the precocious third grader from finding adventures - from theme park coasters to circus feats - in hope of gaining the most “thrill points” and proving she's had the most exciting vacation of her life.
“Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer” comes to U.S. and Canadian theaters June 10th. AP
