Interview with Kensington Tallman (Lucy)

Tell us about Home Sweet Rome?

'Home Sweet Rome' is a music-driven show about my character Lucy moving from America to Rome. Lucy's mom sadly passes away and her dad gets remarried to an Italian pop star. Lucy must adapt to a new culture, new language, new school, new friends, and her new stepmom Francesca. Lucy is also 6,000 miles away from her bestie Kyla! Lucy finds her voice and discovers a new passion for music. The show has so much heart and will make you laugh and cry in the same episode!

How did you get the role?

When I first got the audition, I was so excited to be reading for such a fantastic project. I loved the international aspect of it as well as the music component. With Lucy, I was in awe because I had never seen a character so similar to me. I submitted a self-tape, and one of the scenes was when Lucy had just fallen into a fountain. So I jumped in the shower and did the scene soaking wet!

Tell us about your character? How do other people see Lucy?

Lucy is fun-loving, silly, kind and very, very clumsy! She has a big heart and will always help a friend in need. Sometimes Lucy can overthink things, but no matter how often she falls, she will always get back up again- literally! She is incredibly optimistic and always finds the bright side in life. Other people would describe Lucy as someone who beats to their own drum. Her friends know how loyal she is, and her family loves every part of her - silly, clumsy, nervous, and optimistic.

What do you like about your character?

I love Lucy so much! I love her drive to never give up, even when the odds are against her. I also love her goofiness and her compassionate heart! Lucy and I are so similar. We love music, art, animals, and hanging out with friends. We both are very clumsy and tend to go on nervous rambles, but I think we are also both very optimistic.

What's it like being part of a music-centred show?

It’s such a dream come true. I love acting and singing, so blending those together has been a blast. I have grown so much as a performer and singer, and filming 'Home Sweet Rome' has made me love music even more.

What's unique about Home Sweet Rome?

'Home Sweet Rome!' is such a unique show. It has international elements, blending and exploring different cultures. It also explores complex topics like loss, fitting in, self-discovery, friendship and family. It also has such a beautiful message that Lucy learns: You don't have to be anybody but yourself- just being YOU is enough!

Were there any funny moments during filming?

One of my favourite moments was when I ran through the streets of Rome dressed as a giant inflatable dinosaur. You should have seen the looks of all the tourists!

Many of the trips and falls you see in the series are actually me falling. Anytime I would trip or fall, I would just keep going, and they ended up using many of those scenes in the final cut.

You speak Italian? Do you have a favourite phrase?

I do speak Italian! My favourite phrase is "Posso avere un gelato vegano al cioccolato fondente, per favore?" This translates as "Can I have a vegan dark chocolate gelato, please?"

What was it like filming in Italy?

Filming in Italy was so much fun. It was my first time in Europe, and I feel so blessed that I got to film in such a beautiful city. I loved speaking Italian with the locals, eating pasta, getting gelato, and riding on a Vespa occasionally. I loved being surrounded by so much beauty and history. We got to film at some of the most incredible locations, like The Colosseum, the Villa Adriana, and the Spanish Steps. On the weekends, I would walk to the Torre Argentina and feed all the Roman cats, who I named after gelato flavors. The Trevi Fountain is so much bigger in real life and it's always crowded, even at midnight. I love Rome so much!