Isabella Blake-Thomas has been acting since 2006, and in the past decade, she’s made her mark on the small screen.

A 15-year-old actress, Isabella has had guest spots on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, Showtime’s Shameless, FX’s Married, and Nickelodeon’s tween sitcom Game Shakers.

Outside of television, Isabella’s acted in multiple film roles, among them Sam in Maybe I’m Fine, and Esperanza in Sand Angels.  This year, she’s shooting at least two movies and pursuing all she can in her acting career.

Everly Mag talked to Isabella all about her acting career, advice for aspiring actors, social media, and more.

Everly Mag: What are your top 3 acting projects so far?

Isabella: I’m fortunate enough to love all my projects and can’t pick [my] favorites.  If I had to choose 3 of the most fun [projects], I’d have to say the set of Maybe I’m Fine with Rob Mayes – he is such a talented actor and [to] have him [play] my dad was really entertaining.  [Rob] also plays the guitar and sings, just like me.  [Also] Once Upon a Time on ABC because it was my favorite show and I love thinking I have magic, and The Sounds of Silence because we were telling an important true story and it was in Romanian.

Everly Mag: What are your 3 favorite things about acting professionally?

Isabella: I love the process of auditioning because it gives me the ability to show the casting director what I can do.  I love being on set because when you are with a crew for a couple of weeks, they become like your family.  My third favorite thing about acting is being able to become [a] different [person] whenever I want.

Everly Mag: What are the biggest challenges of acting professionally?

Isabella: I’d have to say [it’s] the required hours for me to be on set.  The issue is that I want to stay longer than the hours I’m allowed, because I love being on set.  But, in all seriousness, I have been fortunate enough to not encounter [many] challenges.  I think, as I progress further in my career, I will come across these things.

Everly Mag: What are your interests outside of acting?

Isabella: I’m really into aerial arts – the stuff they do in Cirque Du Soleil.  I love playing golf at my local course, and writing music.  I released my first single, Blame, at the beginning of February.  I also fly a Cessna 172 and am training to [become] a private pilot.

Everly Mag: What advice do you have for aspiring actors?

Isabella: Be yourself, inhabit the character, and breathe.  The last one is very important because, a lot of the time as actors, we speed up and get nervous so we have to remember to breathe and stay calm.

Also, don’t be afraid.  Give it your best shot.  If you don’t try, you’ll never know what you can do.

Everly Mag: Describe social media in 3 words.  What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of social media?

Isabella: Useful, creative, and overwhelming.  [Social media is] useful because you can use it to stay in contact with people from all over the world.  It’s creative because you can showcase your work to people you might not get to meet outside of social media.  It’s overwhelming because sometimes there can be too much information to comprehend.  Also, it can be used in a negative way to hurt people.  I haven’t [personally] experienced this, but I know people that have.

Everly Mag: What are your hopes and goals for the future of your career?

Isabella: To be able to connect with more people through cinema. A lot of people resonate with characters in film, especially when they are going through something difficult.  I will film my next feature that I’ve written.

I will also have my EP available by the end of the year.  I just love creating and I don’t want to stop, whether it’s words, acting, or singing.

Everly Mag: Describe your personality in 3 words.  What do you like to do with your friends and family?

Isabella: I’d say I’m creative, kind, and a little bit weird.  But, aren’t we all?  I love to go to the beach, to paddle board, and to play a round of golf.  I also enjoy my own time.  I don’t think I have ever been bored.  There is always something to do or to make.  I can make anything out of anything and everything.  When I was little, my [mother] would come into my room and I would [keep] lots of things, from toilet [paper] rolls to sweetie wrappers, just in case I could make something from them!

Find Isabella Blake-Thomas on IMDB and Instagram.

Read more Everly Mag interviews with dancers, actors, singers, and influencers, and catch up with us on Twitter and Instagram.

Feature Image Credit: Jena Willard