Sofia Carson is a busy woman. Despite balancing a career in the performing arts which fills her plate already, she is also a university student on the verge of graduation! She was in town to do a dramatic reading of Melissa de la Cruz’ new book Return to the Isle of the Lost with Descendants and Descendants 2 co-star Cameron Boyce when I had the chance to meet her. That was back on May 24, 2016 and since then she has been even busier!  She recently starred in A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits and earlier this year starred in Adventures In Babysitting the 100th original Disney movie.  This year Descendants 2 is set to premiere. Before the reading back in May, Sofia was gracious enough to let us interview her about her career, her education, and her role as Evie in the Descendants series.

Sofia, I hear you’re attending UCLA is that true?

I am, yes. I’m a communications major. I’m currently on hiatus because I’ve been on tour but I have nine classes left to graduate.

Congratulations! Wow, that’s a lot.

It is a lot but I love school and it’s a big, important part of who I am and for my family. I’m so close. I’ll be very happy when I get my degree.

What do you hope to do with your education?

You know, I use it every single day. Communication has always been a big part of who I am. I’m kind of a nerd. As a communications major, I communicate all day, every day like what we’re doing today. So when it comes to that it’s been a big part of my career and it’s been very helpful.

You’re an accomplished dancer, actor, and singer-songwriter. If you had to pick one, could you and if so which one?

Thank you. I’ve been asked this question a lot and it’s so hard to answer because you guys don’t believe me when I respond (laughs) but I love it all! When I was really little I admired Jennifer Lopez, watching her perform. And one of her first concerts, I had it memorized. She would sing every song and every song she would act out like a performance. So for me acting and singing, we’re telling stories. I feel like I’m just telling a story, performing and acting it out whether I’m acting, singing, or writing a song. I just love performing and storytelling is involved in all of my passions.

What is your key to balancing career, school, friends and family?

My family. I can’t do it without my family. Probably the most important lesson I’ve learned in this business is to keep your family close. Because it is crazy. So much happens every day and having your family close to you is the most important thing in the world. They keep you grounded, they keep you humble. My mom always reminds me, “You get to do what you love every single day of your life and there’s nothing like that.” And also, no one will protect you like your family either.

Of all the villain kids, Evie and Carlos seem to be the least truly evil. Even though her mom is grooming her, she seems to have her own sense of independence. Do you think Evie is evil or how do you imagine her in your mind when you’re portraying her?

I don’t think any of the villain kids are truly evil. They were raised to be evil and each had their own evil characteristic, and Evie’s evil came from being vain like her mother taught her to be. But she was never really evil towards other people.   She always had a little bit of good in her. I think that’s where her independence came from. She was never truly her mother. And when she did realize that fully when she went to Auradon, she stepped out of her mother’s shadow and grew to be who she was – a beautiful, strong, independent girl who wasn’t defined by her reflection in the mirror.

Evie is searching for her prince. What qualities do you hope to find in someone you hope to share your life with?

Wow. I’ve always really admired my mom and dad’s relationship. My mom and dad have always told me that whoever you’re partners with you have to admire them for who they are. So I think that someone I admire is someone who is close to their family and who’s respectful and who has a passion that they are driven to succeed in.

It was such a blessing to be able to interview both Melissa and Sophia. They are both nice, kind, and down-to-earth kind of people. Hopefully, you’ll get the chance to soon pick up Return to the Isle of the Lost and find out what’s next in store for the Descendants gang!

• If you missed our interview with Melissa and want to also find out what movie both Melissa and Sophia love to watch, be sure to read it on the Disney Nerds blog.
• Curious about Adventures in Babysitting? Read our blog post on the film and DVD

Save