Former child star Joanna “JoJo” Levesque looks back on her cult classic film Aquamarinewhich she filmed when she was 14, and revealing how the film “awakened some insecurities in me”.
In the episode of September 18 Viall files podcast, the 33-year-old singer said today Bachelor Alum Nick Viall and his co-host and wife, Natalie Joy, that the film “was my first big movie that I did.”
She explained that she “played a girl” in the 2006 fantasy film. She continued, “I wasn’t as skinny as the other girls. I felt like—” she used her elbows to mimic a larger body “—next to them.”
Joanna “JoJo” Levesque on Viall files.
Nick Viall/YouTube
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I just remember feeling that way and going, ‘Oh,'” she said, shaking her head.
“So from a young age, I think, we’re all kind of self-conscious, or we measure ourselves against other girls — and I was no different,” she said.
It wasn’t all bad, however, as Levesque said she “learned a lot on that set”, which was “scary” filming in Australia.
Aquamarine also starred Sara Paxton as the title character, a mermaid who escaped from an arranged marriage under the sea and ended up befriending Florida mortals played by Levesque and Emma Roberts.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/aquamarine-091924-3571aa9b28c94796b6104b5d1ce4b5bb.jpg)
From left: Emma Roberts, Joanna “JoJo” Levesque and Sara Paxton inside Aquamarine.
Cinematheque/Shutterstock
JoJo Talks New Music at American Music Awards: ‘If You’re a Depressed Millennial, It’ll Resonate’
Although it was not a hit at the box office, the film became a touchstone for millennials and even younger generations.
“Natalie is obsessed Aquamarine,” Viall, 43, said, prompting Joy, 25, to reply that “everyone’s obsessed Aquamarine.”
Levesque said the love for the film is “funny – it is! I hope that word isn’t offensive,” she added, “I don’t mean it, but it’s so funny because it’s, like, such a stupid movie.”
“This is such a moment,” she continued. “It’s like a little cult classic, modest, for girls of our demographic.”
The PEOPLE Puzzler has arrived! How fast can you solve it? Play now!
“It’s nice for women my age who have daughters, it’s something they’re going to play for their daughters,” Levesque said.
“I’m so excited to show off our daughter,” Joy replied, referring to the couple’s first child, 7-month-old River Rose, prompting Levesque to say, “Aww!”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/jojo-levesque-091924-042f223e76c4450db8a5fbb74a3b2c24.jpg)
Joanna “JoJo” Levesque in New York in September 2024.
Santiago Felipe/Getty
JoJo says it’s a ‘dream come true’ to make her Broadway debut as Satine in ‘Moulin Rouge! musical’
Levesque, whose memoirs Through influence released on Tuesday, September 17, reflected on her career in the spotlight — and how it shaped her adulthood.
“When you’re a kid and you’re working, you start to see yourself and your body as something that’s a commodity,” she told PEOPLE, advocating for improved on-set education, mandatory breaks and therapists.
“I think that if a child works and earns money, there must be other things that are just for the joy of the child.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education