China Anne McClain A.N.T. Farm
Do you watch A.N.T. Farm, Friday nights on Disney Channel? It revolves around Chyna Parks, an 11-year-old musical prodigy who attends a high school as part of the prestigious A.N.T. (Advanced Natural Talents) program. She, along with her fellow A.N.T.s, Olive (played by Sierra McCormick) and Fletcher (played by Jake Short), must find their place and make the most of their high school experience. Chyna takes reign to convince Olive and Fletcher that they can fit in, despite their age, as long as they take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. She encourages them to try out for things like the cheerleading squad and school musical, and she even drags them to a high school house party. Meanwhile, Lexi (played by Stefanie Scott), a popular high schooler, doesn't appreciate this new competition and tries to sabotage Chyna's chances to outshine her.
We got to talk to the 12-year-old actress who plays Chyna. Coincidentally, her real name is China Anne McClain! Read on to find out what she has to say. . .
China: It is about an organization at a high school called the A.N.T. program. That stands for Advanced Natural Talents and everybody in this program is very gifted in whatever it is. . . mathematics, art. . . I play a musical prodigy, and all of the kids in this program are very young, like 11 or 12, and they are in high school. And the high schoolers do not want them there. They feel like they are ruining everything about high school. My character, Chyna Parks, doesn't really care. She just wants to make the most of her high school experience. But it's hard sometimes.
Q: How could you relate to your character?
China: Just the whole going to school and trying to fit in thing. The first day of school. . . that feeling that you have. "I hope people are going to like me." Because the first day of school is pretty much make it or break it. But it's cool. Everyone pretty much thinks she's adorable after she makes her big impression on people.
Q: What grade are you in now?
China: I am in the seventh grade. But I am homeschooled. I got homeschooled in the fourth grade and have been doing it ever since. It's working out well. It's way more convenient than going to regular school!
Q: What is your favorite subject?
China: Definitely Language Arts. Math -- not my strong point!
Q: What about music?
China: I play guitar, bass, piano, and I am learning the violin right now. I get to play actually way more on the show: trumpet, French horn, drums and the harmonica. It's really fun because she gets to play like 13 different instruments. Actually, that's my goal. By the end of the show, I am hoping to know all of these instruments.
Q: How did you get into acting?
China: My first audition -- I was six. Half my age now! Six long years ago. It was weird because I didn't even know that I wanted to act, but it was at first just singing because my dad is a music producer. But one of his friends told me about this audition for a girl my age who could sing and act. I didn't know that I could act. So I went in there and I guess they liked me because I booked it! I winged it!
Q: Have you done the album yet for A.N.T. Farm?
China: We are working on it right now. We haven't finished it but we're working on it and it's going great so far. It will be Pop music pretty much. That's the A.N.T. Farm side of it. But I just got a record deal with my two older sisters, and that's pretty much pop/R&B. I am the baby girl. One of them just turned 17 and the other is 14. But we are so close. We love each other so much. Then we actually have a baby brother who just turned 10!
Q: Who are your role models?
China: Selena [Gomez] is my role model so far, because she is just the best. She is the best person, and I worked with her for two weeks on Wizards of Waverley Place. She was always so nice from the get go. She has just been a great role model. You haven't heard anything about her in the press or anything like that. I just love her! Besides Selena, I just got to meet Bridgit Mendler doing the Disney Channel Friends for Change games. That was so much fun because we were on the same team so we got to do a lot of stuff together, work together. And it is really fun because I love Bridgit. She's just a sweet person.
Q: Any embarrassing moments?
China: On set, I was saying a line or something and I was supposed to walk out of the room at the end. And I walked out and I tripped over something and fell on my face! It was so embarrassing! Thank goodness there was not an audience, but it was embarrassing and everybody started laughing. It was funny.
Tee hee. I hate to laugh, but that is pretty embarrassing. Let us know what you think of China and A.N.T. Farm in the Comments.
— Interview by Gerri Miller
Photos courtesy of Disney Channel
I think shes an alright actress.i mean i am not hating on her its just that the show isn't really five star quality but that's just my opinion. :)
Comment #26 | Posted by: angelbreeze6 on July 01, 2011 at 06:50 PM
Oh my gosh!!!
I'm in the seventh grade, and have been homeschooling since fourth grade, too!
P.S. A.N.T. Farm is really good! I like it a lot.
Comment #27 | Posted by: percyj99 on July 01, 2011 at 09:38 PM
hi i LOVVVEEE this show and i was wondering if you could put her on a chat so she could maybe chat with us is that ok?
Azurewords1
Comment #28 | Posted by: azurewords1 on July 01, 2011 at 09:44 PM
Oh I've only seen 1 episode but I loved that eoisode. It was called ParticipANTs! It's a funny show that lots of kids would love(I think)!
Comment #29 | Posted by: Lemonade101 on July 02, 2011 at 12:29 AM
cool
Comment #30 | Posted by: greencobra11 on July 02, 2011 at 06:59 AM
ant farm is my second favorite show. phieas and ferb is my favorite
Comment #31 | Posted by: skayscraperskater2 on July 02, 2011 at 08:11 AM
cool i cant wait
Comment #32 | Posted by: islandangel3 on July 02, 2011 at 09:32 AM
I love A.N.T. Farm!!!
Comment #33 | Posted by: justaprincess on July 02, 2011 at 10:07 AM
China sounds like a nice person.I can't wait to try Ant Farm
Comment #34 | Posted by: firestar28 on July 02, 2011 at 10:49 AM
I love ant farm !! I looked up every movie and show she had been in and it turns out I've seen her in all her shows and movies but 1.
Comment #35 | Posted by: Callie on July 02, 2011 at 11:44 AM
i love china anne McClain
Comment #36 | Posted by: aquacheerful21 on July 02, 2011 at 12:06 PM
dangg the show cracks me uuppp luv itt!!;)
Comment #37 | Posted by: dogpurple175 on July 02, 2011 at 01:36 PM
i also love china she is such a great singer and actor
Comment #38 | Posted by: gigglydolphin31 on July 02, 2011 at 02:20 PM
i <3 love china i wish she could come visit!
Comment #39 | Posted by: gigglydolphin31 on July 02, 2011 at 02:21 PM
i have only seen the first episode too b ut the second one is supposed to be even better then the first
did u guysher her sinhing and her guitar plaaying guitar!!!
i wish i was ecactly like china!!!!
P.S. who likes china?
Comment #40 | Posted by: gigglydolphin31 on July 02, 2011 at 02:27 PM
i love antfram when ever it is on i watch it it is so cool i love you guys:):)
Comment #41 | Posted by: swimmingship1 on July 02, 2011 at 05:19 PM
China Anne McClain is beautiful, talented, and absolutley amazing! I love her to death!!! :)
Comment #42 | Posted by: Lauren on July 02, 2011 at 06:21 PM
A.N.T. Farm rules 4eva China is a pretty,nice,funny girl
Comment #43 | Posted by: Eclipsefan9 on July 02, 2011 at 06:23 PM
i have not seen it yet
Comment #44 | Posted by: bluetiger30 on July 02, 2011 at 08:23 PM
I love china and i love her show
Comment #45 | Posted by: nicki on July 02, 2011 at 09:08 PM
OMG! I love A.N.T. Farm! When I first saw Chyna on Wizards of Waverly Place I thought she was a pretty good actor. Once I saw the preview for A.N.T. Farm, I thought the show was FANTASTIC! I also saw Chyna in one of my favorite movies, Grownups.
Keep up the good work Chyna!
Comment #46 | Posted by: astronautsnake2 on July 02, 2011 at 11:24 PM
"Was that from The Hunchback of Nortre Dame?"
"Uh...sure."
lol
Comment #47 | Posted by: Katie on July 03, 2011 at 09:45 AM
i love how she can play so many instruments! she is like my idol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment #48 | Posted by: Isabel on July 03, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Erevebody thinks that i act like her
Comment #49 | Posted by: aliyah on July 03, 2011 at 01:18 PM
Hi! I can't miss any A.N.T. Farm episodes. The show is one of my favorites. Happy Summer! : )
Comment #50 | Posted by: StarMagic on July 03, 2011 at 01:48 PM