Ink Splot 26: Debby Ryan Is an Introvert?

December 09, 2011

Debby Ryan Is an Introvert?

Posted by Sonja C. on December 9, 2011 1:17 AM in Celebrities

Do you love Debby Ryan? Ever since I saw her video from the Camp Ronald McDonald fundraiser, I have become her biggest fan. She is in the new Disney show, Jessie, where she plays a nanny for 4 kids. In this interview, she talks about her new role, and how she deals with being an introvert. (Her advice: "Own it!" even if people think you're shy and nerdy.) Reading this interview makes me love her even more!

Q: Describe what Jessie is like.

Debby: Jessie is strong. She’s kind of funny and easygoing. She’s not super uptight about things, but she grew up in a military family and her dad was in Special Ops, so she’s got this strength about her. She can be militant but she can also be really easygoing, and she’s a typical teenager in a lot of ways. But what I like about her is she’s resourceful. She moved around a lot. She’s been the new girl a lot. So she knows how to make things work. I definitely moved around a lot, so I relate to her in that sense. We’re very, very different as people, but her sense of humor is a bit like mine. I mean she’s a goofball, and I like goofballs, you know? But she’s also very sincere, and she’s a caring person but she doesn’t have to be mushy and gushy to be caring.

Q: You were the new kid a lot of times. What advice would you give to a kid who might feel a little bit different?
Debby: I moved around a lot, but I knew that I was different and I knew that I was a little bit bizarre and that my mind would come up with random jokes that other people were not going to find amusing. I was sort of random.
But beyond that, I am somewhat of an introvert. I recharge much better when I’m just alone or maybe with one person. I was not. . . you know, there’s shy and then there’s introverted. There’s shy – you’re like afraid to speak out and speak your mind. And introverted is just you get fulfillment from being alone or in small groups. That’s how I was. I was not as much shy as introverted, but everyone thought I was shy. So the way that I would deal with it is when I started acting I would go and completely be unafraid and just open - be myself as if I was best friends with the entire world. I kind of ended up having two different worlds. You know, it’s like performer, entertainer, fearless Debby, and then introverted Debby.
So what I would say to you is find a place where you can be you. Either it’s writing or cleaning your room or whatever it is – something that you like to do that makes you feel fulfilled and that you’re releasing everything within yourself and also intaking everything you need to grow and digest. But then also have a mode where you’re not afraid to walk up to people and introduce yourself, or if someone walks by and you’re looking at their shoes, you’re like, “Oh, I like your shoes,” you know. Things like that. Make a shift and make a conscious effort. Really the only way to be comfortable is to know who you are. Just say like, “Oh cool. This is who I am and this is why I’m different and there will be people who don’t get it and think it’s really weird, and that’s ok. And there will be people who totally will get it one day.” As you grow up, people are more understanding with your differences and with you being confident in who you are. Four years ago, people called me a nerd and took my books out of my hands in school and didn’t talk to me. Now people are coming up to me and they’re like, “Wow, I really like this about you.” So just know it’s going to get better. Just own it, you know?

Q: When you came to New York with some of the kids in your cast, you sort of mentored them. Did anybody mentor you?
Debby: Chelsea Kane Staub has always been a complete doll to me. Just by studying and being around her balance and her being like, “Debby, I believe in you,” and like, “This is great about you,” and like, “Stay true to this,” that I really am confident in certain things. She’s precious. I really wanted to be that for these kids. And it wasn’t even my cast kids, but it was, you know, China McClain from A.N.T. Farm and Bella and Zendaya from Shake It Up. I was like, “You know what? I know what it’s like to not feel comfortable and I’m going to make this environment.”

Isn't she so nice? She's like the older sister I never had!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Interview by Marie Morreale
Photos courtesy Disney Channel

Keywords: debby ryan, shyness, jessie, disney channel

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Total Approved Comments: 97

Go Debby Ryan! :)

Comment #51 | Posted by: Hope Cahill on December 28, 2011 at 10:53 PM

DEBBY RYAN IS SORT OF THE GIRL THAT SHE CAN TAKE CONTROL AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND HANDLE ALL FOUR KIDS IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND MAKES SURE SHE KEEP THE KIDS HAPPY AND THEN THE WORLD IS HAPPY,THAT IS WHAT I THINK ABOUT JESSIE!!!
P.S. I AM A BIG FAN!!!!!!!!!

Comment #52 | Posted by: dolphinbrain37 on December 29, 2011 at 10:46 AM

OMG She is like soooooooooo nice I luv debby

Comment #53 | Posted by: Lavendersong7 on January 02, 2012 at 12:36 PM

i love you on jessie

Comment #54 | Posted by: ivy on January 05, 2012 at 10:58 AM

well i like jesse because she is so so funny on the show i love her and want to meet her so badly

Comment #55 | Posted by: K65743 on January 08, 2012 at 09:02 AM

I love jessie its so cool

Comment #56 | Posted by: cierra on January 09, 2012 at 09:56 AM

I think Debby is okay I'm not her biggest fan but I like Jessie.

Comment #57 | Posted by: purpleladybug68 on January 09, 2012 at 09:57 AM

I think that Debby should make more shows of her own because she does a good job.

Comment #58 | Posted by: purpleladybug68 on January 10, 2012 at 09:49 AM

she is super cool.I like her show Jessie!!!!!!

Comment #59 | Posted by: bluedolphin1054 on January 10, 2012 at 01:40 PM

Hi i love your part on jessie it fit right for you and your part on suit life on deck. your awesome

Comment #60 | Posted by: Miracle on January 10, 2012 at 01:44 PM

I love Jessie it's one of my favorite shows on Disney Channel. I think there should be a new episode every three weeks.

Comment #61 | Posted by: dolphincat76 on January 12, 2012 at 09:55 AM

I think debby Ryan is a great show.I like how all her wishes come ture in the movie.I think debby ryan shoud be on every week.

Comment #62 | Posted by: catblue520 on January 12, 2012 at 10:06 AM

i love you on shows...

Comment #63 | Posted by: paulina.c on January 16, 2012 at 01:21 PM

i love jessie it is so hillarious

Comment #64 | Posted by: fashionmystery8 on January 16, 2012 at 04:35 PM

I love her songs and her new show Jessie!!!!!!

Comment #65 | Posted by: dolphincat76 on January 17, 2012 at 09:59 AM

i love jessie its funny

Comment #66 | Posted by: dogdog1830 on January 17, 2012 at 06:13 PM

I think that DEBBY is a great actress and she is doing really good in JESSIE

Comment #67 | Posted by: Elona on January 19, 2012 at 09:28 AM

i luv jessie i was wacthing it 2day i love mr kepling

Comment #68 | Posted by: PURPLEPUG47 on January 20, 2012 at 03:09 AM

I love Debby Ryan!! She is my role model,favorite singer,favorite actress and everything!!!

Comment #69 | Posted by: grace on January 22, 2012 at 06:00 PM

i luv the show jessie and i forgot what the new movie waz called but im really exited to see dat too!!! (: :DDD <333

Comment #70 | Posted by: abductionfilmfan15 on January 23, 2012 at 02:49 PM

i really liked suite life on deck and i was so sad when it went off. but jessie is really good too. Debby Ryan is so cool she is pretty, smart and awesome. GO DEBBY RYAN!!!

Comment #71 | Posted by: coloringcat29 on January 27, 2012 at 01:44 PM

jessie IS a show of nonsense!

Comment #72 | Posted by: bluelavender35 on January 29, 2012 at 03:19 PM

IM HER #1 FAN IM OBSESSED I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT HER EVEN THE DAY OF THE WEEK SHE WAS BORN ON AND I HAVE OVER 300 PICTURES OF HER IN MY ROOM AND 3 SHIRTS I WENT TO A TAPING OF JESSIE TOLD HER MY REASONS SHE THINKS IM HER #1 FAN YAY!!