Can you give us a small taste of what we might see from her in the rest of the season? You said we might see her vulnerable side?
The interesting thing is the story with Candace Cameron. It’s going to turn out to be something that people don’t expect. It’s going to be very interesting…so I can just tell people to look out for what’s going to happen with that and our relationship takes a little bit of a turn which is kind of cool. Lots of boy drama, betrayal, and tears…I can’t give away too much, but people can keep their eyes out for anything and everything with Lauren. There’s a lot going on in her life.

A big theme so far this season has been breaking the rules, which is very realistic. How do you keep your character true to life (while you are completely opposite of her?)
I think Lauren is really just a normal teenage girl. Yeah, she has her problems, she has her issues, but with every girl, it’s just the way she handles it…[it] isn’t the way I would handle it in real life but it stems from insecurity and betrayal in her life which we’ll come to see with things that have gone on in her life with her own mother. And her own pain, and all of that kind of is why she breaks the rules so much is just because she’s been so hurt herself. And she doesn’t know how to really hide it so, she just kind of acts out impulsively.

Have you learned any gymnastics skills during the filming of the show?
Yes, I actually have. I was never a gymnast before. I did it for a few years when I was a little girl but we’ve had amazing stunt doubles—even Olympians on our set and we had basically a personal trainer/stunt coordinator who taught us so many things. Everything from posture to just working us out and getting us familiar with all the different apparatuses. We’ve learned a lot since the show began. I didn’t know anything about gymnastics when it started. And I’ve learned a lot of things even just how to place my fingers and point my toes, suck in your stomach, and just everything—so yeah, I’ve learned a lot, it’s been really fun. Especially having amazing gymnasts on set, even Nastia Liukin has stopped by and gave us some tips, so it’s really great.

Did you watch any gymnastics before the show started to prepare?
Oh yeah, absolutely. Well, I watched the Olympics which is great, and that kind of got me prepared. Even though, I guess I didn’t know I was going to be doing the show back then but still. When I found out I booked the show, I watched a few different videos. Actually, my double from the pilot, Ashley Postell, she’s amazing—and I would study her beam routine because my character is known for her beam. Lauren’s known for her beam…the bitch of the beam…(laughs). I studied a lot of her videos because she’s amazing and she’s a national champion. So I studied a lot of her videos and her technique and yeah, I watched a lot of gymnastics before the show just to get into the character…into that gymnastics mind frame.

What has been your favorite part of filming the show?
I guess the best part about filming is that it’s a drama and you never know what’s going to be thrown at you the next episode. I love my dynamic with my father, and with Candace and with all the girls. I really love my character, I wouldn’t choose to play anyone else. I know that, (sighs) tons of little girls hate me right now but it’s a really fun part to play because–I mean method acting is about stepping out of the box and becoming a totally different person and that’s what I live for. I play pretend for a living, and I go to work every day and that’s my favorite part that’s my favorite thing to do…is just being able to become someone else every day and do different things every day and have a different relationship with different people, and I don’t know it’s just really fun. It’s really fun being able to be two different people.

What’s it like having Candace Cameron Bure play your mom?
Oh my God, it’s so weird because I grew up watching Full House. Who did not watch Full House? Everyone knows DJ Tanner. It’s so crazy to me. I was so excited. I called up every single one of my friends and was like you would not believe who’s playing my soon-to-be step mom and it’s really crazy. She is the sweetest person ever. I hate having to be so mean to her. But at the end of the day, I always give her a hug and she knows that it’s just the character and it’s really fun and we have a great relationship in real life so I’ve really enjoyed it. And she has such a beautiful family, and a really good heart. And she’s really spiritual and religious and a lot of people out there know she’s a big Christian speaker and she’s just a great person, and I’ve learned a lot from her.

You girls have great chemistry. Are you all friends off-set?
Yes. Believe it or not! I swear! Everybody probably thinks we lie when we say this because it’s four girls on set, you would think after three months you would want to, I don’t know, rip each other’s hair out or something but we love each other. Those [girls] are basically like my sisters. I am so close with them. I have cried with them, laughed with them, I’ve shared so many different moments and emotions with them—it’s just been so great. On screen, off screen, we are totally best friends in real life. I love them all in different ways and it’s great.

In the second season, can you give us a little teaser what we might see from Lauren? What do you think she might have to face?
The second season is going to be right after Nationals, and everything
, and I don’t really know. That’s the really interesting thing about our show. You never know what’s going to happen next. You never know what’s going to happen in the next episode and that’s going to be something that I can’t wait to find out myself. And every time we go into the table reads, and we’re like “what happens next? What happens next?” And I think it’s going to be really interesting how the whole thing plays out with Kaylie and with Carter and I don’t know—I think there’s going to be a lot of stories like there has been this whole season. I’m actually very interested myself to find out.

What are your favorite tv shows?
I really love Secret Life. I know that sounds so clichéd since it’s on our network but I love the Secret Life, they are so great at pushing the envelope and Gossip Girl. And I really love Full House, it’s such a classic. Even those old shows like Fresh Prince—I’m an old school girl, I like all that stuff. Family Matters, Roseanne…all the old classics. Friends. Who doesn’t love Friends?

And do you have any specific acting influences?
I have many influences. I try to learn from as many people as I can in life. But I really love Ashley Judd. She’s not a tv actress, she’s more of a movie star but I love her, she’s amazing. She’s confident and beautiful and has great charisma. I love obviously Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio has to be one of my all time favorites. He’s just – I’m obsessed with him. I love everything about him. He’s amazing. Those three are my top favorites.

Thank you!
Thanks so much!

Check back tomorrow for Part 3–my interview with Ayla Kell who plays Payson Keeler.