Ella Anderson Is Living Out Her '90s Teen Dream in Song Sung Blue
For 20-year-old actress Ella Anderson, playing a teenager is familiar business. Playing a teenager in the 1990s, however? That required a bit of homework—albeit the fun kind. For her role in Craig Brewer's biographical musical drama Song Sung Blue, which is about a Midwestern Neil Diamond tribute band, Anderson fully immersed herself in what Gen Xers affectionately call the "golden age of entertainment." That meant listening to almost exclusively music made in the '90s and watching a ton of footage of teens from the era. Yes, watching George Clooney in ER was required viewing.
The research clearly paid off, as Anderson is excellent in the biopic starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, which hits screens on Christmas Day. Based on a true story, the film follows Mike and Claire Sardina, two down-on-their-luck musicians in Milwaukee who fall in love and form the joyous Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder. Featuring the beloved American singer-songwriter's hits and a few underrated deep cuts, Brewer manages a tender and nostalgic story that is both uplifting and heart-wrenching. As Claire's teen daughter Rachel, a strong-willed young woman forced to grow up too soon, Anderson is at many times the beating heart of the film, bringing emotional depth with a standout performance that has Hollywood insiders buzzing.
Born to musician parents, Anderson has been performing since the age of 5 and made her way through the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon pipelines with roles in Liv and Maddie and Henry Danger respectively before later starting a YouTube channel and releasing her own music, including her 2021 EP Evolving. Performing, Anderson tells us, is in her DNA. As she begins this next decade, thoughtfully choosing her next projects and whether or not to release new music, one thing is certain: Anderson's star is unwavering.
Song Sung Blue is so special. It's fun, nostalgic, and a little heartbreaking. I loved it.
That makes me so happy. We really had such a special time creating it, so I feel like it shines through. When I watch it, I can see the skeleton of all of us and the fun we were having and, when we weren't having fun, how devoted we were. I think that's the word that keeps coming up every time I talk about it. It was such a deep devotion.
How did this project make its way to you, and what aspects of Rachel really intrigued you from the start?
It made its way to me the old-school way. I got an audition for it, which was wonderful. It's a lost art for some people, but I was grateful I was able to look at the material and present what my idea and interpretation was of this character.
