{"id":37236,"date":"2021-10-11T14:34:52","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T14:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=37236"},"modified":"2021-10-11T14:36:26","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T14:36:26","slug":"baby-sitters-club-momona-tamada-interview","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/baby-sitters-club-momona-tamada-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ Star Momona Tamada Is Growing Into Her Role as an Icon"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Momona
Momona Tamada (Photo: Jonny Marlow)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Netflix\u2019s adaptation of The Baby-Sitters Club<\/em> premiered last year, it was immediately hailed as an utter delight; a clever, surprisingly progressive comfort binge, the kind of show that parents who remember devouring the young adult books created by Ann M. Martin in the \u201980s and \u201990s could enjoy with their tweens.<\/p>\n

Of course, a huge part of the show\u2019s appeal is its winning young cast, each one of whom is a star in the making. There\u2019s not a weak link amongst them, but it should come as no surprise to old school BSC<\/em> heads that Momona Tamada has emerged as one of the new series\u2019 standouts. The 14-year-old Vancouver native plays club VP Claudia Kishi, art enthusiast, style icon and, as one of the few fully realized Japanese American characters in pop culture when the books were first published, an inspiration to a generation of young Asian Americans. The character is so influential that Netflix even released a documentary short, The Claudia Kishi Club<\/em>, devoted to her.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a lot for a young actress to live up to. Luckily, Tamada seems to be coping just fine with her newfound status as a role model. Armed with her trusty chunk of rose quartz, she joined GRAZIA<\/em> on Zoom to discuss The Baby-Sitters Club<\/em>\u2019s second season and the challenges ahead for Claudia.<\/p>\n

\"Momona
Momona Tamada (Photo: Jonny Marlow)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I saw an interview in which you say that you always have a little rose quartz with you when you do interviews. I\u2019m a little embarrassed to say that I actually don\u2019t know anything about rose quartz besides the fact that people are all about it. So, why do I need some rose quartz in my life? <\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of those basic, staple crystals that really helps, you know, clear your energy. I definitely recommend it.<\/p>\n

The Baby-Sitters Club<\/em> premiered last summer and has been so well received by critics and fans. What has that been like for you? How has your life changed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think I expected any of this to happen as quickly as it did. It\u2019s so fun to interact with fans. I think it\u2019s important for me to still be myself around those people. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve changed too much because of all this stuff that\u2019s been happening. It\u2019s been something to adjust to, for sure. But I wouldn\u2019t trade it for the world.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a pretty significant moment with Mimi (Takayo Fischer), Claudia\u2019s grandmother, in the trailer<\/a> for Season 2. Fans of the books can probably guess what that\u2019s foreshadowing. What can you say about that and how it affects Claudia? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I think this season is definitely a big character arch for Claudia. In the first season, I think we were able to see the strengthening relationship with her family as a whole. We also see how important her grandmother is to her. So, in this season, I was really able to explore a lot more and really think about how she would overcome these hurdles. Because, you know, Mimi is such a big person in her life. It\u2019s interesting to see how [Claudia] deals with everything. I\u2019m excited for fans to see how everyone deals with different problems.<\/p>\n

\"Momona
Momona Tamada in The Baby-Sitters Club<\/i> (Photo: Liane Hentscher \/ Netflix)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Season 2, the club has two new younger members, Mallory and Jessi. Mallory in particular looks up to Claudia a lot. What\u2019s that like for Claudia? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I just want to say, filming with Vivian Watson who plays Mallory was just so much fun! I think everyone will really be able to see how talented she is and get to see our chemistry. It\u2019s so interesting to play with the different dynamics of their relationships as well. And for Claudia, I think, maybe she\u2019s just not used to having someone who\u2019s continuously expressing how much they look up to her. Being the individualist, as she calls herself, it\u2019s something that she has to learn how to deal with. She really makes a beautiful realization in the second episode about Mallory, and it helps her grow as a character.<\/p>\n

Claudia is a younger sister, and she kind of getting to experience what having <\/em>a younger sister can be like.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Exactly! I think it gives her a better understanding of how Janine might feel.<\/p>\n

Claudia also has a new role model in her sister Janine\u2019s friend Ashley. Why does Claudia look up to Ashley? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Similar to Claudia, in a way, she\u2019s very much a bold person. She\u2019s unapologetic about herself and about what she wants. Her character is kind of an influencer<\/a> type person. I think that was an interesting route to go, because I think she has so much good in her. I really do understand why Claudia looks up to her. She\u2019s just so cool and kind, and I think that\u2019s one of the messages: kind is the new cool.<\/p>\n

I feel like there\u2019s a theme of role models for Claudia this season. Which is interesting because I think the character herself is a role model for a lot of fans of the books. Do you consider yourself a role model now? What does that mean to you? <\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s something that I\u2019ve grown to wrap my head around. But I do realize that I am kind of a role model for other people, and that\u2019s so crazy for me to think. But I think it\u2019s also important for me to understand that so I\u2019m, you know\u2026 How do I put this into words? I am<\/em> being a good role model. If I was unaware of that, I wouldn\u2019t be able to accomplish as much as I want to over social media and just in general. I\u2019m really grateful to be seen as a role model. Because there are so many people I looked up to as a kid, and whenever I think of having role models, I\u2019m always like, What do I want to see from those people? <\/em>For me, it\u2019s seeing them as a real person. So, I love doing Instagram Lives and getting to know my fans. That\u2019s something that I\u2019ve always wanted from my<\/em> role models. So, I\u2019m learning how to navigate this new path in life.<\/p>\n

\"Momona
Momona Tamada in The Baby-Sitters Club<\/i> (Photo: Kailey Schwerman \/ Netflix)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Netflix released a short documentary, The Claudia Kishi Club<\/em><\/a>, around the time that the first season premiered. It was all about how influential the character has been for a generation of Asian Americans who grew up reading the books. I assume you\u2019ve seen it. What did you think? Were you aware of how influential the character was before you were cast? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Growing up, I actually did read the books, so I did have an understanding of how influential Claudia was — and all the girls, really. I did have a general understanding of how important she was. But I don\u2019t think I really saw or felt the full effects of it until I listened to the stories of others who looked up to Claudia growing up. Also, [The Claudia Kishi Club<\/em>] — I did know that that was happening, but I didn\u2019t get to see it until it came out to the world. It was great for me, I think, just to fully understand how big of a character Claudia was. Because it didn\u2019t feel real when we were filming. I think everything clicked into reality when I saw what fans were saying and how big Claudia has been in their lives.<\/p>\n

For a show aimed at young people, The Baby-Sitters Club<\/em> is surprisingly progressive — the cast is diverse, there are LGBTQ parents and transgender kids. How does it compare to the kind of TV you grew up watching? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Growing up, I really didn\u2019t really find people that I could look up to as much [on American and Canadian TV]. I always found that in things that I would watch in Japanese. There were other girls that looked like me. There\u2019s something about that that just feel so connecting, in my opinion. So, having the opportunity to be a part of a show that includes things that maybe people didn\u2019t have growing up is something that is just so incredible to me. I\u2019m really just so thankful that I\u2019m able to express all these stories and be a part of something that\u2019s so inclusive and diverse for the younger generation to watch. And even the older generation as well!<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think the books aged the characters much past 13 or 14 years old over, I think, hundreds of books. But with the success of the show, this is a character you could be playing for at least a few more years. Do you know if there have been any discussions of how the show might move the story and the characters beyond the books as you and your co-stars get older? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t really heard too much about the path the show is gonna go. That\u2019s up to the writers. Whatever happens, they\u2019re gonna just nail it. I\u2019m so confident about that. But that\u2019s one of the interesting things about film and TV for me. Obviously, you\u2019re growing up and a TV show definitely takes a lot more time. Hopefully, if the show does continue, we can play with what happens as [the characters] grow older, because obviously they\u2019re going to be facing different problems in their later teen years compared to their early teen years.<\/p>\n

\"Momona
Momona Tamada (left) with the cast of The Baby-Sitters Club<\/i> (Photo: Liane Hentscher \/ Netflix)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Baby-Sitters Club<\/em> books were first published in 1986, so if they were happening in real time, I think Claudia would be about 47 now. I was thinking about what 47-year-old Claudia would be like in 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a good question. Her life and career could go on so many different paths. I definitely see her as a fashion designer, living her life with her best friend Stacy in New York. I can see that for her for sure. She has such a gift artistically, so I think that\u2019d be something she\u2019s pursuing, for sure.<\/p>\n

This spring, I saw a video<\/a> you made with Netflix for AAPI<\/a> Heritage Month highlighting some resources where people can support Asian American communities. Of course, the US has seen a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes<\/a> during the pandemic. If you don\u2019t mind, I was hoping you might share what it\u2019s been like for you to see that happening over the past year or so. <\/strong><\/p>\n

For me, it was like, I was just hurt that we had to let it grow to a point where so much happened. Unfortunately, deaths were involved. That was something that was eye-opening to me, and shocking. I think it was good to allow people to learn more about it. I learned more about the rise in AAPI hate crimes. And like I mentioned, the platform that was given to me through BSC<\/em>, it was really important for me to use. So, while we were filming, I think, was when a lot of the AAPI hate was at its peak. So, myself, Kyndra [Sanchez, who plays Dawn in Season 2] and Malia [Baker, who plays Mary Anne], we actually did a big fundraiser on Instagram Live where we made artwork. It was so great to have them with me, and we were actually able to donate quite a lot with the art that we made. I was just so happy. It brought a lot of joy to my heart for sure.<\/p>\n

I feel like there\u2019s this stereotype of actors who play doctors thinking they can give out medical advice or actors who play lawyers giving out legal advice. So: do you think of yourself as a childcare expert now? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I will say, I did learn a lot from BSC<\/em> in general, just the conversations that we have. I would say\u2026yeah! I love being with kids, so it\u2019s not just from being on set. But, sure, Claudia, all the girls, have taught me a lot. I\u2019m pretty confident in my baby-sitting skills!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29097,"featured_media":37358,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[38,16],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018The Baby-Sitters Club\u2019 Star Momona Tamada on Becoming an Icon - Grazia USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Momona Tamada discusses 'The Baby-Sitters Club's second season, growing into her role as an iconic Asian American character and the challenges ahead for Claudia.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/baby-sitters-club-momona-tamada-interview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"'The Baby-Sitters Club' Star Momona Tamada Is Growing Into Her Role as an Icon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Momona Tamada discusses 'The Baby-Sitters Club's second season, growing into her role as an iconic Asian American character and the challenges ahead for Claudia.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/baby-sitters-club-momona-tamada-interview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Grazia USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-10-11T14:36:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/10\/72-Momona_Tamada_Persona_386.jpg?resize=1024,683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/baby-sitters-club-momona-tamada-interview\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/baby-sitters-club-momona-tamada-interview\/\",\"name\":\"\u2018The Baby-Sitters Club\u2019 Star Momona Tamada on Becoming an Icon - 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