We just keep getting lucky over here! Emma Dumont who plays the hilarious Melanie Segal on Bunheads was awesome enough to take a few minutes to answer some questions for us. Learn all about Emma’s love for Roller Derby and robots and so much more below!
BHB: Many people out there know you from your modeling career but what are some things that people might not know about you? Roller derby??
I play roller derby in the Jr. League of the LA Derby Dolls! I started about a year and 1/2 ago and I love my league so much. I didn’t even know how to skate when I started but all my derby girls were so supportive. I’m also a big roller derby fan and go to bouts as often as possible. Derby girls rock!
I am also very involved in music and I play violin and viola and my youth orchestra was just invited by the LA Phil to play Disney Hall. I’m learning guitar, bass and drums and I was in a band last year that played a few shows. It was so amazingly fun!
I also participate in robotics and last year I was on two teams. It’s super fun and there are huge competitions several times a year. Robotics is great for kids interested in engineering, programming, science and design.
BHB: You are a dancer and actress – tell us a little bit about how you came to be on Bunheads.
I auditioned in L.A. last year and was so excited about the show – even before I heard that Sutton Foster was going to play the lead. We had to do pointe work on carpet in the casting office so that was a new experience. It was also a bit different because we danced at every audition and there was a dance callback which was actually quite fun. Going in I knew there would be a ton of girls auditioning so my goal was to just do my best. Of course I was so happy when I booked the pilot – there was a lot of screaming!
BHB: What do you love most about your character? How is she different from you?
I love Melanie’s free spirit and quirky sense of humor. She’s definitely the fun-loving one out of the girls. I have a much more dry sense of humor than Melanie and I’m probably a bit more into schoolwork.
BHB: The show is so wonderful and reaches a lot of difference audiences. What do you hope viewers take from the show?
Oh gosh – the show is so overall fantastic – funny and warm and so family-friendly. I hope that anyone that has ever thought they wanted to dance just gets out there and takes a class. The show is also about just being human, making mistakes and starting over – which we all do and it’s OK. No one is perfect!
BHB: Were you a fan of Sutton Foster? What was it like meeting her for the first time?
I’ve been a huge fan of Sutton Foster since I can remember. I went to musical theater camp every summer in Seattle and I think I pretended I was her for the entire two weeks every year. I was really very star-struck when I met her and she is so sweet and kind. She is as nice a person as she is talented which is so rare these days. I’m so lucky to get to work with her!