'Ratchet & Clank' Star Bella Thorne Is 'Terrible' at Video Games
A short list of the things Bella Thorne is on the brink of dominating: Hollywood, Instagram, television and, if possible, outer space. Just don't partner up with her in a video game challenge.
Yes, even though the 18-year-old actress -- who made her name on the Disney Channel hit series "Shake It Up" and followed that with roles on the big screen including "Blended" and "The Duff" -- is giving voice to the Galactic Ranger Cora in the movie adaptation of the popular PlayStation game "Ratchet & Clank," she admits her personal gaming skills are sorely lacking.
But that may be the only territory she has trouble conquering; Thorne's already become an in-demand actress (with no less than nine films planned for release within the next year), a teen style icon, a bestselling YA novelist, a recording artist and an Instagram star with over 11 million followers. She's also about to return to TV in a big way, teaming with "Pretty Little Liars" showrunner Marlene King for the upcoming Freeform series "Famous in Love."
Moviefone caught up with the busy actor to discuss her new film and her future projects.
Moviefone: What was it that got you excited to be a part of "Ratchet & Clank"?
Bella Thorne: You know, I was really hoping that they would ask me to be in this video game, and they did. So that was so awesome. That's one of the main reasons why I took it, so that hopefully they would put me in it. I just always have wanted to be a part of the video game. I watched it growing up. I never played them because I was just really bad. I was terrible. But I thought they were dope, so I'd just watch my brother play them all the time.
The only two that I'm actually good at are "Mortal Kombat" and "Grand Theft Auto." That's probably it.
So once you got that invite, what did you fall in love with as far as your character, Cora, goes?
I fell in love with her integrity, and the fact that she was just so in your face. So much attitude, totally down to kick butt. When you have that, it's awesome because it's very easy for me to play because that's me. Because that's totally me, by the way! It's already completely me, the character.
I could easily be a Galactic Ranger. Somebody give me a chance! I'll go up into space!
This is such an interesting and cool time in your career. What's it been like for you to get these opportunities and really stretch yourself in the various directions that you're going?
I mean, I'm just so lucky. I'm lucky I get to do what I do, and I've been given the opportunity to do it. I'm all about playing different people and just being me. I love to step out of my comfort zone. Whenever I get to do something really interesting, I really have to pay attention and really just do my full -- my hardest that I can.
"Famous in Love" got picked up to series at Freeform. You've already done the pilot. Tell me what was it about the show that made you say, "Yeah, I'm totally on board."
Being able to be producer and getting creative credit. Marlene and I took this show from a book. We made this show and we were selling it, and we ended up selling it together to ABC. So being able to be in the pitch meetings was so cool. It was so cool because it was completely different for me. That was something that I had no experience in whatsoever. So the creative aspect of acting, everything that goes beyond the screen -- I got to learn all about it.
Tell me a little bit about the actual storyline of the show.
Well, when I read the book [by Rebecca Serle] originally -- it was a long time ago -- I thought it was cool that we show Hollywood [for] what it is. People think it's so glamorous and it's so perfect and everybody is so nice. And it's not. It's not that perfect. So it's cool when you're able to go behind and you know, show everything to everyone. So I'm glad to get to kind of open up that world.
You know a little bit about being famous yourself. Are you comfortable with fame, or are there parts of it that you still have to wrap your head around?
There's a lot of things in Hollywood. It depends on what kind of person you are, and if you're able to say "no." People might say that I'm a bitch because I don't let people push me around, or women are bitchy when they don't let people use them a certain way. But not true. If I was a guy saying the same thing, he'd be like, "Oh, that's a hot guy. He really sticks up for himself. He's so manly." But when it's a girl, it's the exact opposite.
So I just say, "OK, let people call me bitchy. I'm going to take care of myself, though." I have people watching my back, but I have to do the same thing. I've got to be me all the time. Unless I'm doing a role, I can't ever not be me in the public eye because I don't want to do that.
You have such a huge fan following and a big presence on social media. How would you like to continue to reach your audience as you go deeper into this adult phase of your career?
With the audience, I mean, the most amazing thing would be to help somebody in life. As a human being, I feel like that's just your natural instinct -- to want to help someone. If you can, why wouldn't you? I don't understand why you wouldn't. So that's my main goal in life.
I guess my goal for acting would probably be -- especially for the kind of roles I want to play -- number one, I'd be so down to play like a badass Marvel character. Any type of badass female in live-action, like Cora is in this movie. I also like playing roles that are very rebellious and real. So it's good when you really show teenagers for how they actually act and how they actually talk.
Have you set your eye on a specific superhero or super villain character that you'd love to play?
Honestly, if I could just play a female version of "Deadpool" -- any character that's a female version of Deadpool -- I'm so down!