Haley Tju is a fresh face to the Nickelodeon network and currently can be seen on their brand new television series “Bella and the Bulldogs.” The series follows Bella, a high schooler who tries to balance both being a cheerleader and being a quarterback on the football team. Haley can be seen as ‘Pepper,’ a bubbly and crazy fashionista and best friend to ‘Bella.’ “Bella and the Bulldogs” is a fresh series that blurs the boundaries between gender stereotypes and reinforces that girls can do anything and be anything they want to be, helping to reach a young generation through a different type of media. Haley is breaking boundaries for young girls and boys around the world with her role on the series as a Chinese-Indonesian young actress.
Haley got her start in acting at age four in a Pizza Hut commercial and hasn’t stopped since then. She has worked on numerous hit television series, such as “Hannah Montana,” “Desperate Housewives,” “The Suite Life on Deck,” “I’m in the Band,” “Mike & Molly,” “The New Normal,” “Jessie,” “The Thundermans,” and “See Dad Run.” She is also the voice of ‘Sqweep,’ a sassy and fun alien, on the Nickelodeon animated series “Monsters vs. Aliens,” inspired by the hit DreamWorks film.
In her spare time, Haley enjoys watching films, hiking, drawing, kickboxing, singing, and browsing local flea markets for hidden treasures. She often volunteers at her mom’s hospital, participates in walks for St. Jude, and donates her time to charities that provide for underprivileged children around the world.
Art Eddy: Tell me about your show “Bella and the Bulldogs” and your character, Pepper?
Haley Tju: “Bella and the Bulldogs” is about a girl name Bella whose life takes an unexpected twist when she becomes the quarterback of her school’s football team in Texas. I play Pepper who is Bella’s and Sophie’s overly caffeinated bestie. She is prone to panic attacks but of course her girls are always there to calm her down. She is loyal, creative, and a bit of a dreamer.
AE: What was the auditioning process like?
HT: The audition process was an experience I will never forget. I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and try out many versions of Pepper before we found the Pepper we all know today.
AE: How fun was it to bond and work with your cast?
HT: We all clicked right away. It was like instant chemistry. Working with them is always a blast. We love pulling pranks on each other and cracking jokes between takes. The cast and crew have become really good friends on and off set.
AE: Are you similar to Pepper in anyway?
HT: Pepper and I both love fashion. We’re both creative but in our own ways, Pepper makes short films and I like to draw. We’re both loyal to our friends and can be indecisive at times.
AE: What can we expect from this show?
HT: You can expect a lot of heart and girl power in this show and, of course, tons of humor.
AE: I have two daughters and I like that the show looks to reinforce that girls can do anything and be anything they want to be. How do you and the rest of the crew show that in “Bella and the Bulldogs?”
HT: In the show, Bella who is a Cheerleader in Texas, becomes the quarterback of the football team. It’s a radical change and not everyone believes she has what it takes. Bella proves to everyone that girls can do anything despite society’s stereotypes and boundaries. I think Bella’s story shows that strength and vulnerability go hand in hand. You can be a girl and be strong.
AE: Who would you love to guest star on your show?
HT: I would love for the old Nick stars to guest star on the show. It would be like Nickelodeon flashback!
AE: Are you working on any other project right now?
HT: I am currently not working on any projects that I can talk about but once I’m allowed to, I’ll be sure to share on Twitter and Instagram!
AE: When you have some free time what do you like to do with your family and friends?
HT: In my free time I love watching movies. My family and I really like old movies. We also enjoy hiking, going to flea markets, and spending the day at public gardens.