Grateful is a phrase that comes up typically when speaking with actor Emily Osment. However you’d be mistaken when you thought the phrase relates solely to her hit CBS sitcom, “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” the “Young Sheldon” spin-off that premiered in October and is averaging 13.3 million viewers throughout linear and streaming, in accordance with the community.
However Osment has rather more to be glad about because the current wildfires hit the Los Angeles native near residence.
“We’re kind of used to wildfires, but the scope of this is something that’s so unimaginable, and it’s extremely traumatic,” she says, carrying a Dodgers ball cap and a “Los Angeles” sweatshirt throughout this interview. “Unfortunately, my parents lost their home, my brother lost his home, and I’m grateful that I’m able to provide a space where friends and family can feel safe.”
If there’s something resembling an upside, it’s what the 32-year-old noticed within the tragedy’s aftermath.
“I’ve seen so much community the last few weeks with people on the ground doing really good work, trying to donate and provide shelter, food and clothes to everyone that’s been affected. L.A. is really good at that,” she says. “It’s a very vibrant, diverse city, and I love watching our community come together. Unfortunately, it’s under horrible circumstances.”
Vibrant can also be relevant for Osment’s profession, which started at when she was 5 and consists of two “Spy Kids” theatrical movies and such TV sequence as “Hannah Montana” earlier than falling into the Chuck Lorre world by guesting on his CBS sequence “Two and a Half Men” and “Mom.”
That led to common roles on Netflix’s “The Kominsky Method” and on “Sheldon,” because the plucky Mandy McAllister — whom she performs on the brand new 1994-set spin-off.
“I owe a lot to Chuck Lorre,” she says.
Right here, in a dialog edited for size and readability, the actor talks in regards to the journey on her appearing profession, Thursday’s winter premiere episode of “Georgie & Mandy” and the way her private life has modified.
Montana Jordan and Emily Osment in a scene from “George & Mandy’s First Marriage,” which returns to CBS on Thursday.
(Sonja Flemming / CBS)
You come from a household of actors. Was it only a pure factor so that you can enter into?
In some methods, sure. I’m grateful that I had the trail walked beforehand earlier than me. My father [Michael Osment] was an actor for a very long time, and my brother [Haley Joel Osment, who’s] 4 years older, was a baby actor and remains to be an actor. After which I grew to become of age, which was 5, and that was the proper time for me to be launched to it and I beloved it. I’ve been a SAG-AFTRA member virtually 28 years now.
When did you first suppose, “This could be what I do with my life?”
That’s a fantastic query. That basically set in once I was in school. I did two years at Occidental School in Eagle Rock and was headed towards a theater main however in the end needed to depart school as a result of I acquired “Young and Hungry” [the Freeform comedy that ran from 2014 to 2018]. You may’t work on a full-time sitcom and likewise present up to your 8 a.m. music class. I needed to make the troublesome choice to both end my school schooling or determine to place two ft firmly planted in my work. I made a decision that this is a chance I couldn’t hand over.
On the skin, it appears to be like prefer it was an easy transition from little one to grownup. How was that for you?
I imply, simply being a girl on this trade is so unpredictable and at instances very troublesome. I’m lucky for folks like Chuck Lorre, who — I did the maths this morning — I’ve been working with … for 14 years, and he has fantastic tales for girls, and that’s onerous to return by. I used to be 18, and I bear in mind we shot on Friday nights on “Two and a Half Men” and that was the primary time working with him. After which “Mom,” “The Kominsky Method,” “Young Sheldon” and now “Georgie & Mandy.”
“I’m fortunate for people like Chuck Lorre, who — I did the math this morning — I’ve been working with … for 14 years, and he has wonderful stories for women, and that’s hard to come by,” Emily Osment says.
(Ethan Benavidez / For The Instances)
Was there ever a Plan B if appearing didn’t work out?
I’m unsure if there ever was a Plan B. I feel generally even making a Plan B, the universe type of laughs at you. It’s acquired its fingers holding the strings, and it’s simply going to prove the way in which it’s going to prove.
Referring to the title, “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” what did you suppose whenever you first heard it?
I screamed. We have been on the Season 7 wrap social gathering for “Young Sheldon” and Steve Holland, considered one of our government producers and creators, got here out of the elevator and I cornered him. He advised me the title and I used to be like, “Oh, it’s amazing.” I really like the potential catastrophe ingredient that “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” provides you. It’s excellent. I can’t consider a greater title.
Was there a shift in any respect in the way you approached enjoying Mandy from one present to the subsequent?
We have now “Big Bang” after which “Young Sheldon” after which “Georgie & Mandy,” and I’m fairly positive it’s one of many first reveals in tv historical past to go from multi-cam to single-cam and again to multi-cam. I’ve expertise in single-cam and multi-cam however I feel probably the most jarring factor for us was watching Montana [Jordan, who plays Georgie] on Tuesday nights. He’d by no means carried out a dwell viewers present earlier than, however you must see when he walks out to greet the viewers. He comes alive. It’s superior.
Within the Jan. 30 episode, “Diet Crap,” Georgie’s doing very properly within the tire enterprise. How does Mandy really feel about that?
I feel Mandy and I share this. We’re each very cussed, and she or he sees a possibility to have autonomy in her profession and in her life, and she or he jumps at it. She convinces Georgie to present her a mortgage [to sell diet products] however she realizes she doesn’t actually know how one can discuss to folks. Georgie walks in together with his effervescent Southern allure and inside 4 minutes, he’s promoting her product for her however she’s too cussed to see that that’s fantastic that he will help her. It’s considered one of my favourite episodes this season.
Emily Osment as Mandy, middle, calls Thursday’s midseason premiere “one of my favorite episodes this season.”
(Sonja Flemming / CBS)
Guitars are on the wall behind you as we communicate. How a lot is music part of your life today? Might we see Mandy sing?
I feel we have now to have Rachel Bay Jones sing first since she’s acquired the Tony [for “Dear Evan Hansen”] however we’re a really musical bunch. Final 12 months was an enormous 12 months. I launched three new Bluebiird songs. Bluebiird is my moniker for music. I began on “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.” I acquired married as properly [to Jack Anthony in October 2024] and now I’m separated. It’s been a really lengthy, giant 12 months for Emily.
Is that something you need to discuss extra about?
I respect that. It’s simply humorous the way in which life occurs. And I feel with any massive choice in your life, whether or not it’s relationships or work or no matter it could be, you need to firmly plant each ft in that call to know the complete scope of that alternative you’ve made. And in the end, the wedding didn’t work out. It’s simply the way in which life occurs generally. I normally love January in L.A. as a result of it’s generally oddly heat and it’s a contemporary begin. It’s the start of the 12 months and matched with these horrible wildfires, it could actually solely get higher, proper? It could actually solely get higher.
