Sophia Bush is showering her 15-year-old co-star, Violet McGraw, with compliments as they portray an on-screen mother-daughter duo, Millie and Summer, in the new comedic film Summer’s Last Resort on Tubi.
This original film on the streaming platform showcases Bush’s character, Milly, who gets romantically involved with her daughter Summer’s (Violet McGraw) rather unpredictable Vice Principal, Glenn Winters, played by Jerry O’Connell.
However, their family vacation in the Caribbean quickly spirals into chaos as Summer does everything she can to separate the couple. The question remains, will she succeed or will her perspective change?
Bush is no stranger to portraying rebellious teenagers, having gained widespread popularity in 2003 as Brooke Davis, a cheerleader in the teen comedy One Tree Hill. She was 21 when she first took on the role of 16-year-old Davis in the popular WB series, and she was 24 when she played high school student Beth in the 2006 romantic comedy John Tucker Must Die.
The trend of older actors portraying younger characters was largely due to ‘the amount of hours required to work.’ However, for Summer’s Last Resort, McGraw was 14, the actual age of her character, Summer, when filming commenced.
Bush expressed appreciation for this shift in Hollywood and praised McGraw’s remarkable talent, telling UNILAD, “We were in our 20s playing high school students, which was required so we could work the amount of hours that you need to film a television series.”
“One thing I’m really grateful for is that [McGraw] actually got to play this role, and that’s very refreshing.”
McGraw’s on-screen brother, Grayson, is portrayed by the young actor Dawian van der Westhuizen.
“I think there was something so fun for us about having you guys play the kids and be actual kids,” Bush remarked to McGraw.
Child Entertainment Laws differ across states. In places like California and New York, child actors (under 18) have limited working hours based on their age, necessitating careful scheduling by production teams.
Due to these stringent regulations and other considerations, adults still often play younger characters, such as Zendaya, who was 22 when she portrayed 17-year-old Rue in the first season of Euphoria.
The casting of this character was significant for creator Sam Levinson, reflecting his personal battles with substance abuse, making it essential to cast correctly.
Zendaya shared her thoughts with Teen Vogue, stating, “Him trusting me with that really means a lot to me. I care a lot about Rue. She’s important to me.”
Despite being just 15, McGraw has already made her mark, appearing as Cady in the popular horror film M3GAN and its sequel, M3GAN 2.0. With her comedic performance in Tubi’s latest original and guidance from Bush, her career seems poised for further success.
During a session with UNILAD, Bush addressed McGraw, saying, “Behind the scenes what felt good to me was being able to answer your questions, and give you advice about the industry. And also, to tell you all the things I wish I’d known when I was younger.
“I wish I’d known I was allowed to advocate for myself,” Bush, now 43, added. “That feels cool to be able to pass on you know tips and tricks to my kiddo.”
McGraw’s age didn’t prevent the cast from enjoying themselves off-set.
O’Connell, with over 40 years in the industry, claimed it’s the most fun he’s had with a cast outside of filming.
One aspect he didn’t enjoy was the ‘look away now scene’ where he had to kiss a dolphin to revive it. He told UNILAD: “It was disgusting. Their breath is terrible. Beautiful creatures but their breath is just terrible!”
But you’ll need to watch the movie to find out what unfolds in that scene!
Summer’s Last Resort debuts on Tubi on Friday, July 3rd.