Ella Anderson is fulfilling her '90s teenage dream in "Song Sung Blue."

      For 20-year-old actress Ella Anderson, portraying a teenager is familiar territory. However, embodying a teen from the 1990s required some additional research—albeit of the enjoyable kind. For her role in Craig Brewer's biographical musical drama Song Sung Blue, which centers on a Midwestern Neil Diamond tribute band, Anderson deeply engaged with what Generation X affectionately refers to as the "golden age of entertainment." This involved mostly listening to music from the '90s and watching a plethora of footage featuring teens from that time period. Yes, watching George Clooney on ER was part of the required viewing.

      The effort clearly paid off, as Anderson delivers an impressive performance in the biopic starring Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, set to premiere on Christmas Day. Based on a true story, the film follows Mike and Claire Sardina, two struggling musicians from Milwaukee who fall in love and create the joyful Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder. With beloved hits and a few underrated gems from the American singer-songwriter, Brewer crafts a tender and nostalgic narrative that is both uplifting and heart-wrenching. As Claire's teenage daughter Rachel, a determined young woman who has to mature quickly, Anderson often serves as the film's emotional core, offering a standout performance that has Hollywood insiders buzzing.

      Growing up with musician parents, Anderson has been performing since she was five years old and has journeyed through the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon systems with roles in Liv and Maddie and Henry Danger, respectively, before later launching a YouTube channel and releasing her own music, including her 2021 EP, Evolving. Anderson expresses that performing is in her blood. As she enters this new decade, carefully selecting her upcoming projects and considering whether to release new music, one thing is clear: Anderson's star continues to shine bright.

      Song Sung Blue holds a special place for her. "It's fun, nostalgic, and a bit heartbreaking. I adored it." She adds, "We truly had a wonderful time creating it, and I believe that shines through. When I watch it, I can sense the essence of all of us and the joy we experienced, and even when we weren’t having fun, we were thoroughly committed. Devotion is the word that keeps coming up every time I discuss it; it was a deep devotion."

      When asked how the project came to her and what drew her to Rachel, she explains, "It came to me in a traditional manner. I received an audition, which was fantastic. For some people, that seems like a lost art, but I was grateful to review the material and present my interpretation of this character. From the very beginning, I was captivated by this character. Not only was it wonderful to play Kate's daughter, but the character was multidimensional, carrying a significant burden yet managing it exceptionally well, showing resilience through intense life pressures as she often had to act as the adult in the family. I believe that weighed heavily on her, in addition to her own teenage struggles. I was quite taken by it, and I had no idea that it was based on a true story. I thought, 'This is fantastic; Craig has done an amazing job, but I'm sure things have been added for cinematic purposes.' Then I watched the documentary and discovered everything actually happened. Even the wildest events you think are unbelievable are true. I was thrilled to be part of something so moving; their experiences are powerful, and at the end of the day, they maintained their love—for music, performing, and for the family they created. It's incredible."

      Did she have an opportunity to meet the real Rachel? "It influenced everything. From the start, it was crucial for me. On our first rehearsal day, I made it a priority to speak with her, and fortunately, Craig was in contact with her. First and foremost, she’s amazing. She’s the coolest person, and she has a very distinctive dialect with specific pronunciations. I grew up in California, so those sounds differ. I had her on speed dial, in a way. When my character was experiencing pregnancy, I was texting Rachel in my trailer before filming those scenes. She even came to set at one point and watched a few of my scenes. From the outset, I had strong instincts about who I believed Rachel was. You often enter these roles without complete insight, but to hear from the real person I was portraying that my instincts were accurate—that's an incredible feeling. Ultimately, what matters most to me is that the family felt comfortable with our portrayal—and they do. That's a win for me."

      With Anderson being quite close to the age of a teenager herself, how could she relate to Rachel and her story? "Rachel is quite different from me and my upbringing, which made it intriguing and heightened my excitement. I conducted extensive research, watching real videos of girls stepping into parental roles at a young age. I also scrutinized a lot of '90s footage and