Ceci Balagot in Nickelodeon's Live Action “Monster High: The Movie”

Dec 07, 2022

1.“MONSTER HIGH: THE MOVIE.”, How was this to film?

I had such an amazing time bringing Frankie Stein to life. I grew up with the franchise so the process of relearning the characters was very nostalgic. Our cast is full of the sweetest, most down to earth people who made filming such a blast.

So you act and sing in the movie. Which one comes more naturally to you?

I love singing a lot but it’s definitely something I view as a hobby for me compared to acting. Also, my voice has changed a lot since starting Testosterone, so now it takes a little extra work to get comfortable singing.

Do you enjoy watching musical series/movies yourself? What's your top 5 picks?

I grew up on musicals and especially musical movies. When I was really little, my favorite movie was The Pirates of Penzance with Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline, and I still force people to watch it all the time. My other top movies would have to be Across the Universe, Pitch Perfect, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and The Rocky Horror Picture show.

How long did it take to get into and out of costume?

Getting into makeup and hair took about 3 – 4 hours and costume an extra 20 minutes after that, then another couple of hours to take it off at the end of the day. So much work and love when into these long hours from the amazing minds of our makeup, hair, and costume heads, Leah Ehman, Caroline Dehner, and Ellen Anderson.

Where was this filmed?

We filmed in Vancouver, Canada during the fall, which as you can imagine was pretty cold. Luckily, we were in the studio for the last few days when it snowed.

Where do you call home? What's a place you'd like to visit but have not?

I’ve lived in Cypress, which is at the border of LA county and Orange County for my whole life. It’s a very small town so I usually just say I live in Long Beach. And I really don’t travel much so I’d literally go anywhere as long as someone else buys the ticket.

What other projects do you have in store for 2023?

We’re going to be filming Monster High 2 starting next year! I’m so excited!

How do you spend the holidays? Are you the best at giving gifts or receiving them?

I love getting to spend time with my family during the holiday season. My mom always takes advantage of the free schedules and plans a lot of day trips to the beach or new dessert places. One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is give gifts! I really enjoy taking time to make gifts for the people I love no matter what time of year, so it’s nice to have an excuse to dive headfirst into a bunch of creative projects!

Do you make any New Year's resolutions? If so, do you care to share one with your fans?

I’ve never made a New Year’s resolution before. I get so caught up in the pressure of picking something next thing I know it’s March and I’m the exact same person as last year.