Kensington Tallman can most recently be seen as the breakout star of the new musical-comedy series Home Sweet Rome!. Currently airing on The Family Channel and set to premiere on HBO Max in the US, Home Sweet Rome! follows the story of Lucy, who is forced to start a new life in Rome when her family moves from California.
Kensington Tallman
Photo Credit: Gretchen Easton
The brainchild of Michael Poryes (Hannah Montana, That’s So Raven) and developed for television by Degrassi alums Matt Huether and Courtney Jane Walker, Home Sweet Rome! will also feature 11 original songs written by award-winning songwriters Alex Geringas and Chen Neeman.
We spoke with Kensington about what viewers can expect from Home Sweet Rome!, performing and lending her voice to the musical series, working with such a talented cast and crew, and what she is most excited for viewers to see.
Read on for our exclusive interview with Kensington Tallman below:
Congratulations on your upcoming series Home Sweet Rome! How excited are you to be leading this new project?
I am so grateful to be leading this incredible series playing Lucy! Filming Home Sweet Rome! was such a dream come true! I got to film in Rome for four months and saw some of the most beautiful locations. I am so excited for everyone to watch this coming-of-age musical show and see Lucy’s journey!
You have an extensive musical background as a skilled vocalist and violin performer. Can you talk a little about what inspired you to make that leap to pursue acting?
I have always loved music from a young age. I started playing the violin at six years old. Violin helped me overcome my stage fright and be more comfortable in my skin. Additionally, my school held poetry festivals yearly, and I would recite a poem in front of the entire school.
Expressing myself in those ways led to a love of performing. I started modeling and commercial acting when I was eight and fell in love with it. Now I am singing, playing the ukulele, and acting for TV and film. I recently started taking piano and am working on writing original music. I love creating and performing.
Can you share a little about your character on Home Sweet Rome! and what viewers can expect from them? Would you say you are like your character at all?
My character Lucy is a fun-loving 13-year-old girl who moves to Rome after her Dad marries an Italian pop star. She is kind, clumsy, an incredible friend, and so optimistic. Lucy starts the series as someone who cares about other people’s opinions and always tries to please everyone. Lucy desperately wants to fit in and feels she can’t do anything right. But, as the series progresses, music helps her find herself in this new world. And she realizes that just being herself is enough.
Kensington Tallman
Photo Credit: Gretchen Easton
Lucy and I are pretty much the same person! I love leaning into her clumsiness and playing with physical comedy! Lucy also has a vulnerable side to her, and I was really able to connect with Lucy in that way!
Home Sweet Rome! sounds like it has some heavy hitters behind it including Matt Huether and Courtney Jane Walker, creatives behind my personal favorite coming-of-age series Degrassi. How does it feel to be walking in the footsteps of these iconic and beloved series?
Working with Matt Huether and Courtney Jane Walker was incredible. Firstly, they are such talented writers. They brought this beautiful story to life and made the characters so relatable. They mixed funny with heartfelt and produced such a unique show. I felt so honored that they chose me to be their Lucy. They always asked for my opinion and included me in developing Lucy.
Additionally, they were the showrunners of Home Sweet Rome! They led the show so well, and I learned so much from them! They are so supportive and such kind people. They always checked in with me each day and encouraged me to keep being my goofy silly self. I love them both so much.
You perform 11 original songs in this series that are written by Grammy award-winning songwriters (Alex Geringas, Chen Neeman) for artists like Cher and Kelly Clarkson. Can you talk a little about that experience and how exciting it has been for you to be able to collaborate with such amazing talent and make it your own?
Working with Alex Geringas and Chen Neeman was so inspiring. The first time I met them, I immediately connected with them. They are so funny and make the creative process so relaxed and fun! The way they wrote these songs was so brilliant, and I honestly don’t know how they did it! They have such great ideas, and they helped me become more confident as a singer! I learned so much from them and grew as a singer and a person! I loved singing these songs because there was something in each piece that I could relate to. The music is going to reach people all over the world!
How would you describe the musical sound of the series? What can viewers expect from the performances?
Kensington Tallman
Photo Credit: Gretchen Easton
I would describe the sound as fun, upbeat, unique, and international. We have such a wide variety of songs. We have dance pieces, ballads, fun songs, heartfelt songs, and even Italian songs! The music will make you want to sing along with our incredible cast!
How has the experience been filming on-location in Italy?
Filming in Rome was such a dream come true! I have always wanted to go to Italy since I was little, and getting to live there for four months was incredible. I loved filming at the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps; it all felt surreal. Outside of set, I always got gelato, walked to different landmarks, and ate the best pasta! I am also an Italian student, so it was fun to communicate with the locals. I love the culture and the city, and I would love to go back!
What can you tease about what viewers can expect from ‘Home Sweet Rome!’? What are you most excited for them to see?
You will see incredible locations, beautiful songs, a fantastic cast, and some fun surprises along the way! You will laugh and cry in the same episode. You will see my character discovering herself and what ‘When in Rome’ means. The episodes show how Lucy adapts to this new life and how she always gets back up when she falls (literally haha!) I am so excited for everyone to see Lucy’s relationships and how she keeps in touch with her best friend, Kyla-played by the fantastic Ava Ro. I am especially excited for episode 6 and episode 12. They both have a very prominent character turn for Lucy and have big surprises.
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Thank you so much to Kensington Tallman for taking the time to speak with us!
Don’t forget to tune in to Home Sweet Rome! on the Family Channel and HBO Max in 2024.
Be sure to keep up to date with Kensington Tallman by following them on social media on Instagram.
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