Page Tudyk

Actress Page Tudyk made the decision to persue film over stage while in college. She has since appeared in several notable indie feature films, as well as shorts and voiceover work. Her performance in Jack Martin’s Bolt From the Blue, in which she plays an electrical engineer in Alaska, investigating a scientist’s claim that he can harness energy from a lightning bolt, is particularily impressive as it shows her range when compared to earlier roles she’s played.

Page, an avid animal lover and advocate, as well as being a new mother, has also authored a children’s book entitled; The Day I Met a Little No-Fin, which is about a subject close to her heart. “I have never believed in keeping animals caged and fish in tanks,” she tells me. Page also has plans to write a series featuring the main character in the book, who is based on herself as a child. Learn more about Page in her recent and exclusive interview she graciously did with Idol Features. Above photo of Page at the Mammoth Film Festival in Mammoth, California by Michael Bezjian.

CHRIS CHARLES: Thank you for doing this Page. As you know, our mutual friend Lien Mya Nguyen brought you to my attention. I understand you two met on the set of Camera Phone, which is a found footage horror film. What was you experience like shooting that one?
PAGE TUDYK: Ah yes, Camera Phone! That was a fun one. I got to try my very best Spanish accent for the first time! I think it turned out okay?! I remember vividly in my death scene (spoiler!) the soapy blood was running into my nose the entire scene and I had to remain very still because it was a one shot showing multiple dead bodies in the hall and I was just so miserable! Overall it was a really fun set, everyone was so kind and I think the end product was pretty cool.
CHRIS: So from my research on you, am I correct by assuming you were born and raised in Oklahoma and you currently call Glendale, California home?
PAGE: I was actually born in San Antonio, Texas and raised in Oklahoma City. I moved to California a few years after college and lived there until about two years ago. My husband and I recently had a baby girl and wanted to be nearer to my family so we made the move back to Texas.
CHRIS: I see Camera Phone was one of your earlier credits. When would you say was the beginning of your acting career?
PAGE: Well gosh, we could go all the way back to when I was in Fox Kids commercials announcing the next show as a 10 year old! I’d say I’ve always loved to perform and be on stage. I didn’t discover film work until my sophomore year of college while working toward my bachelors in Theatre Performance. It was then I booked my first student film called “21” and absolutely loved it. I felt much more comfortable in front of the camera so from there I made the decision to head to LA to pursue film over New York City and the Broadway stage.
CHRIS: What role would you say has been your favorite, so far?
PAGE: I’d say I most enjoyed my role in Ugly. Holly was a very sarcastic, no nonsense character which is a stretch from my genuine personality so that was a fun character to play.
CHRIS: If given the choice, would you rather play a character who is much like you, whom you could relate to, or one that is nothing like you and would be a real stretch for you to play?
PAGE: Oh, I’d much rather play a character who is nothing like me. I get to be me everyday, let’s mix it up! There is no greater challenge as an actor than the excitement of exploring a character whose existence is far from your reality.

CHRIS: Is there any type of role you would not take if offered?
PAGE: I’m not sure there is any “type” of role I would not take. It would more be about the project itself and the director’s vision for the character. My thought process is; it would not be in the best interest of the project if the actor and directors do not share a similar vision.
CHRIS: I see your most recent feature film was Jack Martin’s Bolt From the Blue, which I have yet to see. Please tell me about your role in that one.
PAGE: My character in Bolt from the Blue, Mia Ibarra, is an electrical engineer who is trying to make her mark in an industry run by the opposite sex. She is sent to Alaska to look into a mad scientist’s claim that he can harness energy from a lightning bolt. At first glance Mia seems a tad uptight and hyper focused only on the success in her career, but as the movie progresses her character shows more depth, making her incredibly relatable.
CHRIS: Who have been some of your favorite people to work with, on either side of the camera?
PAGE: Oh my gosh, so many amazing folks I have had the pleasure of working with! I have been blessed with lifelong friends made in this industry and I don’t think this article is long enough to name them all! I made a very close friend in one of my make-up artists, Toni Marlo. She and I try to get together once a year if we can and always pick right back up where we left off.
CHRIS: Do you have any upcoming feature films?
PAGE: I do not currently have anything in the works. I’ve spent the last year performing a little miracle and creating life! I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl a few months back and am just now beginning to feel like myself again. I definitely plan to jump back in in the coming months. I did film a “Raising Cane’s” commercial with a country music star, Parker McCollum, while I was five month pregnant, so that may still be out there on social media.

CHRIS: You have appeared in quite a few short films. Please tell me the first things that comes to mind when I mention some, even if it’s a one-word answer. Peace, Love & Zombies.
PAGE: Prejudice… against Zombies!
CHRIS: R.
PAGE: Trauma. Very deep sharing among individuals with shared or similar experiences.
CHRIS: Unbreachable.
PAGE: When I think of this film, I vividly remember that I fell when getting out of a van while filming and my dress went flying. Not my finest moment, but a hilarious memory!
CHRIS: Home Again.
PAGE: Gosh, I barely remember this project, I don’t think the role was even speaking?!
CHRIS: Thief.
PAGE: This film holds a deeper meaning to me because my co-star would later bring me onto a project where I would meet my husband! Very special project to me.
CHRIS: Let the Bodies Hit the Floor.
PAGE: Accidental murder and wild comedy capers. Also, lack of sleep because this was a movie submitted to a 48 hour film festival where we had only 48 hours to write, shoot and edit the film to be considered in the festival.
CHRIS: Don’t Forget to Brush your Teeth.
PAGE: Don’t forget to visit the dentist, kids! John Gonzales has the coolest, wildest ideas.

CHRIS: Do you have a favorite film genre?
PAGE: I tend to lean more toward thriller or horror and have always dreamed of leading an epic horror film.
CHRIS: I’ve also seen you in a few TV commercials. Mainly for Joe Cooper Ford of Oklahoma City. Have you ever been recognized in public from any of the commercials you’ve appeared in?
PAGE: I have been recognized from my time as Joe Cooper’s spokesperson. A few times folks have reached out on social media because we had mutual friends and they swore they’d seen me before. Otherwise, I was recognized at my veterinarian’s office as well as the dentist and a couple of times at the grocery store. I recall I always felt so honored that, first people still watched cable TV, but also that they were nice enough to remember my face and were so complimentary of my work selling cars!
CHRIS: I’m impressed with your voiceover reels. What is the age range of the characters you have voiced?
PAGE: Professionally I have really only voiced characters in the teen to young adult ages but I have a wicked evil granny voice that I’d love to whip out at some point!
CHRIS: You have written a children’s book; The Day I Met a Little No-Fin. Was that your first?
PAGE: Yes, this children’s book was my first book. I wanted to write something about a subject close to my heart that was educational for a young demographic. My hope is they would absorb this perspective early enough to potentially make a change in the future lives of animals. I have never believed in keeping animals caged and fish in tanks and that is the message I attempted to convey in The Day I Met a Little No-Fin.
CHRIS: Do you see yourself perhaps writing a series of children’s books?
PAGE: Oh, I would absolutely love that! I have already outlined a series following the young girl in The Day I Met a Little No-Fin, Sophie. She is a character based on myself as a child with a fierce love for animals. The series would be called “Sophie Saves” and it would follow young Sophie as she puts herself out there to save animals in need. I’m quite excited about the prospect!

CHRIS: Yes, I see you’re an animal lover and advocate.
PAGE: I have loved animals since I was very young. At any given time, my parents’ house had at least four stray dogs or cats. These animals in need tended to always find their way to me or my mother and we would, of course, take them in, nurse them back to health and find them happy forever homes. In fact, the reason I pursued acting as a young lady was with the sole purpose of making a ton of money and opening an animal rescue center with all my millions of Hollywood earned dollars. Still working on that goal!
CHRIS: It’s good to hear something so noble. So, do you have any skills or hobbies only those close to you would know about?
PAGE: I think my favorite hobby has always been singing. When I moved to Texas I even joined a band! That’s been really fun. We’ve been on a bit of a hiatus since I’ve been pregnant, but am hoping to jump back in soon. I also really enjoy crafting, more recently using my daughters hands and feet!
CHRIS: With that, I’ll thank you again for doing this Page. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
PAGE: Well gosh, I think definitely a shout out to Lien Mya for setting this up! Otherwise thank you so much for having me on Chris, it’s been fun taking a trip down memory lane and chatting all things industry.
CHRIS: Oh, just one last question: Did you ever buy a car or truck from Joe Cooper Ford?
PAGE: I did! I bought my FJ Cruiser back in 2014 from Joe Cooper when he had a Toyota dealership. 😀