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You heard it here first: Rising actress Mirabelle Lee is definitely one to watch in the entertainment industry this year. With her new role as Sonya in the upcoming original Disney Channel series Saturdays, she's making her mark in a major way—and we're sooo here for it.

Produced by Black-ish star Marsai Martin, Saturdays is a single-camera comedy about the empowerment of a young girl and her roller-skating squad. We got the opportunity to speak with Mirabelle about her career journey and what it's like being a twin in the industry.

Girls' Life: Tell us about your role on Saturdays. How would you describe your character, Sonya?
Mirabelle: I can't say anything about my role right now, but what I *can* reveal is that she's super fun and entertaining. Honestly, she's one of my favorite characters I've ever played. This role is pretty different than anything I've done before, so I'm excited for everyone to see her. 

GL: What was the audition process like?
Mirabelle: Very chaotic, actually. I auditioned for three different roles before I got mine. At the very last minute, the producers told me that they had an opening for Sonya. A few days later, when I actually booked the part, I was like, "That's so cool!" 

GL: Do you have any favorite memories from working on the show?
Mirabelle: I think one of my favorite memories was probably filming the pilot in New Orleans. It was basically like being on vacation with some of my best friends. We ate crawfish, went on a swamp tour...it was so much fun! And, all while doing that, I had to learn how to roller skate. Learning a skill while exploring a new area was definitely a filming experience that I will *always* remember. 

GL: Is there anything that viewers should look forward to when watching Saturdays for the first time?
Mirabelle: I'm really excited for boys and girls to see such amazing representation of Black culture on Disney Channel—and I think roller skating is *so* fascinating as well. From the hair to the fashion (and even the comedic aspects of it), the show really captivates Black magic in the best way ever, and I'm so excited for everyone to be able to really see that. 

GL: Tell us about your journey as an actress and how you got to where you are now. 
Mirabelle: The way I entered the entertainment industry was honestly all by accident. I originally started off as a model and got scouted in the park when I was around three years old. From there, I realized that I really loved being in front of the camera. After a few years of modeling, I did a movie audition for Blood Ties. I had never acted a day in my life before, but I actually ended up booking the role of Janie. From that experience, I realized acting is my thing, and I knew I wanted to do that for the rest of my life. I moved out to L.A. three years ago to really be where everything is—and I haven't looked back since.

GL: What's it like being a twin in the entertainment industry?
Mirabelle: When my sister and I were younger, we were totally identical. Everything about us was the same, and producers would actually flip a coin to decide who got what role. As we've grown up, we've developed our own acting styles. We can have the same script but perform it in two different ways. It's pretty easy now to figure out which twin should get the role. 

GL: What are your goals for the future?
Mirabelle: I definitely want to start my own charity some day. I've been involved with charity work since I was six years old, so I would love to do something that would allow me to give back. Further down the line, I would love to have my own production company. I'm really fascinated with all the aspects of making movies and TV shows, so I would love to be involved in that process. 

Fast facts about Mirabelle:
Fave trend: Styling long skirts with cool prints
Accessory of the moment: Platform shoes
Songs she has on repeat: "Me and Your Mama" by Childish Gambino and "Love on the Brain" by Rihanna
Dream travel destinations: Italy and Bora Bora

Obsessed with Mirabelle? Keep up with her on Insta @mirabellelee and catch her on Disney Channel's Saturdays!

Find more celeb content here:
⭐ Meet Kayden Muller-Janssen from Disney Channel's Villains of Valley View
⭐ Prepare to geek out for Iman Vellani
⭐ Isabella Pappas is embracing her bad side

All images via @mirabellelee on Instagram | Parts of this interview have been edited and condensed for clarity. 

by Madison Yee | 7/27/2022