Josie Collier
Executive Features Editor
Juniors and identical twins Cali and Noelle Sheldon go from sitcom to horror after landing roles in Jordan Peele’s new psychological thriller movie, “Us.”
The Sheldons began acting when they were only a year old in the sitcom “Friends” and played the role of Rachel and Ross’s daughter. The twins have been a part of student short films and other minor projects in the years since, but “Us” is the first major film that they have been a part of.
“We were treated equally [on set] as all of the other celebrities,” Cali said. “We still got our own trailer and chairs. It was cool because everyone always sees movies on TV but it is different to be in one than just to see one.”
Academy Award-winner Jordan Peele wrote and directed “Us,” and the movie stars award-winning actors Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss.
“I never really thought I could meet people like [Nyong’o, Duke and Moss] so it was a really cool experience,” Noelle said. “I didn’t want to mess up because they were watching so it was stressful, but in a good way.”
They filmed the movie in Santa Cruz during the first week of this school year for ten days.
“Filming for us was pretty cool, and it was really cool to meet celebrities because Noelle and I are just normal people,” Cali said. “We were not only able to meet [the actors], but we were also able to work with such talented and famous people.”
The film focuses on the idea that people are their own worst enemy. The plot follows the Wilson family, who arrive home and see a family of masked figures in the driveway. It is later revealed that the figures are their doppelgängers. The movie will premiere in theaters nationwide on March 22 by Universal Pictures.
“Acting is really nice because it gives me a platform to share my ideas with the people that watch the movie,” Noelle said. “The message of the movie is important to me, so it is nice that I am able to share the message.”
Peele worked with the Sheldons and gave the twins in-depth direction, Noelle said. According to Cali, her and her twin act because they believe it is a great way to meet people and make new friends.
“Everyone there was super friendly, and Jordan Peele was insanely nice and he is an actual genius,” Cali said. “To see him work was really cool, [and] he was super nice to us and he [was] just like a regular guy trying to make us feel comfortable.”
Cali and Noelle are both unsure if they want to pursue a career in acting in the future because they believe that it is a risky business to enter. Both plan on attending universities, and Cali wants to specialize in the biomedical engineering field.
“I actually thought that I did not want to be an actress before we got the parts because I thought it would be too much work, but seeing all of those [actors on set] as just regular people inspired me,” Cali said.
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