Chatting with Home Economics’ Shiloh Bearman
Shiloh Bearman was only 2 years old when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She doesn’t remember anything from her diagnosis, but she has been navigating the type 1 diabetes (T1D) life like a pro ever since. And now, at 9 years old—Shiloh is already blooming into a successful actress.
Shiloh recently scored the role of “Gretchen” on the new ABC sitcom Home Economics, which premiered in early April.
Home Economics follows the lives of three adult siblings and their families. Shiloh plays the daughter of “Connor,” played by Jimmy Tatro.
Beyond Type 1 got the chance to chat with Shiloh about her role on the show, managing T1D on set as well as her plans for her acting career going forward!
BT1: What was it like watching yourself on the show when the pilot first aired?
Shiloh: It was really weird! I have watched myself on TV, but it’s a little weird to see myself with other millions of people watching.
Did you feel like the show turned out how you thought it would?
Yeah, I think it turned out better than I thought it would.
How long have you been acting?
I’ve been acting for I think six years, but I started getting auditions around two years ago.
How did you prepare for that?
I started out by taking a lot of acting classes, but then I quit for a year, but in 2018 I started going to a different acting class, which was actually a lot better for me. That’s how I actually started getting auditions from that acting class.
What was it that inspired you to want to act? How did you know that’s what you wanted to do?
I was always watching TV when I was really little. I didn’t know anything about what it was like to be an actor, but I think it just clicked in my mind, “Oh, I want to be on TV.” I think that when I was really young, I didn’t really even know what it was called. I was just like, “I want to be on TV.” But as I grew to be an older toddler, I was begging my parents, my brother Levi and I, we were begging our parents because we really, really wanted to do it. It took a few years, but I’m here, so it happened.
Do you get nervous during auditions?
Yeah, I do. I really get nervous. I had a recent audition. I was so nervous for it because I really liked the role, and I was so nervous. Whenever I really like a character, I get so nervous. I’m not really sure why, but I just get really scared. I always get nervous with auditions, but specifically the ones that I think are creative and stuff.
But I think that I shouldn’t worry so much.
When you were on the set of Home Economics, what was it like dealing with type 1?
Well, when we originally started shooting, the costume people actually informed the producers and stuff and then we started filming. Not everyone really knew. I was like, “Mom, did you tell everyone?” She was like, “No. No, I didn’t.” I was like, “Okay.” But I got really scared to tell people. I did tell my cast mates, a few of them, but it was just mainly the producers and the costume people that knew. I was kind of glad that it was just a couple of people.
But when it came to dealing with type 1 on set, it wasn’t the hardest thing ever. But obviously it wasn’t the easiest. We had to put my sensor on my back instead of how it’s usually on my arm, because they didn’t want it to be visible. That was really weird for me actually. And when my mom would bolus me and stuff, people thought (my pump) was just a second phone.
Who are some of your favorite actors that you look up to?
Well, I look up to Scarlett Johannson. I really like her. I think she’s a really great actor. I also look up to … I have so many favorite actors.
I would say Elle Fanning. I really like her. I think she’s a really great actor. I think she was one of the main people I look up to when I think of this is the path I want to take with acting.
What different kinds of movies or shows do you most want to act in?
I like sitcoms. I feel like comedy is something I would enjoy doing, but I also want to be in horror movies. I know it sounds a little weird, but I’m really interested in that, as well! I also really like action movies. If I were to get cast in one of those, I feel like that would be really cool. I like all genres of acting, but I think the three ones that I just listed are my top ones that I love. And I love Marvel so much.
What other things do you like to do besides acting just for fun?
I like art. I like playing games with my friends on FaceTime. I really like dancing. I do that every single second of my life when I’m not acting and doing auditions and stuff. I think dancing is one bar down from acting. I don’t think I would do that ever professionally, but I really like doing it at home. I don’t know, I like doing jump roping. I don’t know if that’s a sport, but I do it a lot at home.
I also like singing. I feel like people don’t really realize that I do that a lot. I think those are some of my main things that I like doing at home, besides acting. I also make slime!
Catch Shiloh on Home Economics, Wednesdays on ABC!
