Caitlin Carmichael
After making her acting debut at just 3-years-old, Georgia-born Caitlin Carmichael has garnered numerous awards and nominations for her performances across film and television. Carmichael is currently a student at UCLA and the youngest female to be accepted to the prestigious university. She can most recently be seen in the TV series Dwight in Shining Armor, as Gretta, and will next be seen playing Tracey Lee in the highly anticipated movie Midnight in the Switchgrass, which premiered on July 23rd.
Crop top and skirt: Dodo Bar Or
Velvet turtleneck: Emilio Pucci
Coat: Simon Miller
Ring belt: Cult Gaia
Chain belt: B Low the Belt
Ring (right): Acchitto
Ring (left): Pamela Love
Your career started very young; how did you get into acting?
My Mom, Grandma, and I came out to Los Angeles on vacation in 2008, We just wanted to see the Hollywood sign and dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean. The three of us had no knowledge of the entertainment industry, but I was approached by an agent who asked if he could talk to me. I was incredibly extroverted and loved to talk to strangers, so, after a long chat with my 3 ½ year-old self, he asked my mom if we could fly back and forth from Georgia to California for auditions. I ended up booking the first job we flew out here for, and our decision to stay for a few weeks turned into months turned into years. Fun fact: that agent, Jeremy Apody, is still my commercial agent today.
Which character has been the most fun to play, and why?
My favorite characters to play usually come with a challenge. I really connected with my character, Tracey, in Midnight in the Switchgrass because of the challenge associated with the responsibility of bringing a true story to life. It was really fun for me as an actress to explore the depths of this abduction narrative. I challenged myself to strip down any elements of my performance that would give the scenes any sense of glamorization or superficiality. Having the opportunity to create in such an emotionally raw mindset was very enriching. I think, after this movie, I’m particularly compelled to bring more true stories to life.
Left:
Dress: Redemption
Scarf: Deseda
Choker: Saule
Earcuffs: Celeste Starre
Ring (right): Lady Grey
Ring (left): Pamela Love
Right:
Dress: AFFFAIR
Headband: Lele Sadoughi
Gloves: Kerry Parker Official
Glasses: Vintage Tura Pearl from Caserta Eye
Earrings and ear cuff: Vintage, photographer’s own
What was your favorite project, and why?
I love projects that give me the opportunity to travel for filming and immerse myself in different cultures. I’ve had amazing experiences in destinations like Budapest, Hungary, and Seoul, South Korea for work that has created invaluable memories for me. The projects where I get to enhance my global perspective seem to stand out in my mind. I feel, personally, very fortunate to have such culturally enriching, once in a lifetime experiences through my career.
Do you feel that there is a project that you have done that is most impactful, either on the world or on yourself?
I played a very small puzzle piece as young Olivia Wilde in Dan Fogelman’s elaborate ensemble film, Life Itself, in 2017. I saw the finished product for the first time at the film’s world premiere at TIFF in 2018, and it was overwhelmingly moving. I’d never witnessed such a collective, visceral response from an audience to one of my movies before. The intergenerational film spans many decades and illustrates the complexly intertwined lives of multiple couples. Life Itself has such a powerful message of how small we really are in the grand scheme of things, but how influential we can be in the lives of everyone we encounter. It was very impactful to get to be a part of bringing this story to life.
Left:
Dress: Redemption
Scarf: Deseda
Choker: Saule
Earcuffs: Celeste Starre
Ring (right): Lady Grey
Ring (left): Pamela Love
Right:
Dress: AFFFAIR
Headband: Lele Sadoughi
Gloves: Kerry Parker Official
Glasses: Vintage Tura Pearl from Caserta Eye
Earrings and ear cuff: Vintage, photographer’s own
Shoes: O2 Monde
What is your most memorable moment from filming Midnight in the Switchgrass?
Definitely filming Tracey’s escape. Our director, Randall Emmett, didn’t want to tell me the escape route from the “box” of solitary confinement Tracey needed to find in the scene. He just rolled camera and filmed me tearing down blankets on the walls and searching the floorboards before I eventually discovered the sewage pipe I needed to break through. The pipe was covered in chicken wire and completely boarded-up, so we had one real take of me trying to escape, discovering everything in real time. This experience was such a fun challenge from Randall that let me be authentically in the moment, which really built the intensity on screen.
Left:
Crop top and skirt: Dodo Bar Or
Velvet turtleneck: Emilio Pucci
Coat: Simon Miller
Ring belt: Cult Gaia
Chain belt: B Low the Belt
Ring (right): Acchitto
Ring (left): Pamela Love
Right:
Jacket and pants: Sorapol
Scarf: Deseda
Sunglasses: Vintage Christian Dior @dior from Caserta Eye
Shoes: Pollice Lee Milano
Bralette: Fleur Du Mal
Long necklace: Iris Trends
All rings (left and right): Lady Grey
Bangles (right): Lady Grey
Earrings: Photographer’s own (vintage)
Although you’ve played various roles across genres, from family to thriller, crime/mystery seems to be a fairly new territory for you. How did you like it?
I started acting at age 3 and some of my first roles were actually in the crime genre. I worked on Criminal Minds (twice as two different characters), Law and Order: LA, CSI: Miami, and Sony’s series CH:OS:EN - all before I turned 10. It was interesting to revisit this genre from a more adult perspective in my character Tracey in MITS. As a child actor, most directors and writers understandably want to preserve the innocence of both the kid who’s acting and their character presented on screen. Being able to take on the role of someone kidnapped now, as I’m transitioning into a more adult career that presents the opportunity for more mature roles, allowed me to give a much more complex performance that didn’t shy away from the true horror and grit of my scenes.
Left:
Jacket and pants: Sorapol
Scarf: Deseda
Sunglasses: Vintage Christian Dior @dior from Caserta Eye
Shoes: Pollice Lee Milano
Bralette: Fleur Du Mal
Long necklace: Iris Trends
All rings (left and right): Lady Grey
Bangles (right): Lady Grey
Earrings: Photographer’s own (vintage)
Right:
Dress: Markarian
Hat: Morphine Fashion
Necklace: Lele Sadoughi
Bangles (right and left): Lady Grey
Pearl bracelet: IVI
Ring: Pamela Love
What drew you to the role of Tracey?
Immediately, I gravitated toward the headline “based on real events” on the first page of the script. Then, Randall shared his passion to depict a sense of female empowerment on screen that allows Tracey and Lombardo not only to save themselves but also each other. After hearing that, I was all in.
Do you see any similarities between Tracey and yourself? Tracey seems to find her utmost strength under pressure, which I really connected with. Also, I think we look pretty similar. lol.
Left:
Dress: Markarian
Hat: Morphine Fashion
Necklace: Lele Sadoughi
Bangles (right and left): Lady Grey
Pearl bracelet: IVI
Ring: Pamela Love
Right:
Crop top and skirt: Dodo Bar Or
Velvet turtleneck: Emilio Pucci
Coat: Simon Miller
Ring belt: Cult Gaia
Chain belt: B Low the Belt
Ring (right): Acchitto
Ring (left): Pamela Love
Shoes: Pollice Lee Milano
How do you usually decide which roles you want to pursue?
Circling back to the idea of wanting to take on challenges in my career, I love scripts that challenge the way I think. I tend to be attracted to narratives that have the power to change my perspective on the world as a reader. Then, any role that allows me to adopt a new mindset through the character I’m playing always stands out. I want to work on projects that both inspire me when creating them and inspire audiences with the final product.
Do you have a dream role?
I’d love to bring a Marvel/DC superhero to life or revive a classic movie remake. There’d be a lot of pressure to step into an iconic character’s shoes in either of these cases, but I’m up for the challenge.
Crop top and skirt: Dodo Bar Or
Velvet turtleneck: Emilio Pucci
Ring belt: Cult Gaia
Chain belt: B Low the Belt
Ring (right): Acchitto
Ring (left): Pamela Love
CREW CREDITS:
Photography & Art Direction: Sequoia Emmanuelle
Talent: Caitlin Carmichael
Fashion Stylist: Christina Pacelli at The Only Agency
Fashion Stylist Assistant: Marissa Perez
Make-up: Roshar
Hair: Joshua Murphy
Tearsheets: Daniel López, Junior Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview: Kenisha Seth, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
