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Insights from Gloria and Olivia on Raising a Child Actor

In their award-winning book, BOOKED: A Strong Start for Your Child Actor, mother-daughter duo Gloria and Olivia share their unique insights and experiences navigating this complex world. Drawing from their own experiences—Olivia’s rise as a successful actress and Gloria’s commitment to ensuring her daughter’s safety and well-being—they provide invaluable guidance for families looking to support aspiring young talent.



This interview delves into the heart of their collaboration, exploring the importance of balancing ambition with safety, the realities of the industry, and the powerful message they hope to convey to parents and young actors alike.


Interview with Gloria and Olivia Iatridis


Q: What inspired you to write Booked, and why did you feel it was important to share both a parent’s and a child’s perspective?

A: Olivia and I were inspired to write Booked, A Strong Start For Your Child Actor, because family and friends kept asking us for tips on how to get their children involved in the film industry. Olivia began acting at the age of thirteen and is highly successful. At the time, we did not know much about how to navigate the industry. Over the first few years, we learned together and built a safe process that contributed to her success. Olivia is a professional actress now and has earned a number of International Movie Database (IMDb) credits for TV shows and movies.


We felt it was important to bring both perspectives together because families need both sides of the story. Parents want practical tools to protect and guide their kids, and kids want to feel heard and understood. By writing as a mother–daughter team, we were able to show the full picture of what it really takes to thrive in this industry safely.


Q: The book is refreshingly honest about the realities of the film industry. Was there a particular experience that made you realize families needed a resource like this?

A: Throughout Olivia’s early years of her career, we experienced many different incidents that were a cause for concern. These experiences led us to having many discussions about her safety and the need to have continual parental oversight and support. In todays world, there are lots of discussions taking place publicly about child actors and the abuse that they endured. With things like the Me Too movement, we knew we needed to  be honest about the realities and share our knowledge with other families. Our goal is to keep children safe while allowing them to pursue their passions.


Q: Gloria, as a parent, how did you balance supporting Olivia’s career while making sure she still had a grounded childhood?

A: As a parent, I made sure Olivia had balance in her life and stayed grounded in her childhood. Olivia had other activities that she loved and participated in as well. She was a competitive dancer and figure skater. Olivia always had the ability to pick and choose her own activities and when she wanted to participate. Early on in her career, there was few acting opportunities for young people where we lived, so she was not overwhelmed with work. However, Olivia would often take acting training and participate in non-union shoots to gain work experience. Olivia had plenty of time to spend with us as a family and just do normal things at home.


Q: Olivia, what was it like working on this project and capturing the heart of both the mother’s and child’s voices so authentically?

A: I loved working on the book with my mom. It definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone because I never really wrote much before. I learned that I could continue writing and I gained confidence in my writing skills. The reason we were able to write it so authentically was because we had the actual experience of being an actor and a mom-a-ger/parent of a child actor. Anything we talked about is directly related to the work we did. It was very natural to capture the heart of a mother and child’s voices this way.

 

Q: You speak about diversity and inclusion in the industry. From your perspective, what progress have you seen, and what areas still need the most change?

A: I have seen some progress in recent years. There is more awareness in the industry that diversity and inclusion are not just “nice to have,” but essential to telling authentic stories. There are more casting calls open to underrepresented groups, more Indigenous, Black, and People of Color voices being brought into writers’ rooms, and a growing recognition that audiences want and deserve representation that reflects the real world. However, there’s still a long way to go.

True inclusion means more than being in front of the camera. It means having Indigenous and underrepresented people in decision-making roles as producers, directors, casting directors, and executives who shape which stories get told and how they are told. Too often, opportunities remain limited, and systemic barriers still keep many talented voices from being heard.


"For us, as an Indigenous mother-daughter author team, the change we most want to see is the industry not just opening the door for some representation, but keeping it open, supporting safety, and creating pathways for the next generation of diverse actors, especially children and youth, to thrive without sacrificing who they are."

Q:The book offers great advice on finding trustworthy agents and navigating the business side of acting. What do you think parents should look out for as red flags?

A: The first red flag parents should watch for is anyone asking for big upfront fees. A legitimate agent only earns money when your child books work, they don’t charge just to sign you. Another red flag is if they are pressuring you. If someone pushes you to sign a contract right away or insists you pay for expensive photos, classes, or “exclusive” showcases, that’s a sign to pause.


It is also important to look at transparency. A trustworthy agent should be open about who they have worked with and what relationships they have in the industry. If they’re vague, avoid questions, or can’t back up their claims, that’s a concern.


Most of all, listen to your gut. If something feels off, whether it’s how they interact with your child, promises that sound too good to be true, or a lack of professionalism then you don’t need to ignore that feeling. The right agent will respect your child, support their growth, and make safety and honesty the priority.


Q: On the social media side, how do you manage sharing your story publicly while protecting your privacy and staying authentic?

A: We want to share our journey openly on social media because we know it can help other families feel less alone and give them tools we wish we had when we started. At the same time, we’re careful about what we post, especially when it comes to personal details or anything that could put safety at risk. We focus on authenticity by sharing what’s meaningful and we don’t feel pressure to share everything in order to be real. We share what’s necessary to connect, inspire, or educate and balance that with protecting ourselves while still showing up in a way that’s honest and true to who we are.


Q: Social media has become such a big part of young actors’ visibility. What advice would you give parents about helping their children use it wisely without it taking over their lives?

A: Social media can be a great tool, but it shouldn’t run a young actor’s life. Parents can help by setting healthy boundaries like limiting screen time, choosing what to share together, and reminding kids that their worth isn’t tied to likes or followers. It’s also important to keep the focus on their craft and well-being. Social media should support their journey, not become the whole journey.

I managed all of Olivia’s social media when she first started out because I wanted to ensure her safety. However, I did not post anything until she reviewed it and approved of it first. We decided together what would be best to share or not. I monitored all of her messages on social media and email because there were many times where she was inappropriately contacted for other reasons. I highly recommend that parents be actively involved in their child’s Social media and not leave it to them to manage on their own. If they can afford it, parents can hire a manager or marketing specialist to maintain professional pages.


Q: Your book, Booked, is applicable across many careers or industries for children. Do you often receive requests or questions from parents from all walks of life? If so, have any of those experiences had a lasting impact on you or your daughter?

A: Yes, we do receive feedback and questions from parents and others. When we wrote Booked, our first thought was that it would be a guidebook for parents of child actors, but it has become so much more than that. I have had many people, with and without children, say to me that they enjoyed reading our book. Many have shared how it has inspired them and how the messages in Booked are transferrable to other areas in life. Many have shared that the book is so clear, concise, and enjoyable to read.

Hearing from everyone has been really meaningful. For both of us, it’s powerful to see how our stories throughout the book resonate with others. It reinforces that our message isn’t just about acting, it’s about protecting and empowering children in whatever path they choose.


Q: What was the most challenging chapter for you to write, and why?

A: Chapter 33 – Knowing Your Own Worth was the most challenging chapter for me to write because it highlights a terrible situation that Olivia was in on a film set. It was a difficult time for her and she had to make a decision that affected her job. Thankfully, she decided to speak up, not just for herself, but for all the cast and crew. The worksite was toxic and the film shoot had to be shut down by the union for all the breaches that were made. It was so disappointing that the Director and Producers of the film did not address the situation and create a safe space for everyone. However, I am so proud of Olivia for taking a stand and knowing her own worth.


Q: If there’s one message you’d like readers—especially parents of aspiring actors—to take away from Booked, what would it be?

A: The message we want others to take away is that your child’s safety and well-being always come first. The acting world can be exciting, but it’s also full of pressures and risks. If you approach it with knowledge, boundaries, and the right support system, your child can pursue their passion while still being protected and celebrated for who they are. That’s really the heart of Booked, opening doors for kids, especially underrepresented ones, but making sure those doors lead to safe and positive opportunities and experiences.


Q: Every book teaches its author something in the process of writing. What did Booked:  teach you—about yourself, your craft, or even the story you set out to tell?

A: Writing Booked taught us a lot about ourselves and our journey. For me as a parent, it was a reminder of how much we’ve learned by trial and error and how important it is to share that knowledge so other families don’t feel alone. For Olivia, it showed her how powerful her own voice is, not just as an actor but as a storyteller.


As co-authors, the process also deepened our bond. We realized our story isn’t just about navigating the acting industry, it’s about resilience, culture, and the strength of a mother–daughter team opening doors for others. In that way, the book ended up teaching us that our message is bigger than we first imagined.

 

Q: Since publishing, has any reader response—encouraging, surprising, or deeply personal—touched you in a lasting way?

A: Yes, we have received lots of reader responses and all of them have been so positive and encouraging. One reader sent me an email that touched me a lot. The reader referred to our book as ‘stepping into a masterclass not just on navigating the film industry, but on navigating parenthood with intention, courage and wisdom.’ The reader said that our book was the kind of resource they wish had been widely available to every parent stepping into this world for the first time. This feedback was exactly what I wanted to hear as it reaffirms for me and Olivia that we are achieving exactly what we set out to do in the first place. We are so grateful for all the support that we continue to receive from readers.


Q: What’s next for you as an author—are there new projects or future books already in the works?

A: Writing Booked has definitely opened the door to new projects. We’re exploring ways to expand the conversation around supporting young talent safely. Olivia and I have been invited to be speakers at a number of events. For us, it’s about continuing to provide guidance, inspiration, and tools for families navigating creative paths, while also telling stories that matter.

Olivia and I are also writing a children's book. It will be an early reader book that showcases our Inuit heritage. We are especially excited about this book because Olivia is the Illustrator. In addition to her acting talents, Olivia is also an amazing artist. We hope to have our book published and released in early 2026.


Q: Is there anything beyond what we’ve discussed that you’d like readers to know?

A: We believe that Booked would be a valuable resource for teachers and educators and recommend it as a tool to incorporate in core subject matters at school. We have created free lesson plans and have made them available on our website at www.booked-it.ca We encourage any educator to take advantage of this opportunity. Olivia and I are also available for presentations and discussions at the request of any group or organization. We would love to be able to share more in-depth and firsthand knowledge of the film industry.

 

Our Social Media and other links:

Instagram: bookedbook2024

Facebook: booked-it

TikTok: bookedbook

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