Harold and the Purple Crayon is set to be one of this summer’s biggest films for families, premiering August 22 nationwide. Few parents didn’t grow up loving the original 1950s book about an imaginative boy named Harold, and introducing it to their own kids, and the film is already generating a lot of buzz.
Harold has a star-studded cast including Zooey Deschanel and Zachary Levi. Camille Guaty (The Rookie, The Good Doctor and Prison Break) plays Junior Detective Silva, and is this week’s Meet a Mom interview on The Local Moms Network!
Camille battled infertility for years before eventually using an egg donor to become a mom to Morrison (now 4). Below, Camille shares about Harold and The Purple Crayon, her tough path to motherhood, and more.
Please tell us about your role in Harold & the Purple Crayon. This is such an iconic book for kids—as a mom how is this role different from others?
I play Junior Detective Silva in the film, where my first case is to solve the mystery of a man with a purple crayon that can bring anything he draws to life. She’s also a mother to a four-year-old girl, and at the end of the movie, you see us reading the original book together. It’s such a sweet moment, especially since my own son is the same age.
I can’t help but imagine sitting in a movie theater with him, watching Harold and the Purple Crayon! He’s a huge fan of the book and is thrilled to see what happens when Harold steps into the real world. Whenever we read the book and he spots the police officer, he always asks, “Mommy, is that you?”
So great! What do you think people’s reactions will be to the movie?
They will love it! If you were a fan of the book you’ll see the winks to the author, Crockett Johnson. There are so many elements from the book sprinkled throughout the movie. It’s not only hilarious and fun to see all the mischief they get into but, the movie manages to explain mortality in a sweet way that will tug at your heart.
What was it like working with this all-star cast?
One of my favorite days on set was with Jemaine Clement and Pete Gardner, both extremely funny actors. There was this scene at the police station, after Harold and the gang busted out of jail, using a wrecking ball. Carlos Saldanha, the director let us riff throughout the scene (that’s code word for improvise). It was so challenging not to bust out laughing with every take! Unfortunately, it didn’t make the cut…my rationale was because we were too funny!
Ha! You had a challenging journey to motherhood. Can you tell us a little bit about your path to becoming a mom?
I sure did. As an actress, navigating the decision of when to get pregnant is incredibly challenging due to widespread discrimination in the industry. I waited until I was 38 to start trying, only to face a diagnosis of infertility a few months later. While doctors suggested donor eggs as a viable option, the idea felt too shameful for me to even consider. Never in a million years was I going to go that route!
So instead, I did 6 rounds of IVF, 1 IUI, and transferred 21 of my embryos, but none resulted in a pregnancy. Four years and a lot of therapy later, I shifted my perspective. I became deeply grateful for the science and the donor whose sacrifice allowed me to experience a part of motherhood I had only dreamed about. The hardest decision I ever made turned out to be the best one of my life.
Thank you for sharing that. You also founded a charity, Foster A Dream. What spurred you to get involved with helping foster children?
Foster A Dream became my silver lining during my struggle with infertility. When we couldn’t get pregnant, we explored other options and discovered the foster system in Los Angeles. Saddened by the number of children in need of a safe home and family support, I teamed up with my friend Katie Jordan and started Foster A Dream.
Partnering with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, we work to improve the lives of thousands of foster youth. Each spring, we host an event providing formal wear for Prom and Graduation. In the fall, we hold a back-to-school event supplying all the essentials for the year, including haircuts, new clothes, and one year we were given Jordans! During the holidays, we give toys, blankets, pajamas, and gift cards to spread a little Christmas joy to kids and young adults.
So amazing! What is your mom mantra?
I’ve been working away from home lately and I think space from my daily routine puts a lot into perspective for me. Kids are supposed to be messy and challenging and boisterous. Often my “mom struggles” are really just my own time management issues. I find myself wanting my son to fit into my life box, rather than adapting to his needs.
When I can step away from my daily routine and truly see him, my parenting challenges seem much smaller. So in a nutshell…put the phones down, close the laptop, and spend some quality time with your kids. They grow up too fast.
What’s next for you?
I do have a very exciting project on the horizon. I’m part of JJ Abrams’s new series, Duster, for HBO MAX. It’s a high-octane, drama based in the 70’s about a getaway driver for the mob. It’s dark, it’s quirky and funny all at the same time. I play Izzy Reyna, a mother and a no-nonsense truck driver, who battles her union for equality in the industry! Can’t wait for it to come out!
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Olympic Gymnast Shannon Miller on Motherhood, Her Cancer Battle, Simone Biles & More!
