Interview: Allie Gonino on The Lying Game | Shockya.com

Read Shockya.com's exclusive interview with actress and singer Allie Gonino, who is presently starring as Laurel Mercer on the acclaimed ABC Family teen drama series ‘The Lying Game,’ which is currently airing the second half of its first season. The show, which is based on the series of books of the same name by Sara Shepard, follows foster child Emma Becker, played by Alexandra Chando, as she finds out she has an identical twin sister, Sutton.

The girls were separated at birth, and Sutton was adopted by wealthy parents and has a seemingly ideal life, including an adoptive sister, Laurel. Sutton convinces Emma to step into her life for a few days, so she can travel to Los Angeles to search for their birth mother. In the process, Emma discovers her sister’s many secrets. Gonino discusses with us, among other things, how her band, The Good Mad, fits into an upcoming episode of ‘The Lying Game,’ and what convinced her to audition for the role of Laurel.

Written by: Karen Benardello


ShockYa (SY): Your band, The Good Mad, will be featured in the January 16, 2012 episode of your show, ‘The Lying Game.’ How does the band fit into the storyline, and will you be playing any of the group’s songs on the episode?

Allie Gonino (AG): Yes, it’s Laurel’s first time playing on stage, and basically it’s a surprise to her. The band, which is actually called Strangeworthy on the show, is playing at this ballet fundraiser that Kristin (played by Helen Slater) is putting on. Then Laurel ends up on the stage with the band and they play a song, which is an original song of ours, called ‘What Money Pays For.’

SY: What are some of the challenges of balancing your music with The Good Mad, and playing Laurel Mercer on ‘The Lying Game?’

AG: Well, luckily, everything has tied together recently. So we’ve been able to hang out a lot more and write, and play our music. So I’m just thankful that I have time to devote to both things. But it is hard when the boys are in L.A. for us to have rehearsals over Skype. But we’re going to make it work, and whatever’s supposed to happen will happen. We’re trying to take it one step at a time.

SY: Before you joined The Good Mad, you were also in another band, The Stunners. So what was it about ‘The Lying Game’ that convinced you to take time away from your music, and audition for the role of Laurel?

AG: Well, The Stunners were on tour with Justin Bieber, and that was the most amazing opportunity for us. We got to a point where we were writing, and everyone was going off in different directions. Hayley (Kiyoko) was doing Lemonade Mouth, and some of the other girls wanted to focus on school.

Then I got the job (on ‘The Lying Game’), and it was time for me to have a steady job. So I took it, but we’re still good friends. There’s no bad blood between us. Everyone is doing really well.


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