After carving out her own niche as a model, singer, and songwriter, Charlotte Lawrence is stepping into the world of acting, making her television debut in Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey. The 24-year-old multi-talented star couldn’t be more thrilled about this new chapter in her career, admitting that she overcame her “egotistical aversion to acting” to take on this role.
In Bad Monkey, a series adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel, Lawrence plays Caitlin Stripling, a rebellious former model and recovering addict who is convinced that her evil stepmother murdered her father. The role is a significant departure from her previous work in music and modeling, showcasing her versatility as an artist.
Interestingly, Lawrence’s journey to the screen was a path she forged on her own, despite her family’s deep roots in the entertainment industry. Her father, Bill Lawrence, is a renowned television creator behind hit shows like Scrubs, Cougar Town, and Ted Lasso. However, it wasn’t her famous father who pushed her into acting. Instead, Lawrence pursued the role in Bad Monkey independently, driven by the excitement of her friends who were auditioning for the show.
Fueled by a fear of missing out, Lawrence reached out to her dad’s assistant—who also happens to be her friend—to get the inside scoop on Bad Monkey. She decided to audition without telling her father, submitting her tape anonymously. When Bill Lawrence finally saw the tape, he was pleasantly surprised and immediately recognized her talent. “It was really good. It was much better than it had to be for me to hire my kid,” he said during an interview with Decider.
Lawrence is fully aware of the privileges that come with being the daughter of a successful television producer, and she understands the challenges of proving herself in the acting world. Reflecting on her decision to delay pursuing acting, she admitted, “It was kind of implemented in my family at a young age that if one of the kids were passionate about something, that they would support us emotionally and help us out if we prove to them that we were going to work really hard and that we really, really cared.”
She continued, “I’ve always loved music, obviously. That was my first love, and I always loved performing and entertaining. I did musical theater and plays and stuff growing up, but I feel like as a teenager I had a huge egotistical aversion to acting. I would be like, ‘I am not going to do anything that my parents are doing. No way. I’m going to do the opposite and build my own path, blah, blah, blah.’ It was ridiculous. I wish I did this sooner, but the second I gave it a shot and opened my mind up, I immediately fell in love with acting.”
To prepare for her role in Bad Monkey, Lawrence took acting classes and worked closely with a coach to hone her skills. Although she has received valuable advice from her mother, actor Christa Miller, Lawrence remains humble about her abilities. “I have so much to learn. I’ve done one thing. I know nothing. I am not good. I know that. I need to work a lot harder and a lot more and get my 10,000 hours in,” she candidly shared. “I feel so grateful for the opportunity to work, and to get this role, and to work alongside my dad. I’m the luckiest person alive.”
Lawrence’s transition into acting has been a rewarding experience, especially since she got to work alongside seasoned actors like Meredith Hagner and Rob Delaney. Describing her time on set as a “pinch me” moment, Lawrence praised her co-stars for their talent and professionalism. “It was such a pinch me moment that my first ever acting job was with the best of the best,” she said. “I loved working with Meredith. She was so naturally funny and had such a way of delivering her lines that made me feel like she was very naturally gifted and worked so hard on her craft. It really, really showed when we would do scenes together.”
One of the highlights of her Bad Monkey experience was acting alongside Vince Vaughn, whom she has admired since childhood. “I know this sounds like a fake press bullshit. Whatever. I’m dead serious, put me on a lie detector test. [Vince Vaughn] is probably my favorite comedic actor of all time,” Lawrence gushed. “I have been in love with his work since I was a kid. From Swingers to Made to Wedding Crashers. I think everything he’s done is phenomenal, and he has such a way of acting that is so specific to him. He is so generous, he is so lovely, he is so smart.”
As Charlotte Lawrence basks in the glow of her television debut, she is already looking forward to what the future holds. Her role in Bad Monkey has ignited a passion for acting that she now wishes she had discovered earlier. But as she continues to evolve as an artist, Lawrence remains grounded, knowing that she has much more to learn and accomplish in this new venture. With her unique blend of talent, humility, and determination, it’s clear that Charlotte Lawrence is just getting started in her journey as an actor.
