Ab Anderson

On A Need to Know Basis:

Some would say that I’m Easy Going, Protective, and Confident, while others could think that I’m Impatient, Blunt, and Stubborn.

Collecting the names of her two grandmothers, Abigail Jane Anderson was born the youngest of their little family of superstars. She took her first steps on the set of her mother’s talk show, spoke her first word on Nicole Kidman’s lap (that first word being ‘Harry’ after being fascinated by the handlebar mustache Jim Broadbent had to wear on Moulin Rouge), and successfully used a toilet on her own in a fake bathroom on a soundstage. If you had asked her where the industry ended and the real world began, she would not have been able to tell you. And if she was being honest, she was quite happy with her reality.

Her parents, however, were hesitant about letting her take a more active role in that part of their world. In the midst of child stars, particularly female child stars having to live up to more and more impossible standards and scrutiny, Marcus and Elaine wanted to shield their daughter as much as possible. As she would grow older, Ab would start to question whether it was for her own protection or the protection of the Anderson name, but she digresses.

Despite their best efforts, accidents do happen. And by accident, it is meant that Ab was maybe a little too comfortable with her little world. A five year old Ab Anderson one day found herself on an adventure, walking off the set of her mother’s talk show to the soundstage next door, where multiple living room sets and a shabby looking cobblestone wall covered in vines were awaiting the soap opera stars that would grace them. The director found her and walked her back to Elaine. In the midst of relieved and earnest thanks, Elaine found herself agreeing to allow Ab to appear on the show to fill a last minute cancellation. And with that, the young actress found herself in her first role, a two-episode appearance on All My Children.

There was a large gap between her first role and her second, nearly eight years, where she was encouraged to focus on schooling. She became quite a well read kid, able to pass her classes in a breeze. It suited her just fine, it gave her more time to focus on the things she actually enjoyed, like her acting classes and perfecting the bass playing she’d picked up by the time she was seven. When she was 13, she convinced her parents to let her start auditioning. She supposed her name helped, but regardless, she managed to land a regular role on Gary Unmarried.

Since then, she’s managed to keep regular work in both tv and film, most notably as Claire Novak in Supernatural, Alex in Paranormal Activity 4, Ally Pressman in The Society, Abigail Carson in Big Little Lies, Lucy Stevens in Pokemon Detective Pikachu, Millie in Freaky, and most recently, Margaret in The Map of Tiny Perfect Things. On the side, she likes to play bass whenever she can, filling in gigs for her friends or vibing on live streams.

Personality: Despite her star, Ab likes to stay away from the spotlight as much as she can. She never wanted to act for the fame, the family she was born in did that enough for her, it was a simple grace that she happened to be as passionate about it as the rest of her family. But those who get to know her can see the laid back, fun loving and sweet girl underneath. She has little time for bullshit, though. Insult her, her family, or anyone she’s close to, and she will bite back; harder, usually.

CONNECTIONS:

CASPAR ANDERSON (Brother): A pain in the ass, but her pain in the ass. If there was anyone she considered a best friend, it was Cas. He’s the first person to know what’s happening in her life, sometimes the only person to know. He supports her no matter what, but also won’t hesitate to call her out when he knows that she’s being an idiot, and she won’t hesitate to do the same for him. She’s his biggest fan. Most people are confused to find out they’re not actually twins, with how in sync they actually are with each other.

MARCUS & ELAINE ANDERSON (Parents): Ab loves her parents and her family, and even the life that she grew up in. However, there’s always been a small point of contention that stemmed from the differences they would treat her and her career and how they would treat Caspar’s. Their attempts to shield her from the toxicity of the industry was often construed as a lack of belief in her ability. There was an expectation that came from her last name, and coming from two superstars of the entertainment industry, that is not a feeling to take lightly. But as she gained more roles and settled into her career, that feeling faded.