Josef Rodriguez: You started your career in mostly Disney films, but have recently moved into more independent horror films like “Piranha 3DD”, “Mr. Brooks”, and “The Ward”. What inspired this change of direction and what attracts you to horror and thriller films as an actress?

Danielle Panabaker: I’ve been fortunate enough to work in a lot of different genres. Yes – I started at Disney but then did a CBS show for two years called “Shark”. After that, I wanted to change things up a bit and focus on films. Horror and thriller films have been the most commonly made genre for several years, and I enjoyed working in a variety of different styles. Often it was the filmmaker or challenge the film provided – “Mr. Brooks” was a great opportunity to work with Kevin Costner, and it was awesome to collaborate with John Carpenter on “The Ward”; he was one of the original filmmakers in the horror genre.

JR: You also have a sister, Kay, who works as an actress. What’s it like to have a sibling with you in the movie business?

DP: Growing up, it was great to have a sibling in the business, especially as we started out. It was very useful to have someone to talk to and compare experiences. It helped me learn a lot because she would share her experiences with me, and I could use that knowledge in my own career and life, and vice versa.

JR: When working on something as delicate as a remake of a beloved horror film, like “Friday the 13th”, what kinds of things do you look for in the script to ensure that the writers are doing justice to the original film?

DP: When we made “Friday the 13th”, I put a lot of faith in the producers, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form; they are experts in making films like that. The script embodied a lot of the traditions from previous versions, but they also made our reboot contemporary.

JR: I read that you graduated from high school at the top of your class at age 14. What inspired you to take such a studious approach to your education and how did you manage to skip so many grades?

DP: Because I started working when I was still in school, I switched to an independent study high school. I didn’t skip any grades – I just went to school year round for a period of time, which enabled me to get all the credits to graduate at 14. Education is something that is very important to my family, and my mom drilled into us from a very young age, so I just focused on getting my schoolwork done. It helped me get my bachelor’s degree from UCLA when I was 19 because I was accustomed to doing school work during my breaks on set.

JR: As a fashion magazine, we always try and showcase the best upcoming trends. Do you tend to stay interested in the latest fashion trends or do you often stick to your own style regardless of what the magazines and photo shoots say?

DP: My style is definitely a little more classic, but I do try to keep up with trends. I spend a lot of time flying back and forth between Vancouver and Los Angeles, and I love when the new issues of magazines come out each month. I get excited to get on the plane and read them.

JR: You’re obviously one of the most intelligent actors working today, so if you didn’t become an actress, what would you be doing right now?

DP: Thank you. I’m not sure what I would be doing! I’d love to work with a non profit foundation and help those who really need it.

JR: Recently, you won Best Actress at LIFF for your role in Bradley King’s “Time Lapse”. How did you get the role and what was it like working on an independent sci-fi film, especially when so few of them are being made today?

DP: I’m so flattered to be honored by them. Bradley and his co writer BP had actually seen a film of mine called “Girls Against Boys” at South by Southwest and saw me speak at a Q&A after. They had been working on the script and approached me shortly after about joining them. I was really intrigued by the twist in the film, and the opportunity to layer that throughout my performance, so I quickly signed on. I was also inspired by how much preparation into planning the sci fi elements of the film that they had done – their passion was contagious.

JR: What do you like to do between projects? Also, how do you keep yourself busy on set while you wait for the shot to be set up?

DP: Between projects, I’m really interested in traveling. There’s so much to see and experience in the world; I love visiting new cultures. On set, I love reading. We’ve also started playing cards recently, which is a lot of fun. But we can get very competitive!

JR: Has your time as an actress ever inspired you to consider writing or directing your own films?

DP: I’m definitely interesting in producing some day; I think I would need to have a great writing partner to help me write something of my own.

JR: Were there any movies or shows specifically that made you want to be an actress?

DP: I rarely watched movies growing up, but I am often inspired by other performances I see. I recently watched all five seasons of “The Wire” and loved the real, gritty nature of those performances.

JR: What music have you been listening to lately? Any specific bands or artists that have caught your attention?

DP: I love listening to music in the mornings before work – I was on a Michael Jackson kick for a while, but I’ve been enjoying Bruno Mars recently, too.

JR: What’s it like working on CW’s “The Flash”? Also, is it exciting to you that the shared universes of movies have now made their way to television, like the crossovers of “Arrow” and “The Flash” or “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire”? It feels like television is entering yet another Renaissance in some ways.

DP: Its tough to call what I do “work.” Being on “The Flash” is so much fun. I am constantly surprised by our writers and the awesome stories they tell, and I love reading each new script. Being on set is so much fun – our hours are long, but we try to laugh and enjoy ourselves as much as possible. The crossovers are very exciting as well – I adore the cast of “Arrow” and its fun to change it up and work with them. It’s also nice to get the opportunity to work on a different show during our season – the tone of “Arrow” is different than “The Flash” and its fun to play in a different world for a little while

JR: Are there any actors or directors you’d like to work with in the near future?

DP: Christopher Nolan is a true innovator and I’d love the opportunity to work with him. I also loved “Whiplash” and am excited to see what Damien Chazelle does next.

JR: Have you been traveling recently? If so, what have been some of your places to visit?

DP: We traveled to Thailand over the holidays, which was incredible. I’d love to take a trip to South America in the near future

JR: Finally, what can fans expect to see from you in the near future? Are there any exciting projects that you’d like to mention?

DP: We’re still not quite done with Season 1 so I’m focusing on that for the time being! “Time Lapse” will be in theaters in May, and on demand after that. Stay tuned for more 😉