It’s been 13 years since Paris Berelc first stepped into the industry, but ask her about it now and she’ll tell you she still feels like the little girl from Wisconsin who started it all. From her early days on Disney to becoming one of the familiar faces of Alexa & Katie and working alongside actors like Adam Sandler and Camila Mendes, Berelc has spent much of her life bringing different characters to life. Now, she finds herself in a period of reinvention, exploring what it means to step beyond the roles that first defined her and embrace a more mature, self-directed creative identity. Producing, storytelling and developing projects of her own have become an important part of that evolution.
Her creativity, however, extends beyond the screen. Berelc also uses her platform to raise awareness about human trafficking and support organisations working to combat it, while staying connected to her Filipino heritage she hopes to bring into more of her work. From exploring edgier stories to collaborating with friends on new projects, she is allowing herself the space to follow her curiosity, pursue stories that resonate with her and discover what exists beyond a career that has long been at the centre of her life.
In conversation with Noctis, Berelc reflects on the experiences that have shaped her, the stories she still wants to tell, her unexpected on-set companion Pancakes, and the person she is becoming along the way.
LEFT – Dress: Mannatt Gupta
RIGHT – Top: I am Gia // Skirt: Avvenn // Heels: Jeffrey Campbell // Rings and Necklace: Vitaly Stack // Hard Jewelry // Clear Bangles: ICA
Who are some of your favourite designers? And your go-to shopping spot?
I’d say my absolute favourite is Saint Laurent. They feel like the designer that really matches my style. I also love Mugler and Dolce & Gabbana, so I’d say those three are probably my favourites.
When it comes to shopping, I love Paris because the vintage shops are amazing. I have so many pieces from there that I found years ago and still wear today. Another place I’ve loved shopping is Singapore, which also has some really amazing vintage shops.
Who are you listening to right now?
Olivia Rodrigo is someone I’ve been listening to a lot right now, my Filipino queen. And my sister really wants to go to her tour, so I’m trying to figure out tickets. And then I would say Tate McRae among the present-day artists, but I actually love old music. My favourite genre is rock, so I listen to Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Muse, Soundgarden, Journey, and Def Leppard. I grew up listening to rock music, so that’s always been my favourite. Also, a few of my friends are musicians, and they’ve started releasing new music, so I’ve been listening to their stuff. My best friend is in a band called Nameless, and then my other friend, True Jackson, is in one too. She’s an awesome singer and songwriter, so I would say them.
You started working at 14 and have essentially grown up in front of an audience. How has that journey been for you?
Well, honestly, I kind of look at how much time has passed, and I’m like, “Holy shit! How’s it been like 13 years already?” Because I still feel like a little girl from Wisconsin, you know. I would say that I’m definitely very grateful for my career, and I’m grateful for anyone who has watched anything that I’ve done. But yeah, I think when you’re a kid and you’re not really realising what’s around you, just because everything’s so exciting and fun and glittery, you definitely are treated like an adult all the time, which kind of makes you grow up really fast. There have definitely been times when I wished I could have just been a little more of a kid, but I also would much rather have my career over that. I also think having an awesome family and a solid support system is really important. Having those components and people who are there for you, love you, and know who you truly are is really, really important. So I had that, which I’m also grateful for.
Red Heels: Betsey Johnson // Top: I am Gia // Skirt: Avvenn // Rings and Necklace: Vitaly Stack // Hard Jewelry // Clear Bangles: ICA
You’ve moved from Disney to Netflix and MTV, as well as film, comedy, action, and now producing, which is really inspiring, especially for young girls dreaming of being part of this world. Looking back at your career so far, how has that transition been for you?
I think the biggest jump is because Disney is so different from the rest of them, and even Alexa & Katie, you know, there’s always a filter that needs to be put on, just because I had so many kids looking at me, so I felt like I needed to be a certain way because I wanted to be a good role model. I wanted to be something good for them to look up to, but that’s also a lot of responsibility. It’s a fine line because even I feel that way as an adult. Sometimes I need to put a filter on, and it’s like, okay, I know that there are people looking at me, but how do I be myself at the same time? Even the things that I was making when I was younger were very PG and very family-oriented, and the stuff that I want to make now is maybe a little darker, a little edgier, a little more adult. So, kind of flipping that and deciding that this is the style I want to work towards now, and it is an interesting thing to do and think about, knowing that I still have young girls looking at me. But we all have to grow up at some point.
It’s also interesting having streaming platforms because I have kids who still watch me who are like five or six, but then I have the people who grew up with me who are 25 to 30. Streaming has really created this space where I feel like kids from the new generation are now growing up watching the show. But I love producing, and I love storytelling, and the stories that I want to tell and the style I want to work in are definitely different from what I was doing when I was younger. I think that if you at least do it from an authentic place, and not a showy place, people receive it no matter what. If it comes from an authentic place and reflects the stories I want to tell, who I am, and what’s important to me, I think people will receive it regardless of the style.
But also, I think we’ve gotten to a weird place where we’ve stopped making art for ourselves and started making it thinking if the audience is going to like it. That’s not the way that art was made before. We made art to impact people, whether it was comfortable or not. And I think that’s something that artists have really been missing: the why behind the story they want to tell. It’s because we want to express it, not because we need validation from other people to watch it.
I wanted to be a good role model… but that’s also a lot of responsibility. It’s a fine line because even I feel that way as an adult. Sometimes I need to put a filter on, and it’s like, okay, I know that there are people looking at me, but how do I be myself at the same time?
Do you think producing and executive producing has given you that freedom?
It’s definitely taught me a lot. I think producing is so interesting because, to me, it can be very uncreative, which is the side of producing that I don’t love. But the part that I love about it is the problem-solving and connecting. I love being able to connect people together, putting the puzzle pieces together, having meetings, and pitching. It really does teach you how money works and how sets work. I think producing also just teaches you a side of the business that you’re very unfamiliar with when you’re on the other side of the camera, especially after you’ve been in front of it. But I love the connecting and problem-solving part of producing. I also feel like it’s given me a lot of insight into how to talk to executives or production companies in a way that they’ll actually hear it, rather than just having the same script over and over again. But yeah, producing is fun. It is really fun. The budgeting side I hate, but, you know, it is what it is.
LEFT – Top: I am Gia // Necklace: Hard Jewelry // Earrings: ICA // Heels: Jeffrey Campbell
RIGHT – Dress: Jessie DaSilva
Was there a particular role that changed the way you saw yourself as an actor? A role that made a significant impact?
I mean, when I meet people, it’s always Alexa & Katie. You know, that’s why I think these kids just never stop growing up with the show. I’ll get really young people, and then people around my age, everyone always says Alexa & Katie and that show. It also helped me meet other people that I work with now because their kids watched it. It’s just the show that keeps on giving. That was also something that we put a lot of thought into because it’s one of the few stories about cancer that isn’t scary or sad. It was actually a way to have kids watch and learn about it without it being overwhelming or frightening. Because really, what it’s about is friendship. Cancer is kind of the vehicle driving the story, but the heart of it is friendship, support and love. It’s just a way to have a conversation around cancer without it being fearful, which is such a weird thing to say because it’s such a juxtaposition. But then you watch the show and you understand it fully. They did such a good job of taking something that’s so intense and so difficult to talk about, and make it into a family sitcom that’s heartfelt and grounded, talking about something difficult without it being traumatic.
From Adam Sandler to Kevin James and Camila Mendes, you’ve worked with some pretty iconic personalities. Who surprised you the most off-camera, and what was it like working with them?
Growing up, my family and I watched nothing but Happy Madison movies. So when I met Adam, I was like, “Whoa, what’s happening? What’s going on right now?” I was sitting in the hair and makeup trailer on my first day, and he was like, “Hey, Paris, what’s up? Thank you for being here.” And I’m like, “Oh my God, thank you. Thank you for having me here.” I’m just sitting there looking at him, and then his two daughters walked in. They were younger at the time, I think they were around 10 and 13. So Sunny and Sadie walk in, see me and start freaking out. And I’m like, “What is going on? What’s happening?” They’re freaking out looking at me, I’m freaking out looking at their dad, and there was this chain reaction going on that I didn’t expect. Adam is the nicest human, he treats everyone equally. It doesn’t matter who you are on set; you can be a background actor, and he will be going around checking on you to make sure that you’re good. He’s open to improv and creativity and he’s just such a great human, period. He really loves his craft and what he does, which is a plus.
I would say all of those guys are like that. Kevin is like that, Rob is like that. That whole camp of people is amazing. And then Camila is also so amazing. She’s so sweet and very dedicated to her craft. She also really made sure that all of us felt like a family on the set of Do Revenge, which I think is really important.
Red Heels: Betsey Johnson // Top: I am Gia // Skirt: Avvenn // Rings and Necklace: Vitaly Stack // Hard Jewelry // Clear Bangles: ICA
As a Filipino-American actress, do you feel there’s a part of your identity that you’re still waiting to see reflected in the kinds of stories offered today?
Yeah, I think over the recent years, I’ve been able to kind of put in my Filipino heritage. If there are ever scenes with parents in it, I always ask if one of them can be Asian, or I’ll ask to change my last name to something that sounds Filipino. I’ll really try to sprinkle it in whatever ways I can. But there are definitely Filipino stories I would love to tell to honor my heritage, especially Filipino folklore. I’m actually working on something right now.
There are definitely Filipino stories I would love to tell to honor my heritage, especially Filipino folklore.
You just wrapped-up filming Kissing is the easy part. Can you tell us a bit about that?
I loved that one so much as well! I always wanted to do an iconic high school love story. I just loved those movies growing up. I loved 10 Things I Hate About You, and I loved She’s the Man, and all those old early-2000s classics and late-’90s movies. I thought I missed my shot and that I’m too old now. And then I booked Kissing is the easy part, and I was really happy that I finally got to do it, especially with such an amazing cast and crew.
I’ve also known Asher for so long because of Disney, and he’s the sweetest, greatest partner you could ever have. He always made me feel safe, always made it fun, and is always so focused. If anyone ever gets to have him as a partner in a love story, they’re very lucky.
Beyond your work on screen, you’ve been a strong advocate for the fight against human trafficking. What first inspired you to use your platform to support this cause?
My mom inspired me, actually. She moved to the States from the Philippines when she was 13, and she used to tell me all about trafficking because she saw it through the people that she knew. When she was a teenager, her best friend tried to sell her for drugs, and that story really stuck with me. I started researching in 2020 and found out about organisations like Not For Sale and Child Rescue Coalition, and reached out to them. I started meeting people and continued to learn so much more about trafficking. At that time, people weren’t talking enough about it on social media or even around the world. No one was really aware of how big of an issue it was. Even when I spoke to my friends about it, they were very unaware and didn’t even know it was such a huge issue, and that made me want to raise awareness about it even more.
I started working with Polaris in 2024, a nonprofit organisation founded in 2002 dedicated to combating sex and labour trafficking. This year for my birthday I hosted the formal Polaris Project Benefit and raised over $20,000, which was really meaningful.
I tell people that they don’t have to shout about it from rooftops or be a big advocate. Just talking about it and building awareness is very important, and it’s been a meaningful part of my journey. There’s so much going on in the world that people are not aware of, and just this small step of building awareness can make a big difference.
No one was really aware of how big of an issue [human trafficking] was… Talking about it and building awareness is very important… just this small step of building awareness can make a big difference.
Let’s talk about this shoot, it’s inspired by Pancakes and imagines her as a human girl, exploring themes of friendship, girlhood and loyalty. Tell us a little about how the idea came about, and what makes your relationship with Pancakes so special.
I mean, we weren’t even planning on shooting with Pancakes. I just showed up with her. She’s so chill and so sweet, so I try to just take her everywhere I go. She’s actually here in Orlando with me. She flew for the first time, and she did so well. So yeah, I just brought her to set and I was literally sitting in the chair for hair and makeup, and they asked me if she could be in the shots, and I loved the idea. And then that’s just what it turned into. And she did so well! She would always look at the camera, posing perfectly. Even in the shots that we weren’t using her in, she would be sitting on the other side, by everyone else, and she would just lay there and watch me, you know. She’s like, “Good job, Mom, you’re doing great.” So yeah, she’s definitely a girl’s girl as well.
As you look ahead, what’s next for you, and what are you most excited to explore?
Oh, man, everything! I’m getting ready to shoot my next movie, which hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m excited and I will get to star and produce, but the thing I am most excited about is working with my friends. There have been so many side projects and personal projects that we have created together, and I’m just really excited to see them come to fruition. I recently had a shift in my life, and I feel like I’m having fun again and experiencing things again.
Follow Paris Berlec on Instagram
Words: Nandini Bhattacharya
Photographer: Hannah Fard
Art Direction: Cory Roberts
Lighting: Tony Adams
Stylist: Elena Lark
Hair: Erin Booher
MUA: Brittany Lessard
Styling assistant: Isa Abram
Retouch: Juliette