On the list of winners for the fifth annual Young Entertainers Awards in California on October 25, a local name appeared at the top.
Madyx Whiteway took home the award for Best Young Actor under age 10 in a voice-over role for his work in the animated film Lego Ninjago. Unfortunately the awards show that was scheduled for April in Los Angeles had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.
Madyx was able to attend the awards in person last year at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, when he was also nominated. He is now 12.
Young Entertainers Awards is a non-profit foundation that recognizes outstanding performances of young entertainers in film, television, stage and music.
“He was amazed he had won and could not have been happier or more surprised,” said Madyx’s mom Brandy Philip.
Kirsten Clarkson has been Madyx’s acting coach off and on for the past two years and works with him on a case-by-case basis whenever he needs it.
“I felt very lucky to have met Madyx when we came here,” said Clarkson. “He’s a great young actor and a really kind person. He’s a bit of a mentor for my eight-year-old son, not as an actor but as in how to be a really decent boy.”
The young actor is currently working on auditions. COVID has put a halt on a lot of productions in the entertainment industry.
“Before COVID there were a lot of trips to Vancouver on very short notice; often his agent would contact us around 4:30 pm with audition details and we needed to be in city for a 1 pm, but now most of the auditions are self-tape so we are able to do them from home,” said Philip. “COVID has had some positive effects as far as auditioning from home due to saving on travel time for us, but acting/auditioning in front of a camera for your mom isn’t the same for him as going into the audition room with the casting directors and cameraman.”
Madyx hopes to land a lead role in a feature film one day but as far as short term goals are concerned, he’d like to book any role in a horror film or one that involves animals on set. All the energy of being on set or in the sound booth makes him happy, according to his mother.
“As a parent of a young actor, this acting journey has taught me so much about an industry I knew nothing about,” said Philip. “I appreciate all the help we’ve had from his amazing coaches. We’ve met some really talented people and he’s made some great friendships with some very cool kids.”
