At just nine years old, Madyx Whiteway is already dreaming about a career in the performing arts and achieving goals to help him get there. The actor is nominated for two Joey Awards, recognizing young Canadian talent, and will be presenting at the red carpet gala in Vancouver this November.
Whiteway is up for commercial and voiceover work he completed earlier this year. He acted in a Sister Schubert’s commercial and provides the voice of Young Wu in the latest season of animated series Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu.
Whiteway was bitten by the acting bug after seeing his first live theatre production, according to his mother, Brandy Philip. The idea of performing for a crowd was an unfamiliar one for his parents, she said.
“I took him to a local play when he was five or six and he said ‘I want to be on stage,’” said Philip. “His dad and I said, ‘What? Where people can see you?’”
The next year he again expressed interest in acting, and the following year auditioned for a local production of The Lion King. He loved it, and soon wanted to be in commercials.
After securing an agent in Vancouver he began the auditioning process, accompanied by his mother.
“We went to a few auditions then we got a callback, which was amazing; right after I got my first commercial,” said Whiteway. “Then I got Lego Ninjago. I did my lines and they replied that they needed me for more lines. It was awesome.”
The symbol of the Joey Awards is a joey, or baby kangaroo, an animal known for having a strong backbone that allows it to leap forward. In the same way, a young performer must have a strong sense of self to handle the rejection that often accompanies auditions. The mother kangaroo is always close by, as children navigating the world of show business need strong parental support and guidance to help keep them safe.
Whiteway’s parents are incredibly proud and supportive, said Philip, despite having no previous knowledge of the industry. “It’s very different for us,” she said. “It’s nothing we would have pursued for him so it was surprising when that’s what he wanted to do. It’s his own style.”
In Powell River he works with local acting coach Mitzi Jones and is active with musical theatre and other performance groups. The grade five student said his hope for the future is to continue on this path.
“I’d like to become a professional actor,” said Whiteway. “I just like acting. It’s so fun to go on stage and record your voice. Basically it’s like playing.”
