Child actor Benjamin Mackey chatted about starring in the new drama series “Happy Face” on Paramount+.
Benjamin is the younger brother of actor Judah Mackey, who portrays Connor Newman on the CBS daytime drama “The Young and The Restless,” the onscreen son of Adam Newman (played by Mark Grossman) and Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan).
At just 11 years old, Benjamin is rapidly emerging as a standout talent in Hollywood. His impressive portfolio includes collaborations with some of the industry’s leading names.
His other credits include a recurring role on Apple TV+’s critically-acclaimed “The Morning Show” and Nickelodeon’s hit series “Danger Force.”
His s vocal talents are on full display in the Apple TV+ animated series “Pretzel and the Puppies,” and he is set to voice a main character in an upcoming Disney animated series.
Synopsis of ‘Happy Face’
“Happy Face” follows Melissa Reed (Annaleigh Ashford), daughter of Keith Jesperson, also known as “the Happy Face Killer” (Dennis Quaid).
After decades of no contact, Keith forces his way back into his daughter’s life, and Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime her father committed. In the process, she faces a reckoning of her own identity.
Particularly impressive about “Happy Face” was that it was inspired by a true life story.
How was your experience in “Happy Face”?
It was super awesome! Working with so many amazing actors and directors was one of the best experiences ever. Everyone on set was really friendly, and I made some great memories.
What did you like most about your character?
Max is such a fun character! He’s always playful, doing funny things, playing video games, and he has a great sense of humor!
What was it like working with Dennis Quaid and the rest of the cast?
Working with Dennis Quaid was amazing! I already loved him from watching “A Dog’s Purpose,” and he was even nicer in person. He introduced me to his bulldog and showed me all the cool tricks she could do! The entire cast was so much fun – we were like a big family.
Annaleigh is the sweetest, she brought UNO cards to set for us to play between scenes. Jimmy and I bonded instantly- he brought a football we could toss around and a really cool Lego set for us to build.
Khiyla became like my real-life big sister – we had sleepovers, pillow fights, movie nights, made lots of TikToks, and even went boating in the rain!
Tamera’s energy is awesome, she was always smiling and laughing – it was so great being around her.
How does it feel to be an actor in the digital age? (now with streaming, technology, and social media being so prevalent)
I think it’s really cool! Being born in the digital age, I love that people can watch shows whenever and wherever they want.
My mom always tells me that when she was a kid, you could only watch shows at certain times or if you taped them.
Now, I mostly watch stuff on streaming platforms, and I love sharing behind-the-scenes moments and connecting with fans on social media – it’s awesome to interact with everyone who watches the show!
What do your plans for the future include?
I’m also a voice actor, and I recently recorded a lead role in a really fun new animated series. It hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m super excited and proud of it, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it!
I’d also love to book something in the horror genre – especially anything with zombies because those are my favorite kinds of shows and movies.
What is your advice for young and emerging actors?
My advice would be to make sure acting is something you really love and always enjoy the process. If you don’t book a job, it’s okay it just means the role wasn’t meant for you and something else is around the corner.
Don’t forget to have fun being a kid – play sports, music, dance, and games, or whatever else you really love doing!
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
To me, success is about trying my best, being a good person, and always working hard. It’s about setting goals, challenging myself, and learning new things all the time.
What would you like to tell our readers about “Happy Face”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
The writing and acting in “Happy Face” are really great. I think readers will be totally hooked by the suspense and surprises throughout the season.
They will finish one episode and can’t wait to get to the next!
To learn more about child actor Benjamin Mackey, follow him on Instagram.
