‘AGT’ child phenom Madison Taylor Baez turns into bloodthirsty vampire on ‘Let the Right One In’ – USA TODAY

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Madison Taylor Baez showed her power vocalchops as an 11-year-old stand-out on last season's "America's Got Talent." For her dramatic encore, the child musical phenom is showing her bite as a TV vampire.

Baez induced "AGT"audience bedlam in June belting "Amazing Grace," earninga Golden Buzzer from astounded judge Howie Mandel that instantly advancedBaez to the show's semi-finals.

While shedidn't make the "AGT"finals, Baez'sastonishing 2022 has been capped off with her starring dramatic role as child vampire Eleanor on Showtime's dramatic series "Let the Right One In"(now streaming, airing Sunday at 10 EST/PST).

It's enough to make theyoung performer, now 12, take stock.

"Imean, what a year. 'AGT' Golden Buzzer winner and now 'Let the Right One In,'"says Baez, speaking over the phone."Out of all of my 12 years, this has to be my best year."

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That's saying something for the self-taughtmusician with the killer pipes known as "Anthem Girl" for her rousing "Star-Spangled Banner" renditions at stadiums around the country. Baezbegan shuffling through her father's iTunes at age 3, singingand memorizing songs in their Yorba Linda, California,home (about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles).

At 7, Baez began belting the national anthemat Dodger Stadium followed by other major venues packed with adoring fans, earning her nickname. Baez says she was never nervous.

"As soon as I hold the microphone in my hands, my nerves go away," she says. "I feel at home."

The half-Latina, half-Filipino songstress earned her first dramatic TV role playing young Selena in the 2020 Netflix biographical series about the lateTejano singer. The role allowed Baez to act in Spanishand English, as well as sing.

Trying out for the "Let the Right One In" last year, a year before her "AGT" success, was a "giant leap," Baez says. She was one of hundreds of young actresses vying for the purely dramatic part playing the tragically bittenyoung vampire on the run with her protective father, played by Oscar-nominated actor Demin Bichir.

During one audition, Baez had to cry on demand and brought the tears.

"They had me do it five or six times, one time after another," she says. "I would just think about what itwould be like if (Eleanor) was me. Or I'd think about very sad stuff with my familythat actually made me cry."

Besides her emoting and acting, executive producer and creator AndrewHinderaker was impressed with Baez's presence for therole of a child who has been 12, and immortal, for years after her vampire bite.

"You have to have someone who is a kid at heart, but at the same time Madison has this poise and maturity beyond her years, which is invaluable," saysHinderaker. "She really blew us away in those auditions."

Baez had to cut her "Anthem Girl" hair to near shoulder length for the role, whichshe didn't mind."I've grown to like it shorter, so it worked out," she says.

The shorter styleis all the better for the stunts required for the dynamic vampire girl who can take down grown victims when starving for bloodandscurry up a tree instantly.The tree climbing was "fun" forBaez, who is much slowerthan Eleanor.

"I tried to do it as fast I can," says Baez. "Then CGI and post production does the rest."

She keeps it light on set despite the show's heavy content, joking withBichir about her love of Slim Jim snacks, which she stashes on the set for a quick energy break.

"Ilove Slim Jims, so as soon as the camera stops, I pull Slim Jim out of a drawer that I've hidden," says Baez. "I did it so much that Damien started calling me 'Slim.'"

Baez even enjoys the scenes where she puts her 5-foot-1 frame into the large wooden box inside which Eleanor must hide during transport to protect her from the burning sun and prying eyes.

"I always asked to be in the box. It's kind of spacious in there. I love it," she says. "They put a soft blanket so I wouldn't scratch my knees. It was really comfortable."

In "Right One," Eleanor primarily survives by drinking blood-filled plastic containers her father provides to satiate her ravenous vampire appetite. Baez has to power chug the container each time, which isn't bad either.

"It's mostly red Crystal Lite, times 1,000," she says. "That's always fun to drink anddefinitely a huge sugar rush which helps in theaction scenes."

Baez was required to sing once in the drama series, during a birthday karaoke party scene. The friend-starvedEleanor, fangs withdrawn,beltsout Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday."

The director had to pull back on Baez's vocalsbecause no vampire can ever hit "Anthem Girl" notes.

"If anything we had to scale back Madison'sawesome talents as a singer," saysHinderaker. "And we reliedon her equally awesome talents as an actress."

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'AGT' child phenom Madison Taylor Baez turns into bloodthirsty vampire on 'Let the Right One In' - USA TODAY

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero