Sophie Reynolds was forever impacted by her best friend, Cameron Boyce. Losing a best friend at a young age is devastating, but Sophie and Cameron’s family and friends choose to remember Cameron’s legacy in a beautiful way through the Cameron Boyce Foundation. Cameron was a light in people’s lives and a passionate activist, ergo, his foundation was created to continue the positive energy he put out into the world. After all, a legacy is not what you do for yourself, but what you do for others. Sophie joins alongside the Cameron Boyce Foundation to find ways to eliminate Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), raise funds for epilepsy research, fighting gun violence, and so much more. In our interview with Sophie, we catch up on her acting career, life on set, and how she is giving back with the Cameron Boyce Foundation. Please read our exclusive interview with Sophie Reynolds below!

And as today is Cameron’s Birthday, please make sure to check out the Cameron Boyce Foundation special event (partnered with Sofia Carson)!

Where are you based?
I am based in Los Angeles, CA.

So we hear that you were a “Disney Kid.” Is this where you got your start in acting?
Yes! I guess I was, Disney gave me my first real acting job. I feel really lucky to have started there.

You played Ashley Parker in Disney XD’s Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything. Did you have any experience with gaming or gaming culture before this role?
I had basically no experience with gaming! I grew up with the basic knowledge of Mario Kart and Just Dance, but actual gaming and the entire gaming community was something I wasn’t familiar with at all. It was very cool to learn about how gaming connects people and what a massive world of e-sports there is.

Being a child actor isn’t always glamorous. What was your experience like coming to age on sets? Did you have a good support system?
I feel really lucky that I had the best support system. My parents really supported me without ever pushing me into it; everything was always my choice and on my terms and they were there to catch me if it ever became too much. I loved it so much, so it never really felt like work to me. I was also working with my best friend every day (Cameron), so I found a good community of friends, which was important.

You’re known for being a fan-favorite tomboy. Do you like that title?
I love it! I will say that the feminist in me wishes we could retire the word tomboy.. let’s just let everyone be as “masculine” or “feminine” as they want to be without having to label it. That said, I am so lucky to have played this role that so many young women could relate to and feel represented by… that has really been a gift.

We’d love to hear about your time on Fox’s L.A.’s Finest. How did you prepare for your role of Isabel McKenna?
L.A.’s Finest was one of the most challenging and exciting experiences for me. Prepping to play Izzy was actually a lot about understanding grief and loss and what it’s like to build that relationship with a step parent. Working with Jessica Alba to create that dynamic with Izzy was a really special experience as an actor. I shaved my head in the middle of the first season which really helped me embrace being the character in a way I’d never gotten to before.

We want to talk to you about your work with The Cameron Boyce Foundation. Can you tell us a little bit about your relationship with Cameron, and how his family and friends decided a foundation would be the best way to honor him?
Cameron was my best friend. We first met on Gamer’s Guide and became inseparable pretty quickly. Losing him was something none of us ever expected, and I think we were all looking for a way to continue his legacy. He was the type of person that really made an impact on everyone he met and we wanted that energy to continue. The Cameron Boyce Foundation was founded as a way to honor all the work Cameron was doing to better his community and the world. We focus primarily on epilepsy research and finding a cure, while also supporting causes that Cameron was passionate about like ending gun violence. I’m incredibly honored to be able to work with his family on this foundation. It means the world to us all.

A lot of the foundation’s focus is on Eliminating Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Can you tell us a little bit about this disease and why more people need to understand it? What do you want the public to know?
1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime and 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy will die from SUDEP. Luckily SUDEP is rare, but I think it’s so important to shine a light on SUDEP and epilepsy to encourage people to see their doctors regularly and have these conversations. It’s been a really beautiful thing since Cameron passed to see people open up and share their experiences with epilepsy. What I say to everyone is learn seizure first aid! Chances are you or a loved one has epilepsy, and knowing what to do when they have a seizure can make all the difference.

Since its inception, there have been impressive amounts of donations to programs —like over $115,000 to CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy). Can you tell us a little bit about where the research is and where it is going?
Our donation to CURE funded The Cameron Boyce Foundation Taking Flight Award, which was awarded to Dr. Cristina Reschke, for her research on epilepsy. Her particular research is studying circadian rhythms and epilepsy, hopefully giving us a better understanding and getting us a step closer to a cure. Our goal is to continue to raise awareness around epilepsy while working with partners to fund critical research, we want to help in the fight against epilepsy in every way we can.

What are things that people may not know about epilepsy that are important to empathizing with the need to eliminate SUDEP?
I think it’s important to understand that SUDEP is rare, but it is shocking to me how many people do not know that you can die from a seizure. It’s important to understand how serious epilepsy really is to fully be able to empathize with those living with it. The more we talk about epilepsy and the more research we can fund, we can save lives.

We love the foundation that was founded on continuing to support what Cameron loved supporting. It really showcases that a person can have a heart for more than one cause. One of these causes is the global water crisis. The foundation has already been able to raise funds ($16,000) for the Thirst Project. Can you tell us more about how the foundation chose Thirst Project and why this cause is so important?
Every year for Cameron’s birthday he chose to ask people to donate to a cause close to him, and the Thirst Project was a personal favorite of his. The work they are doing is amazing and they really focus on inspiring the next generation of activists. At the Cameron Boyce Foundation we connect with the idea that young people can make a big difference and that their voices should be valued.

The foundation is also very passionate about reducing gun violence. Can you tell us a little bit about why you chose to focus on this cause?
Before Cameron passed he began a project called “Wielding Peace,” a social campaign inspiring people to reconsider what “weapon” they wield and choose unity and art over violence. Gun violence is far too prevalent and Cameron was passionate about wanting to get involved in ending it, even if that was just challenging people to stop and think about it.

What do you think it is about Cameron that inspires others to give?
He always gave from a very genuine place of gratitude, it was never for praise. I think when you see someone care so genuinely for others it only inspires you to open your heart.

Do you feel that this foundation has changed the focus of your life?
I think Cameron really changed the focus of my life and his foundation is an extension of that. When he was alive he made me look at the world in a whole new way, and in his passing I look to keep what he taught me and continue it forward.

Do you have any personal or professional projects that we should keep an eye out for? We’d love to keep up with you!
Season Two of L.A.’s Finest is coming to Netflix June 9th if you haven’t seen it on Spectrum. Otherwise, the foundation is so important to me so please check it out and consider donating if you can.

And The Cameron Boyce Foundation has partnered with Sofia Carson for a special campaign launching on Cameron’s birthday. You can make purchases now! All proceeds go to the Cameron Boyce Foundation.

What advice do you have for others who are wanting to make an impact, but maybe don’t know how to?
Start with the people around you. Your biggest impact can be on your family and friends, just start with spreading love and talking about the things that matter to you. Inspire each other.

To learn more about Sophie Reynolds and the Cameron Boyce Foundation, please follow the below platforms:
thecameronboycefoundation.org
Instagram: @sophie1reynolds and @thecameronboycefoundation
Twitter: @sophie1reynolds
Facebook: @sophie1reynolds

Team Credits:
Photographer: Kira Bucca
Stylist: Quentin Fears
Glam: Sophia Porter at EA Management
Stylist Assistant: Bradley Hale

COVER - Sophie Reynolds Honors A Legacy