Interviews Movies

Growing Up with Bonnie – An Interview with Toy Story 4’s Madeleine McGraw

by Dana Abercrombie0

Madeleine McGraw is an actress who has scared her way into the hearts of Outcast fans, impressed American Sniper audiences, and stunned movie-goers in the short film Lucy In My Eyes; winning Best Actress at the Charleston International Film Festival as Young Lucy. Additional film credits include playing Young Hope (the younger version of Evangeline Lilly’s Hope a.k.a the Wasp) in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, Disney and Pixar’s Cars 3 (Maddy McGear is named after her), and Universal Pictures’ Pacific Rim: Uprising.

Next up, Madeleine McGraw will star in the highly anticipated, fourth installment of Disney and Pixar’s beloved Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 4 opposite Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. She lends her voice for the role of preschooler, Bonnie, who first appeared in Toy Story 3 in 2010 when she adopts Woody (Hanks), Buzz (Allen) and the gang from Andy.

Toy Story 4 introduces a new character to the Toy Story universe: Forky (Tony Hale), a plastic spork turned plaything created by Bonnie in art class who brings her incredible comfort. Despite not looking like a traditional toy, Woody and the gang quickly learns the importance this plastic spork plays in Bonnie’s life. However, Forky has other plans and being a toy isn’t one of them, much to Woody’s dismay.

The Koalition spoke to Madeleine McGraw about her role in the upcoming movie, how she’s able to relate to Bonnie and more.

McGraw was five-years-old when she was cast to voice Bonnie which helped relieve the pressure, of stepping into a big role. Director Josh Cooley never made her feel that Bonnie had to sound and act a particular way. The goal with recording Toy Story 4 was to just have fun; something McGraw consistently had while working on the movie.

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This incredibly special experience was something McGraw was able to share with her brother Jack who voiced Young Andy. While McGraw, unfortunately, recorded all her dialogue solo, they supported each other and was able to watch him in the recording booth.

Toy Story 4 will release in theaters on June 21, 2019.

Check out our interview below.

Former genius and a woman of mystery and power, whose power is exceeded only by her mystery, Dana Abercrombie has been watching movies since birth (yes birth...we did say "genius"). Despite her secret desire of wanting to give it all up to become a gorgeous billionaire, Dana is most passionate politics about movies often times getting in many heated debates resulting in being thrown out of many gatherings. Despite having a degree in English AND Journalism (multi-tasking FTW!) from the University at Albany-SUNY, she is currently interested in perusing a degree at Yale Law School, because one should never give up on a dream of becoming a gorgeous billionaire...and knowing how to sue someone as a result of those heated debates.