I Can Only Imagine's Madeline Carroll Explains Why She Almost Quit Acting

Welcome, friends. This is Young Hollywood and I am with the very talented Madeleine Carroll today. How's it going?

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here. I'm like, I'm just beyond thankful. Thank you so much for having me and giving us talk with me.

Of course. It's great to have you back because you were here in 2011, is that right?

Yes, I think that's I think that's right. I was like 15 or 16. But I remember it being one of the funnest interviews that I ever did. Everything you do here is just so fun.

Oh, I love it. Well, we're going to live up to it again today.

They gave me hope. This ain't me. That can't be his real voice. Because I needed it. Dad, I can do this. No, you can't. And you're going to blink your eyes and you're going to realize that life has gotten you nowhere because you've chased some stupid dream.

I want to chat a little bit about your path since you were here last. I know you started acting at age three, which is crazy. And then I heard in a recent interview that you almost kind of shied away from acting and maybe went in a different direction.

In a nutshell, I just was um working a lot when I was younger, about the time that I was actually promoting Machine Gun Preacher. I um was just like at the top of the hill. You know, I I was like my career was just exploding. And the material that started coming my way just was things that I really wouldn't uh, you know, want to do. And things that not even like good scripts. And um a lot of it, just things that weren't very edifying. And I always wanted to be, you know, an actress and do what I love, but I also wanted to be an example for young women, a very young age. But you are. Thank you very much. So I always had that in my heart. And so I kind of when I would make my choices and decisions, I you know, would keep all that in mind. And so I got to this place, this time last year, where I was like, okay, is this not what I'm meant to do anymore? Am I just not meant to be an actress? Is this am I supposed to do something else? Am I supposed to be a dentist, a postman? Like what is the problem? And um, I just got so tired of just seeing opposition, you know, so much opposition. I got so tired of having to explain myself and explain my reasoning of why I don't want to do something. It's crazy because like it's an industry where it's like your your morals are just supposed to be in the back of your mind. And so, um, I literally was like going to quit, like done, like made it up in my mind, like just let my dream die. Like, this is it. Like I'm letting it die. I'm going to quit. I was going to call my agents and let them know like I'm not going to do it anymore. I'm not kidding, literally the next day after I made this up in my mind, just this massive open door came. And I

Of this script. Of of like the s

Yes. Yes. And so it's just amazing conversation. Just I I knew speaking to them. I came out honestly, to be truthful, I came out and cried. And I said to my mom, I was like, Mom, I don't care if I don't get this part. It's okay because I'm just so happy to know. It was like such a breath of fresh air just to know that there were other people in Hollywood trying to do what I was trying to do for so long. And just someone telling you, you know, you've made the right choices. You know, like you're doing something. I can't even explain to you. It was so validating. And I'm just so I'm so grateful for it because I see it now. And I can't stop crying because I can't believe like what happened where I was and where I am now. It's unbelievable.

Oh my goodness. It's unbelievable. I'm so grateful. And you're back here. And how exciting. Yes. And it's just come full circle now. This is You have so much to be proud of.

Thank you for bringing me back. It's like it's just been this whole journey, but I'm grateful for everything that happened because if it hadn't happened the way that it happened, I wouldn't have something to share now. Of course. Yeah. And so everything we go through in life, you know, ends up coming back somehow. And then I now I'm able to say to other actresses and other people like, just keep doing what you're called to do. Keep doing and fighting for it.

I'm leaving. What will be? I want you to know that I pray for you all the time. And I hope that you find whatever it is that you're looking for out there. What are you running from? My dad. Been right about it. Let that pain become your inspiration.

Well, before we let you go, we have a little game to play. Are you ready?

Yes, I'm ready.

It's called the I can only imagine life with. dot, dot, dot. So basically, I have a few this or that type questions. So whichever one you couldn't imagine life without, choose that one. Okay. Life without. Okay. So, California adventures or Disneyland?

Disneyland. Mickey Mouse.

Airplane or road trip?

Road trip.

Red carpet glam or sweatpants?

Sweatpants.

That's my girl. Breakfast for dinner or leftovers for breakfast?

Leftovers for breakfast.

Really? Yes. Like pizza or like Chinese?

Well, when you said leftovers, I instantly went to Thanksgiving. And so I like I love stuffin. I I was just in Nashville and like any type of fried chicken, fried anything you want to feed me, I'll eat it.

Oh, yum. All right, last one. Would you choose Bieber or Bruno?

I think Bieber.

Yay.

I think Bieber.

Well, maybe you'll end up doing another project with Bieber in the future. You never know.

Maybe. That would be fabulous.

We'll work on setting that up. Well, thank you so much for coming back and hanging out. It's so great to see you. And congratulations on everything. So much to be proud of.

Thank you so much.