Mia and Ella Allan play the role of Nora on Parenthood. The girls were also seen in a season of Sons Of Anarchy as baby Thomas. To keep up to date with them check out their Twitter page!

1. How did Mia and Ella get started in the industry?

When my wife was about 8 months pregnant w/ them we were in a restaurant and our waitress made a comment that twins are used a lot in the industry, so when the kids were about 4 months old we submitted them to an agency and within 2 months there was an audition for a role on the FX show Sons of Anarchy as Charlie Hunnam & Maggie Siff (Jax & Tara’s) son “Baby Thomas”. I told my wife not to bother because at the time we lived in San Diego and the role was for a boy, well as tenacious as my wife is she went to the audition anyway, spiked the girls hair up in a mo hawk and next thing we know the following week we are on the set of Sons of Anarchy Filming Season 4!

2. How did you feel when you found out the girls were cast on Parenthood?

My wife and I both were so excited, we know our girls are little hams but we both just felt so undeserving of such a blessing it was just surreal they welcomed us in right away and made us feel like family

3. What was the first day on set like?

There was another set of twins there they were trying out, (so that added a little bit of pressure) the Executive Producer Lawrence Trilling and first AD Scott Schaeffer came in to meet us, took a few pictures of the girls and said well be going on in a few minutes. When we were called my wife and Mia stayed back in the trailer and Ella and I went on stage 42 at Universal Studios, we walked in and it seemed like EVERYONE was starring at us. Monica Potter was standing in the middle of the everyone and she introduced herself to me (so sweet) Monica knelt down about 5 feet away from Ella and said “can I see your toy” with her hand extended. Ella had a set of keys in her hand she was playing with, so she timidly walked up to Monica and handed the keys to her. Monica gave her a hug and said “thank you for sharing” she picked Ella up and walked on set. It was Love at first site. I’ll never forget the instant Ella put the keys in Monica’s hand about 3 people raised their hands up in excitement like a field goal had just been made as if to say “its good”!!! The first scene was in Season 4 Episode 2 when Adam & Kristina were discussing getting Max a dog and mid sentence Ella shoved a sthingyful of mashed potatoes in Monica’s mouth, everyone was dying laughing Monica thought it was hilarious, the timing was perfect, it made the cut and Monica mentioned that scene in an interview later. It was a good day.

4. Do they share equal time on set? Or does one of the girls shoot more often?

Last season we used Ella a little more than Mia, Mia was a little more timid than Ella at that time, so we used Mia for scenes when Monica would be holding her or comforting her. This season its no holds barred. Now after a few minutes on set the other one waiting will say “my turn” and when there is an opportunity to switch them they almost literally tag team each other as they exit as if to say you got this. I think they get excited seeing each other on TV

5. How did you get the girls ready for their first scripted line on Parenthood, and how did they enjoy filming the scene?

They’re first scripted line was in Season 5 Episode 6 where she runs in and interrupts Monica practicing her speech and says “Mommy!” they both have said other stuff and the cast just rolls with it but this was the first scripted line. At home when I read the script I figured I’d make a game out of it, so I told the kids daddy is going to be in this room and I am going to pretend to be mommy Monica and you pretend to be Nora, when I say “Rolling” you run in from the other room say MOMMY!! And give me a big hug!…They Loved that, they wanted to keep doing it over and over. So the day of filming we randomly chose Ella we were sitting on the stairs in the house and I was whispering in her ear, ok mommy Monica is in the other room so you pretend to be Nora and when I say “rolling” run in there with a big big smile and say “Mommy” and give her a big hug just like we practiced and I will take you guys to Chucky Cheese after (never under estimate the power of bribery) and she did it every time perfectly, they only shot that scene about 4 times and it went by so fast that Mia didn’t get her turn, so when we were all done we went to go get Mia and she said “its my turn to say Mommy” but we were done for the day, so we told her, next time baby, and break my heart she got so sad and started crying saying “I didn’t get to say Mommy.” But we did redeem her because in a later episode she got to say a line, but she still reminds us that she didn’t get to say “Mommy” hahaha maybe Monica will re enact that scene for us.

6. What is it like working with Peter Krause?

Peter Krause I couldn’t speak highly enough about, he honestly is invested in us and the girls, he is such a down to earth humble and sweet man, sometimes he would come to our trailer and play with the girls to make them more comfortable. He’s always explaining to them what’s going on and trying to get them to do silly stuff on set, He ALWAYS takes time with the girls and to stop and talk to my wife and I. The girls just absolutely Love him. When they see him from across the lot they shout out “Daddy Peter” and run up to him and give him big hugs, he seems to really like that.

7. How do Mia and Ella like working with Monica Potter?

You don’t understand it’s a match made in heaven. I literally believe there is a positive soul tie between them. It really seems to be a unique bond, the 3 of them just seem to naturally connect, and I can’t explain it. I don’t know any other way to put it but they are truly blessed to have Monica in their lives but also a woman in the industry they can emulate and look up to. She is a rare and unique one of a kind soul and I’m glad they get to experience someone as humble and kind as her at the start of their careers.

8. Is there a way to tell the girls apart on screen?

HAHA your asking the wrong person I get them wrong all the time, Ella does have a slightly more oval face and Mia’s is a bit more round, the mannerisms are very similar and depending on the day ones more of a stinker than the other haha, that’s all I got for you sorry.

9. What was it like filming Sons of Anarchy?

Well I think I enjoyed it a little more than they did haha. I got to meet some people I’ve been a fan of for a long time and now here they are holding my children. Ill never forget the first time Katie Sagal held my children she said “these are the most beautiful and well behaved babies I have ever seen” (that was awesome). I have to say Charlie Hunnam and Maggie Siff treated us and the girls so well, the kids were only 6 months old so its not like they did much, but that didn’t stop Maggie and Charlie from treating our kids and us with the utmost kindness and respect. The cast and crew were always very careful about what the girls were being subjected to like gunfights, explosions, drugs, prostitution, all the things normal 6 moth olds are subjected to right? Just kidding they filmed the girls for the family scenes and filled in the rest with a prop baby.

10. Do you have a favorite scene the girls have filmed on Parenthood so far?

Well I have to say at least for the girls they always talk about the baby butt scene in Season 4 Episode 11 when Dax Shepard is changing Nora’s diaper and forgets to strap it on and she runs away with no diaper on. Ill be honest that scene was super hectic, we used both of the girls in that scene and they were having one of those days, but it worked out on camera because it was supposed to be hectic for Crosby. So now when we watch that scene its pretty funny and at least for now (until the girls get to High School and are mortified) they think it’s pretty hilarious, and lets be honest who doesn’t think a baby butt is super cute.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to add that a few years ago I lost a Brother to Cancer at the age of 35, the girls never got to know their Uncle Justin. It has taught us many things, but mostly that… 1st Life is short. 2nd You don’t get to take anything with you when you leave. 3rd It’s not about materials or possessions; it’s about people and relationships. Id like for them to get involved in charities and events as much as possible and look forward to any opportunities for that in the future. We had the honor of working with Alex’s Lemonade Stand this year and it was absolutely incredible. My wish for them is to esteem others higher than themselves, and put God first in everything they do. Thank you for your time and we appreciate all of your support. God Bless
Ella & Mia Allan
Philip & JoEllen Allan

We’d like to thank Mia and Ella and their Family for participating in this year’s Holiday Q&A Event!