From the Valley to NYC

Although Emily Osment, 27, is no stranger to traveling for her career, her recent long-term move to NYC is a first. After filming the pilot season of FOX’s new show, Almost Family, in March, Osment had to quickly make arrangements to trade her peaceful home in the Valley of Southern California, for the busy streets of NYC. “That’s why we do this thing,” says Osment. “I love that kind of lifestyle where you just never know [from] week to week what you’re going to be doing.”

The Los Angeles native plans on making a new life for herself on the East Coast for what could be up to seven years, depending on the response to her new show. She’ll miss the solidarity in having distance between her work and home life, but her excitement for her new role as Roxy Doyle and her music project, Bluebiird, makes it all worth it.

Osment instantly fell in love with the storyline of Almost Family and felt so passionate about bringing the pilot to life that it sent her to the ER for heart palpitations (“When life hits you, it hits you hard”). Having to wait to hear back on the project and whether or not she would be uprooting her life in L.A. gave her little control in the situation.

While she feels just as strongly about working on Bluebiird, the difference is that she is the one calling the shots. Every lyric comes right from her and the vocals on the first four songs she released were even recorded in her bedroom in California. With this project, she was able to create her own work before allowing others to chime in. Every song has a unique sound and was created in-house with people she trusted and believed in. When comparing the project to her younger pop past, Osment says it differs greatly. While at times overwhelming, her biggest takeaway from working at such a young age was the strong work ethic it instilled in her. Feeling the demand to be on time, have her lines memorized, and get homework done was something Osment was very appreciative of. She began working in the entertainment industry not too long after her older brother Haley Joel Osment launched his career, and cites her parents for their continued desire to learn. “Even when we were working – me on Hannah Montana and Haley on Broadway – I was in high school and he was at NYU,” she recalls. “Everything tied back to our education.”

Now able to fully focus on her new life in New York City and her complex role in the largely female-centered Almost Family, Osment looks forward to addressing real-life issues that her character faces, specifically the treatment of girls in the gymnastics community. The plot concentrates on the biological children of a fertility doctor who used his own means to impregnate countless women. Learning the truth about their family 30-odd years later leaves them feeling lost and desperate for answers.

In addition, with the debut EP When I Loved You, Osment hopes to fund her own North American tour for Bluebiird; pursuing her musical career with Bluebiird is something she does entirely for herself. “I love this,” she shares. “I remember the joy of playing live, and I want that again.” Hearing from fans that her music brings them peace, no matter what age or demographic, pushes Osment to go even further with her dreams.

Writer: Tara McDonough

Photographer & Videographer: Cécile Boko

Stylist: Jessica Armstrong

Hair: Carina Tafulu (using Enzo Milano & Oribe)

Makeup: Lysette Castellanos

Editor: Eiko Watanabe

Special thanks to Hollywood Hotel (@hollywoodhotel - www.thehollywoodhotel.com) & Shakey’s Pizza Parlor (@shakeysusa - www.shakeys.com) & EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)