‘RISE AND SHINE, BENEDICT STONE’ Cast Bios

TOM EVERETT SCOTT (Benedict) – With a handful of diverse roles, Tom Everett Scott has developed a reputation as one of the industry’s most versatile actors, showing up on the big screen, small screen and stage. The Massachusetts-born actor graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Drama before traveling to New York City to start his career.

Scott first came to Hollywood’s attention as the soulful drummer in That Thing You Do!, Tom Hanks’ feature film directorial debut. Other film credits include Sundance favorite River Red, the drama Boiler Room, One True Thing opposite Meryl Streep, the animated sci-fi Mars Needs Moms, the alien thriller Race to Witch Mountain, the romantic comedy Because I Said So opposite Diane Keaton, family comedies Parental Guidance opposite Billy Crystal, Diary of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, and the award winning La La Land. Scott most recently appeared in Disney’s Clouds.

In addition to an impressive and diverse film slate, Scott’s television credits include “Law & Order,” “Will & Grace,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “ER,” “Southland,” “Z Nation,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Reign,” “Scream,” “13 Reasons Why,” “I’m Sorry,” “The Healing Powers of Dude” and “The Council of Dads.”

Scott’s Broadway debut was in the Tony nominated show, Little Dog That Laughed. His theater credits include a revival of Dead End at the Ahmanson Theatre, Roger Kumble’s smash‐hit production Turnaround and off-Broadway productions of The Country Club and Touch. His love for theater, inspired by such repertory theater companies as The Wooster Group and Steppenwolf, led him and friends to launch aTheaterCo, a New York based theater group focusing on original works. It was through aTheaterCo that Scott became involved with the project River Red, which he initially directed for the stage, then later produced as a film.

Scott made his feature film writing and directing debut with the short comedy Glock, which won Best Short Film at the Gen Art Film Festival. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

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MÍA MAESTRO (Emilia) – Mía Maestro made her feature debut in Carlos Saura’s Tango, which earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Film. Her other film credits include Walter Salles’ The Motorcycle Diaries opposite Gael Garcia Bernal, Julie Taymor’s acclaimed biopic Frida, Oliver Stone’s Savages opposite Benicio del Toro, Wolfgang Petersen’s Poseidon, Miramax’s Secuestro Express, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 & 2.

Maestro most recently starred in Domenico De Feudis’ anticipated Italian feature Il Legame (aka The Binding) for Netflix, produced by Academy Award winner Paolo Sorrentino. She is next set to star in the Chilean indie film The Cow Who Sang a Song About the Future, developed in the Sundance labs, and is additionally attached to star in After This Death to be directed by Lucio Castro in Q4 this year for Killer Films.

On television, Maestro recurs on FX’s hit series “Mayans M.C.” Other credits include FX’s hit series “The Strain,” created by Guillermo del Toro, and ABC’s “Alias” from J.J. Abrams, who created the role for Maestro after she auditioned for him for “Lost.”

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ELLA BALLENTINE (Gemma) – Ella Ballentine is best known for her portrayal of the iconic character of in “,” “Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars,” and “Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew” (PBS and YTV), starring alongside and Sara Botsford. For the first of the three movies, Ballentine received a 2016 Joey Award for Best Young Actress and a 2017 Kidscreen Nomination for Tweens/Teens Best One-off. In 2016, she travelled to Africa to shoot the lead role of Emma in the adventure feature Against The Wild 2: Survive the Serengeti.

Other notable credits include the lead role of Jackie in Black Conflux for which she received the 2019 Whistler Film Festival Honorable Mention for Best Performance; the lead role of Lizzy in The Monster, acting alongside Donald Sutherland; the lead role of Bird in Standoff where she had the opportunity to work with Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane; the role of Jennifer in ’s The Captive, acting with Ryan Reynolds and Rosario Dawson.

As the role of Little Girl in the The CW/CBS series “Reign,” Ballentine received a 2015 Young Artist Award nomination for Best Guest Star. For the role of Kate in the Lifetime television movie “Clara’s Deadly Secret,” she earned a 2014 Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance and for “Baby’s First Christmas,” she received a 2013 Young Artist Award Nomination for Best Supporting Performance.

Ballentine is also a talented theatre actor. In 2014, she appeared as Little Cosette/Young Eponine in the Mirvish production of Les Misérables and earned a nominateion for a 2014 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in Live Theatre. She was also part of the Factory Theatre production of Numbers in the role of Felicia. The show was nominated for a 2014 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Ensemble.

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