Stuart Ramson/Associated Press Co-stars Morgan Freeman, Camryn Manheim and 15-year-old Whittell High student Becca Gardner pose Wednesday at the New York premiere of their film, "An Unfinished Life."
Between the premiere of her movie and being eligible for her driver's permit, this week has to rank up there for 15-year-old Becca Gardner.
Today marks the release of "An Unfinished Life," a movie with a star-studded cast receiving good early reviews for Becca's greatest work on her short list of movie and television appearances.
Becca, daughter of Douglas County planning commissioner Rick Gardner, plays Griff Gilkyson, daughter of Jennifer Lopez's character, Jean Gilkyson. Lopez portrays the daughter-in-law of Robert Redford's rancher character, Einar Gilkyson, who remains upset at Jean for the death of his son.
Griff is brought to the ranch by her out-of-options mother.
"I know people are just going to fall in love with her," said Susan Curtis, Becca's manager.
After being told that being nervous is useless, Becca agreed to ditch the jitters.
"So now I'm just excited," she said. "I'm trying not to think about it that much. Well, no, not really, I do think about it."
Stardom has not changed her priorities, however. She promised her varsity soccer coach she would stay in shape and has been running in Central Park this week.
Being down-to-earth is a trait that allows the Zephyr Cove resident to translate well on the screen, almost as if she's not acting, Curtis said.
Becca also comes from a close family: mother and father, Kelly and Richard; 17-year-old brother, R.J.; an 11-year-old sister, Whitney; and an 8-year-old sister, Michael.
"They like to do the Tahoe things: skiing and hiking and hockey and swimming, the normal quote-unquote things to do and I dare to be different," Becca said with a smile.
She hoped directors and producers would notice her performance in the movie.
"I'm always looking for another job," she said.
Besides the soccer team, Becca is also on the girls' varsity softball and ski teams. She's also in the yearbook class.
She doubts the movie will change her, or even those around her at school.
"I don't think so because we're such a close group of people that I think they'll treat me how they treat someone who is a star on the soccer team," she said.
Not bad for a person who refers to Redford as "Grandpa Bob."
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