Being Margo: A Conversation with Award Winning Actress, Singer and Songwriter Miranda Cosgrove for Despicable Me 3
Illumination, the studio that brought you Sing, The Secret Life of Pets and the Despicable Me franchise, continues the adventures of Gru and his family in Despicable Me 3. After he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker, South Park, Team AmericWorld Police), the latest evil mastermind to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother — a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin’s despicable footsteps — the former super-villain rediscovers just how good it feels to be bad.
In Despicable Me 3, actor-singer-songwriter, Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) returns to the world of Minion mayhem. As the voice of Margo, eldest daughter of Gru & Lucy (Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig), she finds herself in the series’ latest instalment on an extended family vacation – visiting Gru’s long-lost twin brother, Dru in the wacky world of Freedonia – when her parents lose their jobs at the Anti Villain League.
Discovered by a talent agent when she was 3-years-old, LA native, Miranda Cosgrove, is best known for her starring role as Carly Shay on the hit Nickelodeon series, iCarly (2007-2012). She made her film debut in 2003 opposite Jack Black in School of Rock, and voiced the character of Margo in the first Despicable Me (2010) and its 2013 sequel, Despicable Me 2, for which she received a Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite Voice from an Animated Movie...
Where did we last leave your character, Margo, and where do we find her now?
In Despicable Me 2, Margo has a huge crush on a boy, but that doesn’t really work out because Gru doesn’t want her to like boys. Of course, it also turns out that the boy’s father is a super villain which doesn’t help either (laughs). That’s kind of where her love life left off. And then in this movie she has another encounter with a possible love interest, but she’s not exactly excited about it (laughs).
Was your dad overprotective with you, growing up, like Gru?
Oh yeah. My dad is like Gru in a way (laughs). Even now, he doesn’t get excited if I’m going on a date or something. He’ll just ask little questions, here and there. I guess it’s just a thing dads do. They never want to see their daughters grow up.
What’s it been like for you playing this character over the course of so many years?
It’s cool. When I started I was 14, and the character is 11 or 12, so it wasn’t that much of a stretch. Now I’m 24. It’s a big difference. But I guess I’m kind of lucky, because my voice still sounds the same. And it’s fun to get to use your imagination in the booth and channel being that age again.
Is it a hard to do?
No, I wouldn’t say it’s hard, especially because the directors are so cool. They make it really easy, coming up with so many ideas on the spot.
The series ranks amongst the most successful animated movies ever released. Why do you think they’re so popular?
I think it’s two things. First, there are the Minions. It’s hard not to enjoy watching them do what they do. And then also because each film has been about family, especially with the first film centring on Gru becoming a better person by adopting the three girls.
What was it like making that first film?
It’s funny; one of the things I remember loving the most when I started, was their crazy looking dog (laughs). I don’t think I realised when I was just hearing about the story how crazy some of the animation was going to be. It wasn’t until maybe halfway through filming the first one that I even got to see pictures of the Minions. I don’t think I even knew they were going to be in the first film.
So, in a sense, it should be somewhat easier making the films as you go along?
I think it is. It’s just really comfortable and easy now.
Despicable Me 3 Film Page | Despicable Me 3 Review
DESPICABLE ME 3 IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD NOW COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES (UK)
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