Pete’s Dragon Star, Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Motherhood & Movies #PetesDragonEvent

As you know by now, I spent an epic few days in LA to cover and promote the premiere of Pete’s Dragon which flies into theaters nationwide TODAY! Have you purchased your tickets yet?! Here are four reasons you should do so now.

Well, part of our adventure during the Pete’s Dragon Event, was that we got to interview several cast members, including the fabulous Bryce Dallas Howard! Fresh off the movie premiere , I got to sit down with Bryce (along with 24 fellow bloggers) and chat motherhood, movies and well, Elliot.

Bryce Dallas Howard arrives at the world premiere of DisneyÕs PeteÕs Dragon at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on August 8, 2016. The new film, which stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley, Oona Laurence, Wes Bentley and Karl Urban and is written and directed by David Lowery, has been drawing rave reviews from both audiences and critics. PeteÕs Dragon opens nationwide August 12, 2016..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Bryce Dallas Howard arrives at the world premiere of DisneyÕs PeteÕs Dragon at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on August 8, 2016. The new film, which stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley, Oona Laurence, Wes Bentley and Karl Urban and is written and directed by David Lowery, has been drawing rave reviews from both audiences and critics. PeteÕs Dragon opens nationwide August 12, 2016..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Interview with Bryce Dallas Howard

First of all, she totally lit up the room when she walked in. She was all smiles and full of energy (and I’m sure she must’ve been exhausted from the previous night’s festivities). She immediately started chatting it up with us, and it felt like we were talking to an old friend.

Bryce Dallas Howard interview with bloggers - Pete's Dragon

Bryce Dallas Howard interview with bloggers – Pete’s Dragon Photo credit: Jana Seitzer / MerlotMommy.com

If you missed my red carpet experience, you definitely need to check that out here. One of the reasons I mentioned in my review post that you need to see this movie is that Pete’s Dragon allows you to experience family. I absolutely loved the fact that this film centered around family both on and off screen.

With two children of her own (ages 4 and 9), Bryce is a veteran in the motherhood department. This movie was shot in New Zealand where she and her family lived for about three months. She talked about how she got to experience living in New Zealand as a child while on set with her father, and now her children got to experience the same. She mentioned how the children of all the actors and directors as well as cast members, all hung out together and became friends, like one big, happy family.

Photo credit: Jana Seitzer / MerlotMommy.com

Photo credit: Jana Seitzer / MerlotMommy.com

On why she chose to take on this role, Howard says,

“Pete’s Dragon is so beautiful and it really reminded me of the Disney films that I watched as a child that were quite defining for me…”

I loved the fact that her husband gave her great advice on how to approach her character, Grace who plays a mother in the film. He told her to lean on the fact that she’s been a mother for the last ten years. He encouraged her to lean on the relationship and dynamic she has with her own kids, and bring that into filming for Pete’s Dragon.

Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace and Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney's PETE'S DRAGON, the adventure of an orphaned boy and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon.

Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace and Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON, the adventure of an orphaned boy and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. Photo credit: Disney

Speaking about adventure, Howard said,

“I think seeing that journey and adventure of finding your family (and having bonds that completely seem impossible or unconventional), is definitely a powerful message.”

I also loved the fact that she spoke of the importance of the message in this film for adults and kids alike:

“It allows us to transcend the daily grind of reality and, reminds us to look for magic, to look for something that can make you believe that the supernatural exists or that there’s something beyond us. I think we all have that sense of wonder and awe within us.”

There was a lot of wisdom and laughs shared in her interview. Be sure to follow the hashtag #PetesDragonEvent to check out the recaps and interviews from my fellow bloggers.

And because Bryce Dallas Howard is so fab (and this would probably be exactly how my DIY cupcakes would turn out LOL), I can’t leave without sharing this. This is for all the other moms who try those cute Pinterest DIY crafts and projects, and they end up looking like…well, check out the video below 🙂

Group blogger photo with Bryce Dallas Howard - Pete's Dragon #PetesDragonEvent

Group blogger photo with Bryce Dallas Howard – Pete’s Dragon #PetesDragonEvent

Don’t forget to check out these free activity sheets here, and get the deets on my red carpet experience here.

Visit the official PETE’S DRAGON website here, and the official trailer for Pete’s Dragon here.

PETE’S DRAGON IS OUT IN THEATERS TODAY AUGUST 12th!!!

For all of the latest, follow Pete’s Dragon on Facebook, Twitter (#PetesDragon), and Instagram.


Disclosure: On behalf of Disney, I was invited to attend an all-expense paid trip to cover the world premiere of Pete’s Dragon. As always, all opinions are my own.

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