EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Julia Antonelli: Growing Beyond Wheezie, From Outer Banks to Spielberg’s Big Screen

Conducted by Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

1. Outer Banks is coming to an end with its highly anticipated fifth and final season. How does it feel to return as Wheezie Cameron one last time, and what has this journey meant to you personally?

Playing Wheezie has been so much fun. I’ve really felt like I’ve grown up with Wheezie and seen her mature from Sarah’s annoying younger sister into her own character and person. I started playing this character when I was still in high school and now am a few years out of college so when I look back at old scenes it always shocks me to see how young I look.

The final season sees an older, wiser Wheezie living in an environment where things have become very serious, so she’s having to cope and deal with things in a way that I think will be really cool for fans to see.

So I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Wheezie but maybe Netflix will explore The Pogues and Kooks again in the future.

2. Fans have watched Wheezie grow throughout the series. How would you say both the character and you have evolved since you first joined Outer Banks?

Wheezie and I have grown up together. Although she’s still a little younger than I am now, I think fans will recognize she’s become a very different and more mature person since she appeared in the first season. That being said, at the core of her character is her family and friends. That’s why I think so many fans love Wheezie, she is consistently driven by wanting to keep her family together, as she’s changed I think that part of her character has stayed consistent. I hope that my friends and family would say the same about me in real life as well.

The actress looks back on a defining chapter of her career, from growing up on Outer Banks to stepping into new worlds with Disclosure Day, theater, and the roles that await her next.

Since making her on-screen debut as a teenager, Julia Antonelli has continued to grow in front of audiences around the world. First introduced through Nickelodeon’s hit youth series before capturing a new generation of fans as Wheezie Cameron in Outer Banks, the American actress has built a career shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a constant desire to explore new artistic territories.

As the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Outer Banks prepares to bring the story of the Pogues and the Kooks to a close, Julia Antonelli returns one last time as Wheezie, a character she has portrayed since her high school years. Once introduced as Sarah Cameron’s younger sister, often seen in the background of the family drama, Wheezie has evolved throughout the series into a more independent and mature character while maintaining the loyalty and sensitivity that have made her so beloved by fans.

But Julia Antonelli’s journey extends far beyond a single role. In recent years, she has embraced a variety of creative challenges, moving between television and film with projects such as Beau Is Afraid, Trouble, and Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, before making her professional stage debut in Billie Jean at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, portraying tennis icon Billie Jean King.

Balancing acting, her studies at Fordham University, theater, music, and her growing presence on social media, Julia Antonelli represents a new generation of artists who combine ambition with authenticity. As she enters this exciting new chapter of her career, she reflects on her evolution, her memories from Outer Banks, the challenges of her craft, and the dreams that continue to inspire her.

Discover our conversation with Julia Antonelli.

INTERVIEW

3. This final season reunites Wheezie with Sarah as new dangers emerge. Without giving away any spoilers, what can audiences expect from their relationship in these final episodes?

Sarah and Wheezie have always been close. Their challenges are clearly very different, but Sarah has proven that whatever is happening and wherever she is on the planet, Wheezie is always not far out of mind. I think in this final season their closeness comes through in a new way that will be exciting to fans as Wheezie gets to experience more of Sarah’s problems from a front row seat. After all, Wheezie will soon be "Aunt Wheezie".

4. You recently appeared in Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, following acclaimed performances in

Beau Is Afraid and Trouble. How have these projects challenged you as an actress compared to your television work?

It can definitely feel like there is more pressure working on a movie, you are often meeting the cast and crew for the first time and don’t always know exactly what to expect. You might turn the corner and run into Steven Spielberg or Emily Blunt, but at the same time, a movie is a much shorter time working with a character. Although I might have been nervous to be directed in a film, there isn’t the same pressure returning to a character that fans of a show love.

There are definitely more similarities than differences to both types of production and honestly I wouldn't trade one experience for the other. I feel very lucky to have had some experience with both film and television.

5. You began your career at a very young age on Nickelodeon with Every Witch Way and W.I.T.s Academy. Looking back, what are the biggest lessons you've carried from being a child actor into your career today?

As a kid on set, you have to learn really quickly how to be flexible and patient. I’m happy I got to learn these lessons early as you have to keep this patience even as an adult, which can sometimes be hard on a bustling set when you’re waiting for your scene to come up.

6. This year also marked your professional stage debut in Billie Jean at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. What was it like stepping onto the stage, and how different is live theatre from working in front of the camera?

Theater definitely felt like a different beast compared to film and television work because there aren’t backup takes to rely on if you make a mistake. Theater is live, which is both exciting and scary at the same time. On top of this, getting to play a legend like Billie Jean King comes with its own pressure. As I went through the rehearsal process with the excellent crew and cast, my confidence grew. I felt proud of the work I did and the play we created. I hope there will be more opportunities to act on the stage in the future.

7. You successfully balanced filming while earning your degree at Fordham University. How important was education to you, and what did that experience teach you about discipline and personal growth?

Going to college and getting that experience was super important to me. My four years at Fordham really did help build confidence, relationships and independence in myself, which I think only positively impacted my acting and time on sets. Being in New York City also has to be one of the best places to be if you’re interested in getting into film. I was lucky to have some time to act in a few short and student film projects from new friends that I made and was able to build new communities of up and coming people in the film industry, who will, perhaps, cast me in their later projects.

8.With a strong presence on social media, including nearly a million followers on TikTok, how do you maintain an authentic connection with your audience while protecting your private life?

I try to let my real personality shine through when I’m on social media. I use music I like and show off products that I enjoy, so I hope my followers feel they’re getting authentic content from me. That being said, I try to not make every part of my life a social media post. I go on private trips, spend time with my friends, and try to be in those moments without always making them into something I need to document with my phone at every second. It’s a tough line sometimes but I think I’ve done a pretty good job of striking this balance so far.

9. You've worked across television, film, streaming, and now theatre. Is there a particular genre, director, or dream role that you hope to explore next?

Well, as I mentioned, I would love to do some more theater work. I have an extensive musical background, so would love to do a musical or find some sort of outlet to show off that side of myself. I also have not been in a comedic project in my adult career, so would love to do a comedy show or movie, especially if I got to act off one of my idols like Emma Stone or Tina Fey.

10. As you look ahead to this exciting new chapter of your career, what would you like audiences to remember about Julia Antonelli—not only as an actress, but as a person?

I want to be remembered for my creativity. I have a lot of love for all acting, art, cooking and music and I can showcase that part of myself both in my acting and in my own personal projects I put out to the public.