The Baby-Sitters Club: From Book to Small-Screen Series
From Stranger Things to Fuller House to Outer Banks, Netflix never ceases to amaze with original series—and their latest installment is no exception. Based on Ann M. Martin’s bestselling books that debuted over 30 years ago, The Baby-Sitters Club depicts a group of middle-school girls who start their own babysitting service. The show is packed with references to the iconic, fictional world of Stoneybrook, Connecticut crafted by Martin: fans may recognize hidden stashes of candy in Claudia’s room or a 90s landline phone they use to dial clients. The title of each episode is based on the book it was inspired by as well, such as “Boy-Crazy Stacey” and “Kristy’s Great Idea.” As the plot progresses, the group encounters several obstacles and accidents (a kid gets sick while Mary-Anne is taking care of her; Dawn repeatedly must babysit extra hours when a client comes home late), yet together, they establish a booming business destined to succeed. At its core, the series embodies the spirit of girl power; indeed, all episodes of the season were written or co-written by women, and eight of the ten episodes were directed by women. Below, Shay Rudolph, who plays fashionista and club treasurer Stacey McGill, breaks down the series and how it was taken from page to screen.
How did you first find out about the Netflix adaptation of The Baby-Sitters Club? Did you read the books growing up?
When I found out about the BSC audition from my agents, I immediately recognized the project. I had a surge of memories come flooding back from when I read the graphic novels at my elementary school’s Scholastic Book Fair. They were the coolest books to read at the time.
How did you prepare for the audition?
Researching Stacey was a lot of fun! I was really lucky to play a character that already had so much written about her. I read a lot of the BSC books before filming began because it was the best way for me to connect with Stacey. My character also has Type 1 diabetes, so I interviewed some teenagers who have been diagnosed to get to know what it‘s like to live with the disease. It was important for me to represent diabetes as accurately as possible.
What was your favorite part of playing your character?
I know this might sound cliche, but when I played Stacey, I remembered how important it is to not judge a book by its cover. Everyone looks at Stacey as the perfect, put-together girl who only cares about boys, fashion and popularity. But that’s only who she is at first glance. Once the girls in the club get to know Stacey, they can see how loving and kind she is. She cares so much about her friends.
What was the most challenging part of filming?
Being far away from my family for a long period of time was the most challenging part for me. Although I was with my mom in Canada for four months, my dad and sister were still at home in California. I was lucky to be in the same time zone as them, though, so we could still FaceTime late at night after a day on set. I’d never been away from family for months at a time before, so I missed them a lot.
How are you and your character similar? How are you different?
Stacey and I are similar because we both care about our friends and loved ones more than anything. We’re also both chic and fashionable (I definitely learned a lot about cute outfits while filming). We both know how to take care of ourselves and not rely on anyone else for happiness. But Stacey is way more boy-crazy than I will ever be!
Any behind-the-scenes blooper moments you can share?
Malia [Baker (“Mary Anne”)] and I were filming a scene outside during one of the camp episodes. It was really cold, and our breath was showing up whenever we said our lines. We ended up having to suck on ice cubes to get our breath to not appear on screen. By the time we did our scene, my mouth had gotten so numb, I could hardly form words!
What is the main message of the show? What do you hope the audience will take away?
Each episode has its own lesson to learn, but the overall takeaway from the show is that you shouldn’t be scared of going after something you’re passionate about. All of the girls are so independent and awesome in their own ways! They’re young entrepreneurs that started a successful babysitting business all on their own. I know that everyone who read the books learned some lessons from these girls, and I hope that the show does the same.
Follow Shay on Social Media:
Instagram: @shayrudolph
TikTok: @shay_rudolph
Twitter: @shaygrudolph