What Preschooler Says During Acting Audition Leaves Mom Speechless

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Let's be honest—most adults have stretched the truth at least once to land a job. But one preschooler may have taken it to the next level.
A recent survey by StandOut-CV of 2,012 U.S. adults revealed that more than three in five respondents (64.2%) admitted to lying on their resume at least once. But resume embellishments aren't just for grown-ups. When Harlyn Brielle was just four years old when she improvised during an acting audition - in a desperate bid to get the role.
Her mom, Bree, 33, recently shared the clip on Instagram (@breenotacomedian), where it quickly went viral, amassing over 1.9 million views.
"We rehearsed the commercial every day for weeks and she did that part perfectly," she told Newsweek. "But when we got to the questions, she had her own agenda."
Two screenshots from the viral video showing the young girl looking at her mom and then smiling.
Two screenshots from the viral video showing the young girl looking at her mom and then smiling.
Instagram/@breenotacomedian
During the virtual interview, Harlyn was asked whether she could speak any other languages. Without missing a beat, she confidently replied, "Yes," then proceeded to invent her own language on the spot—before wrapping up the impromptu answer by repeatedly saying "gracias" in Spanish.
Bree, who had spent weeks rehearsing the commercial script with Harlyn, was caught completely off guard.
"We rehearsed the commercial every day for weeks and she did that part perfectly," she told Newsweek. "But when we got to the questions, she had her own agenda."
Trying to keep things on track, Bree gently clarified to the interviewer that her daughter could do accents, not speak other languages. But Harlyn wasn't about to let go of her narrative, doubling down on her claim with even more Spanish flair.
Unfortunately, the audition—allegedly for a cereal brand—turned out to be a scam. Bree discovered the red flag when the organizers asked for money.
"When I told Harlyn, her response was, 'No way we're paying them. I'm the star—they should pay me!'" Bree recalled.
Although that particular opportunity didn't pan out, Harlyn, now seven, has since landed a small role in the film Girl in the Closet. Determined to support her daughter's acting ambitions, Bree even created an Instagram page dedicated to her budding career: @harlynbrielle.
"Harlyn is one of those kids where I never know what's going to come out of her mouth," Bree said. "As a Virgo, she's bold, confident, and—if you ask her— she's always right!"
Online audiences seem to agree. The original video, posted on May 6, has garnered more than 165,000 likes and many users can relate to the text layered over the clip.
It says: "When you lie on the job application [and] say you're bilingual to try [and] get the job."
"I checked the bilingual box on an Indeed app and listed 'mildly conversant' on my resume. I got the job and ended up answering phones while googling responses!" resonated one user.
"This is what real confidence looks like. I hope she keeps it forever," complimented another and a third pointed out: "Her mom was just as surprised as we all were."