Exclusive

Pitch Perfect 3 Rock Star Andy Allo Takes the E!Q

The actress and former Prince protégée plays one of the sassy competing singers who's making life hard for the Barden Bellas

By Natalie Finn Dec 22, 2017 3:00 PMTags
E! Q, Andy AlloAlberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Andy Allo loved getting to bring some anti-aca-attitude to Pitch Perfect 3.

"My character is a bad-ass rock-n-roll chick," the actress and musical artist tells E! News about her character, Serenity, in the third film in the blockbuster franchise. "She sings and plays guitar and is not about the a cappella game. She was really fun to play because of how much shade she throws at the Bellas." (Presumably Fat Amy will have a few things to say about that...)

Serenity's group, Evermoist (yes, it's a purposely questionable name), poses one of the biggest challenges yet for our returning heroes, the Barden Bellas, as not only do they sing like angels—they jam on actual instruments, too.

But despite some of the contentious barbs flying back and forth onscreen, Allo describes a "very fun, chill" vibe among the cast and crew on the set of the largely female-centric film, directed by music video veteran Trish Sie.

read
Pitch Perfect Vocabulary: Every Aca-Awesome Phrase You Need to Know Ahead of the Final Film

"It was incredible," 28-year-old artist recalls. "The environment was really supportive and being around all these successful women was really empowering."

Overall, the mood on set was what you might expect from a light comedy, especially one where most of the cast was together for the third time. "People were always cracking jokes and making fun of each other," Allo says. "There were definitely moments where we'd all start singing and jamming as well. It felt very much like summer camp."

Universal Studios

And while the role of Serenity, her most high-profile acting job to date, required a certain swagger, Allo just brings that naturally to the stage.

The Cameroonian-born artist started singing and writing poetry at a very young age, and her mom started teaching her piano when she was about 6 years old.

"Music has been a part of my life since childhood," Allo explains. "I picked up the guitar about eight years ago because I was looking for a way to put music to the words and melodies I had been writing."

Let's just say...that worked out well.

photos
Singers Turned Actors
Brian Ach/WireImage for NPG Records 2011

She released her first album, UnFresh, independently in 2009 and it attracted the attention of no less than Prince, which ultimately led to her joining his band The New Power Generation and a close working relationship with the musical icon.

And when it came time to make her second album, what turned into 2012's Superconductor, Prince executive-produced the LP and co-wrote three tracks with his protégée.

Allo's acting aspirations were a natural extension of what she already loved to do as a performer.

"I always knew I wanted to be an entertainer and an artist," she says. "Ever since I was little, I was putting on performances for my family or creating elaborate soap opera stories. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love everyday."

And if she just so happened to find herself in a real-life sing-off like the ones that are constantly cropping up for the Bellas onscreen, Allo is armed and ready to go.

"So many songs to choose from," she says when asked what her go-to weapons would be. "I'll go with...Bruno Mars, 'Uptown Funk'; TLC, 'No Scrubs'; Rupert Holmes, 'Escape (The Piña Colada Song)'; Michael Jackson, 'P.Y.T.' and Heavy D & The Boyz, 'Now That We've Found Love.'"

Sounds like a winning list. 

And while we had a moment of her time, we also got the multi-talented star to fill out our E!Q, so you can find out what else makes Andy Allo tick:

Name: Andy Allo

Hometown: Originally Bamenda, Cameroon, but I moved to Sacramento, Calif., when I was 13. So both. 

What time did you wake up this morning? I woke up at 7:30 a.m. 

Night owl or early bird? Night owl, but I'm an early bird in training. Matcha Lattés are helping.

What's the last song you sang in the shower? Diana Ross - "I'm Coming Out"

What do you never leave the house without? Can't believe I'm going to say this but...Alpaca Socks. My feet are always freezing. 

Drive or fly? Definitely fly. It's faster, and I love traveling all over the world. 

Salty or sweet? Sweet. That's my weakness. Don't tell my trainer. 

Last movie that made you cry: The Shape Of Water

Last TV/streaming binge: Stranger Things seasons one and two. It's soo good!

read
The Walking Dead's Katelyn Nacon Reveals Her Must-Have Item for the Zombie Apocalypse and More When She Takes the E!Q

Dream vacation: Traveling to Tanzania, going on safari and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and after that, going over to Zanzibar, which is just off the coast of Tanzania, for some beach time and relaxing. 

One beauty product that helps get you through the winter: Heal-All Salve by Avena Botanicals. I'm absolutely obsessed and regularly offer it to strangers. Basically, I'm their informal Brand Ambassador. 

What's the last thing you Googled? "Real Housewives of Atlanta Watch Online." It's my guilty pleasure.

Bravo

Pitch Perfect 3, also starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna CampElizabeth Banks and more, opens in theaters today.

(E!, Universal Pictures and Bravo are all members of the NBCUniversal family.)