'Girl Meets World' star Auggie Maturo: An exclusive interview

Ever talk to a child actor who has wit, smarts, talent and adorability? TheCelebrityCafe.com had the pleasure of talking to young Auggie Maturo of Girl Meets World.

For some of you who may not watch Girl Meets World, this Disney show is a hilarious continuation of the popular Boy Meets World. Girl Meets World follows the Mathews family and their trials and tribulations of life. Cory and Topanga Mathews who were once the young children growing up on Boy Meets World are now all grown up, married and have their own children, Riley and Auggie on today’s Girl Meets World. Auggie is the younger child of the two and he is played by the funny and adorable Auggie Maturo.

I, Marc Regen, on behalf of TheCelebrityCafe.com had the pleasure of speaking with Maturo and his mother, Maha. We spoke about the show, what he does for fun when not working, how he came to act at such a young age and his life-threatening food allergies. When I found out about his food allergies I immediately had more passion in this interview and wanting to spread the word of how Maturo and his mom deal with his allergies for the sake of helping others. Due to his life-threatening allergies, it was important for him and anyone who knew him to get informed about anaphylaxis along with the education on how to treat it if he were to have a reaction. This is where the decision was made by his family for Maturo to become a spokesperson for EpiPen. EpiPens are epinephrine auto-injectors. When I asked Maturo what his allergy triggers are, he then replied in the most adorable big-boy voice, “I am severely allergic to tree nuts, peanuts, sesame and coconuts.”

See below for the full interview that I had with Auggie and his mother, Maha, exclusively.

Marc Regen: When did you know you wanted to act being you are only 7 years old?

Auggie Maturo: I started acting when I was 4 years old at school and at church. Since then, I knew I wanted to be on stage just like an actor.

MR: Do you interact with the actresses who play your big sister Riley and her best friend Mya off set?

AM: We spend a lot of time together! Our families are friends, so we get to hang out a lot.

MR: How would you describe your daily activities being a child actor?

AM: I wake up, play with my little brother, Ocean, and then go to the set. I’m in school for a while, and then they call me when it’s my turn to film. When “Girl Meets World” isn’t filming, I’m in school with all of my friends.

MR: What are your allergic triggers?

AM: I am severely allergic to tree nuts, peanuts, sesame and coconuts.

MR: Why is it important for you to share your story as part of this EpiPen® on Location™ campaign?

AM: My parents and I are working to educate others with potentially life-threatening allergies like me. We made a video and want everybody to watch it so they can learn more about our anaphylaxis plan and share it with other people. Visit EpiPenOnLocation.com to watch our video and learn more about why this is important to us.

Questions for Auggis’s mother Maha below.

Marc Regen: How did you, Auggie and the set handle the episodes where Auggie was eating spaghetti or the chicken episode? Does Auggie actually eat the food or is there a workaround?

Maha Maturo: We have a great chef and props department on the set of “Girl Meets World” who discuss with me beforehand all of the food Auggie eats in his scenes to make sure nothing contains Auggie’s allergic triggers. Auggie is a very professional actor – so he eats the food in the scene!

MR: Has there ever been a time when you were really busy and running around that you forgot the EpiPen? If so, what went through your mind?

MM: Actually, no. I’ve never forgotten to bring our EpiPen Jr 2-Pak® with us. It’s really become a habit to bring it everywhere with us.

People should talk to their doctor about the treatment that is right for them.

MR: Is it all foods that he is deathly allergic to?

MM: Auggie is severely allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame and coconut.

MR: What is it like raising a son with life-threatening allergies?

MM: It was daunting at first. And since we know that life happens, we have to always be prepared with our anaphylaxis action plan. That includes:
· Avoiding known allergens
· Recognizing the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
· Having access to two EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injectors
· Seeking immediate emergency medical care should anaphylaxis occur.

MR: What lifestyle changes have you made since you found out Auggie is at risk for a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)?

MM: Although we can’t control the unpredictable nature of anaphylaxis, we can help Auggie avoid his allergens and make sure he has access to two EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injectors at school, at home and while he is filming. It’s part of our family’s preparedness script. Auggie knows to ask about the ingredients in foods if he isn’t sure if they contain his allergic triggers. We always call ahead to restaurants to make sure there will be options for him to eat, and we talk to the chef once we arrive.

MR: What is the EpiPen® On Location™ campaign and how can we get others get involved?

MM: Through EpiPen® On Location, we’re working to educate those impacted by potentially life-threatening allergies about the importance of avoiding allergic triggers, recognizing the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, having access to epinephrine auto-injectors, such as EpiPen® Auto-Injector, everywhere they go, and seeking immediate emergency medical care should anaphylaxis occur.
o You should always have access to epinephrine auto-injectors everywhere you need them.
o Epinephrine is the only first-line treatment for anaphylaxis.

MR: What inspired you to be a part of the EpiPen® On Location™ campaign and work with Mylan?

MM: When Mylan asked us to join a team of EpiPen® On Location Ambassadors, I was proud to partner with them to share our story and reinforce what we’ve learned with others in the community.

MR: How can someone enter the EpiPen® On Location™ sweepstakes?

MM: We, along with fellow Ambassadors Nina Garcia and Amanda Freitag, have each created videos about how we manage life-threatening allergies by avoiding our allergic triggers and ensuring access to EpiPen® Auto-Injectors at all times. We encourage you visit EpiPenOnLocation.com and share our videos with everyone you know to help more people learn about anaphylaxis. By sharing the videos, you’ll be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation from Mylan during the Epcot®International Food & Wine Festival between Sept. 25 – Nov. 16, 2015. While on the website, you can also read the full Sweepstakes Official Rules and learn more about anaphylaxis and EpiPen® Auto-Injector, including important safety and side effect information.

MR: If there is one message you want to leave people with what would it be?

MM: We want people affected by potentially life-threatening allergies to understand anaphylaxis and ensure they have a plan that includes avoiding allergic triggers, recognizing the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, having access to epinephrine auto-injectors, such as EpiPen® Auto-Injector at all times, and seeking immediate emergency medical care should anaphylaxis occur.

Patients should ask their doctor if EpiPen® is right for them.

MR: Thank you for sharing this information with us and good luck with everything. I had a blast and I love Girl Meets World and Auggie you are too adorable.

MM: Thank you for speaking with us and hopefully this information helps many suffering from the same allergies Auggie does. Auggie, Don’t forget to tell Marc what people will win if they enter the sweepstakes.

AM: Thank you for talking to me and watching the show. People who enter the sweepstakes may win a chance to meet me in person at Walt Disney World.

Auggie and his parents are paid spokespeople of Mylan. If you want more information about Epipen and to see Auggie’s video, please visit EpiPen.

Watch new episodes of Girl Meets World Fridays on Disney Channel.

top image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com