Contributed photo
MAKEUP — Ellie Grant, the 9-year-old daughter of Fred and Renee Grant of Houlton, gets her hair and makeup done by a stylist prior to shooting a commercial for Subway restaurants in Portland Jan. 16. Grant was one of nine youngsters selected to audition for the restaurant.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Local residents might get a chance to see one of Houlton’s own during a Subway commercial in the coming weeks.
Ellie Grant, the 9-year-old daughter of Fred and Renee Grant of Houlton, was one of nine youths
“Basically it started with an email to the (radio) station asking if they knew of anyone or had family who might like to try out for a Subway commercial and if so they could send their information along to this advertising/marketing agency,” Renee said. “Fred immediately thought of Ellie, as she loves to perform (sing, dance, act … you name it). For about three years she has asked me several times, after watching shows on Disney and Nickelodeon, ‘I want to do that! I want to be on TV. How can I get on TV?’”
The Grants asked Ellie if she was interested in auditioning for the commercial, and got enthusiastic “Yes!”
The Grants submitted Ellie’s name and photo for the commercial and were surprised to hear back so quickly that their daughter was one of the children selected to audition. Renee said her daughter was “very excited” to do the commercial, which was filmed in Portland on Jan. 16. The reading included a hair and makeup session.
“She had fun doing it and got to sit in hair and makeup and find out what it’s like doing a commercial and what’s involved,” Renee said.
The commercial is slated to start running starting Feb. 1 in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and northern New York.
