SHORE VS. CITY: MADDIE MCCORMICK

MADDIE MCCORMICK always knew she wanted to be an actress, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Catherine Bernice O’Connell, who graced the stage at Lake Forest’s Gorton Center well into her 70s. Growing up, McCormick was a regular performer at Matz Hall with the Winnetka Children’s Theatre, trained at the famed The Second City and Piven Theatre workshops, and won New Trier’s Goodman Theatre Award for acting. Since attending UCLA, she has built a career in Hollywood, with credits including Shameless, Little Fires Everywhere, and most recently, season two of Netflix’s BEEF. Earlier this year, McCormick returned to Chicago to lead a Christmas movie produced by local production company Lakefront Pictures. Set to release this holiday season, A Snowbound Christmas also stars fellow Chicago actors Harry Lennix and Jennifer A. Goodman, along with Captain America actor William Mark McCullough. The North Shore native takes a break from filming to share her city and shore favorites with Sheridan Road. 

What’s on the horizon? A rom-com for Roku, Cowboy Hearts, shooting in Atlanta opposite Kristin Cavallari (another former North Shore resident!) Mantra? Ask, Believe, Receive Best grooming tip? Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is my cure-all for skincare, and less is more

Guilty pleasure? Movie candy and AMC A-List Favorite foods? My husband makes a mean “Scarlett’s Pasta” à la the Jon Favreau movie Chef Music you love? Pop-punk. I fell in love with local band Fall Out Boy back in ‘05 and never moved on Best advice ever given to you? My nana used to say, “Coffee in the morning and a ‘tini at night, everything else will be alright” Best advice you’ve given? Nerves are just your entire body cheering you on

Earliest memory? My first line onstage was “Don’t ask me. I just work here” in Lake Forest Children’s Theater production of Cinderella. I played a mouse When you wake up, you? Snuggle my kitties, Kalou and Boots Before bed, you? Snuggle my husband What’s on your bookshelf? My book club is currently reading Yesteryear, and my friend also gifted me Words You Might Need Today for my birthday

You can’t live without? My cats and The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Love to escape to? We just moved to the hills in East L.A. I’ve never had a view until now, and I’m in love Advice you would give to your younger self? Swing hard! You will never hit a home run if you try to bunt the ball

ON THE SHORE

Your style is? ‘90s tomboy Can’t leave the house without? SAOR perfume (the fragrance brand founded by North Shore local Patty Talbot) Transportation? Walking as I used to after school; it makes me so nostalgic Driving music? I just filmed a movie set in the ‘90s, so lately Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill Place to eat? Martinis and mini chocolate chip cookies at Deer Path Inn, banana cake from Three Tarts Bakery, Sarkis Café’s Bacon Loretta, Barnaby’s pizza Shop? Valentina Best thing about the Shore? Hugging all the people I grew up with and now live across the country from Worst thing about the Shore? Makes me homesick The perfect day is? Start the day with some Walker Bros. chocolate chippies, Foodstuffs salad and puppy chow for lunch, visit Matz Hall stage and take a bow, end the night with a picnic at Ravinia

IN THE CITY

Your style is? Carolyn Bessette meets Carrie Bradshaw Can’t leave the house without? My Chicago accent (it always seems to come back) Transportation? The Red Line ideally to a Cubs game Driving music? Petey USA, gotta rep my friend and fellow Trevian Place to eat? Trivoli Tavern, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Sweet Mandy B’s, hot chocolate at Mindy’s Shop? Window shopping on Magnificent Mile and walking all the way up to The Drake Best thing about the City? 1920s Art Deco-inspired architecture like the Chicago Board of Trade Worst thing about the City? Leaving it The perfect day is? Summertime Chi, of course. Take the L to a Cubs game, fly the W, deep dish at Pequod’s, squeeze in an improv show at Second City, and who knows, maybe a trip to Butch McGuire’s for old times’ sake