Hopefully you all caught Clare and Eli’s big storyline this past Friday on Degrassi, I know I’m excited for next week! We caught up with Aislinn Paul to talk about Clare and Eli’s relationship, her trip to India and backstabbing friends. Make sure you catch Degrassi this Friday at 9PM!

1. What can you share about what’s going to unfold between your character and Eli in the upcoming season?
Clare and Eli both go through some major personal trials, but they are there for each other. We explore situations that happen to a lot of teens, but also stuff we’ve never done on the show before. These struggles both strain and strengthen their relationship.

2. What would you say is your least favorite part about being an actress? What parts of your life have taken a toll from it?
My least favourite part of being an actor would be the unpredictability of the scheduling. My personal life really gets put on hold during the filming season because it is impossible to know when you’ll be free more than a couple days before. It’s definitely not enough to make me give up acting.

3. How do you think your character has grown as a person since starting out on the show? How can we expect her to change in the future?
Clare has grown up so much on Degrassi and still is. Like any teenager, she is discovering new things about herself every episode, and it is so much fun to portray.

4. What was it like traveling to India for Free the Children? How did this experience open your eyes?
My experience in India was more than I could have imagined. I went with Free the Children and the rest of the cast on the trip toEcuador two years ago, so I jumped at the opportunity to go on another trip!  You feel incredibly empowered when you have the opportunity to do something so hands-on.

5. On the show, Jenna stole KC from Clare. What’s the most backstabbing thing a friend has ever done to you?
I’m really lucky to have the friends I have now, they are all the most amazing people. But sadly in the past I had a friend who turned on me because I was getting so much attention from working in television. She started making up lies and telling them to all the other girls in the class, eventually leaving me with no friends. At first I didn’t even know she was the culprit! Since then I’ve been much more careful about who I trust.