From Television to ‘Hard Promises,’ a Tearful Career for Olivia Burnette

Olivia Burnette, who stars as Dorothy Jane on NBC’s comedy series “The Torkelsons,� knows how to turn on the tears. In fact, the 14-year-old has a reputation for being able to cry on cue.

“That’s because my first episodic (appearance) was on ‘Riptide,’ � explains the actress. “I played this little girl and the cops came and they were going to take away my mom and I had to come out of the house crying.

“I did it in rehearsal and the director said, ‘Stop. Save your tears.’ I guess I have always been able to do it. Now I put myself in my character’s position.�

She got so into character in the new film “Hard Promises,� starring Sissy Spacek and William Petersen, Burnette had a hard time getting through her final scene. Burnette plays Beth, the duo’s daughter who wants her divorced parents to remarry. The film’s finale is a touching scene between Burnette and Petersen.

“It was so sad,� Burnette says. “It is like real life. I think a lot of people can relate to it (the film), especially girls my age because so many parents are getting divorced these days.

“I can’t relate to it because I come from a really stable family. But so many kids can relate to it.�

Burnette and her 11-year-old brother, Justin, began working eight years ago. “I used to do school plays and stuff and I really thought I could do it for real,� she says.

A high school freshman, Burnette is being tutored on the “Torkelsons� set. “I am taking a bunch of hard classes this year, like French and geometry. It has been kind of tough this year, but I will get through it.� As soon as “The Torkelsons� wraps for the season, she will return to her regular school.

And Burnette is planning on attending college just like one of her idols, Jodie Foster. “She was a child star and went to college and look at her. She is an adult actor and a director. She’s done it all and that is exactly what I want to do.�