The star of Hallmark's latest rom-com has opened up about her acting dreams.
In a recent interview with People, 19-year-old Lily D. Moore revealed that she hopes to one day become the first actor with Down's syndrome to win an Academy Award.
Since she started acting lessons aged six, Moore's career has gone from strength to strength. She's appeared in over 20 projects, including Netflix's Never Have I Ever and Freeform's Single Drunk Female.
This month, she's finally stepping into a starring role in Hallmark's Color My World With Love. The romantic comedy tells the story of two young lovers with Down's syndrome, as they prepare to walk down the aisle and tie the knot. It premiered this weekend (June 12) on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
During her interview with People, Moore described staring in a movie as a dream come true. "It has always been one of my dreams," she said of the role, adding: "I finally got that chance."
However, the young actor has no plans to slow down. She's confident that this is just the start of a starry career that she hopes might take her all the way to the Academy Awards stage.
"I want to be the first down syndrome actress to win an Oscar," she told the outlet.
While she is focused on acting, Moore is also keen to get a more traditional education under her belt. She has plans to begin attending Clemson University in the fall, where she will study healthcare.
"I really want to help people and save lives," the teenage star said.
Moore went on to speak about how just because she has Down's syndrome, that doesn't mean her hopes and dreams should be any different to anyone else's.
"People with Down syndrome have hopes and dreams just like typical people," she said, adding: "We want friends, get a job, go to college, fall in love, live independently, and also get married. We don't need to have anyone to feel sorry for us."
Hallmark's Color My World With Love is out now.