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.”