JB- You've seen a lot of contestants win big and also lose big on Deal. Do you sort of play along in your head when you're standing up there? Do you do your own calculations and assess the risks the contestants are taking?
HM- Yes, you have to. Because, we're miked during the show and so, you know, and it's our job to know what's going on in the game. When our number gets called and we open it, and you know, if it's a high number or a low number and how that's going to affect them in the game. But, it's also a lot of fun. My family watched the show before I was on it - it was my grandma's favourite show. For me… sometimes I forget that I'm standing up there and I'm supposed to be, like, smiling and looking pretty, because I'll be like, Oh my god, and they're like, "Hayley, you're on camera right now and you need to calm down a bit." The game is a lot of fun to play and that's my favourite part and I get really into it.
JB- Walk me through your strategy if you were a contestant on the show. Would you go all the way for a million? Or would you take a deal early on? Have you thought about this?
HM- I don't even think about it, because I know once you get up on the stage in front of Howie and all these girls and the lights and the audience, your strategy goes completely out the window. My strategy would be just to do whatever felt right at that moment. Every single person who's come in there with a strategy does not stick to it. (They say) the second that it reaches the hundred thousand deal I'm stopping and it never happens. The thing about the game is why it's so awesome and so fun is because it doesn't take any brains and it doesn't take any strategy. It's all luck, so you just have to go with the flow. That would be my strategy. Although, sometimes I think I'd be maybe dumb and just sticking with the first offer and be like, Oh, do you know what I could do with $10,000? That's $10,000 and I'm taking it! I'd be the most boring contestant ever. (laughing)
JB- But, you would be the one laughing because you had the money.
HM- Exactly, exactly.
JB- A lot of people might not know this, but you dance - you do ballet, you do acting. What other hidden talents do you have?
HM- Um… oh god. Well, I did this movie called Fired Up which was in theatres this past February and I had to go to cheer camp for a month for that. And it was like the most intense cheer camp - not that I've been to cheer camp - it was pretty intense. I think they didn't realize we were doing it for a movie, so now I'm also a professional cheerleader.
JB- Is there anything you don't do? What job would you never want to have?
HM- What job would I never want to have? I never thought about that before. I kind of… argh, what job would I not want to have? Um, I can't think of anything. Every job seems like there could be a benefit. I probably wouldn't want to clean bathrooms. (laughing) I worked in a movie theatre when I was a kid. It was, like, my first job and they told me one day that I needed to go clean the bathrooms and I started crying. I was like, I can't do it. I was so grossed out.
JB- Sounds pretty shi… ah, never mind.
HM- (laughing)