Summary

Matthew Lawrence overcame his fear of singing in front of an audience on The Masked Singer.

He made it to the final six despite not expecting to get out of his group.

His favorite performance was singing “Hallelujah” on “Shrek night,” where he had an unforgettable moment.

When some celebrities join The Masked Singer and say they didn’t know if they could do it and then reveal a spectacular voice, that’s the magic of the show! For actor Matthew Lawrence, he joined the show because he had a fear of singing in front of people, despite his exceptional voice. But being the Paparazzo, something special happened that made the fear fall aside. As he said, “I had that moment where everything went away, the fear, the harnesses, and I was able to sing in front of an audience, and I’ve never been able to do that in my life.”
Known for some of the 90s biggest movies and TV shows, Matthew Lawrence has remained a major part of the industry, expanding his career alongside his famous brothers, Andy Lawrence and Joey Lawrence, through new projects and ventures. Now, the teen icon can add The Masked Singer Lucky Six to his resume. A spot he didn’t even think he would reach.
Why His ‘Shrek’ Night Was His Favorite ‘The Masked Singer’ Performance

And he dishes on what his girlfriend Chilli thought of his rendition of a popular TLC song

COLLIDER: Paparazzo has been unmasked. It’s Matthew Lawrence. Congratulations on the show. How does it feel?
MATTHEW LAWRENCE: You know, it is a relief to have it behind me now. The reason why I did the show is I had a little bit of stage fright when it comes to singing in front of an audience. I had a bad audience back in the day, a Broadway audition, and I spent a couple of decades in fear saying no to these singing opportunities. And, you know, that was a mistake. And this came along, and it’s all in good fun, and I get to wear a mask. So this was, yeah, I needed to get over the fear. That’s what this was for me.
COLLIDER: If you could describe the experience in three words, what would they be?
MATTHEW: Out of body, anxiety, and lightning in a bottle.
COLLIDER: How hard was it to keep the secret that you were Paparazzo?
MATTHEW: It was hard when I was obviously out in public because people were catching on. And there was even a time where I’m picking up some food, and I hear, you know, yelled over my shoulder, and I’m like, “Do I turn around? Like I can’t even move!” I didn’t know what to do. It got difficult at times. I can tell you that.
COLLIDER: What was your reaction when you got to see the Paparazzo costume for the first time?
MATTHEW: Oh, man, that sold it for me. I was thinking I wanted to be like some sort of reptile. That’s why I love reptiles. And they were like, “No, we got the character for you.” And then I was like hmmm, and then show it to me, I was like, “All right, the eyes. Got me at the eye. All right. This works.”
COLLIDER: You made it to the Lucky Six. What did it mean to you to make it to the final six?
MATTHEW: Oh, honestly, I did not think I was getting out of my group. Honestly. I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to do it. I thought it might be just like it was back in the day, where I got so nervous that my vocal cords seized up, and I couldn’t get anything out. So the fact that I got through my group, I literally, I think I fell over. I was just shocked. I did not expect to be there.
COLLIDER: You have an excellent voice. I was so impressed.
MATTHEW: Oh, thank you.
COLLIDER: Did you have a favorite performance?
MATTHEW: Well, yeah. So, of all nights, the Shrek night. “Hallelujah,” right? It’s crazy because, let me just give you a little context here. I’m in this giant head, right? It’s very heavy, and it’s very unstable. So they had to put these bolts down my back, these rods, right? And then it’s strapped in. And when you’re singing, it’s kind of like a wind instrument, it’s all about air pushing through your vocal cords. So I’ve got this bear hug of a harness that’s holding on my head. So you go to take a breath, and I’m sweating. I mean, it’s in my eyes, sweating bullets. I can’t see anything. And then you got to try to sing and dance. I got 20-foot rubber shoes. I mean, it’s insane. Like I said, I did not think I was going to get through, but in this “Hallelujah” song, for a moment, just a moment, that’s why the lightning in the bottle thing I said. I had that moment where everything went away, the fear, the harnesses, and I was able to sing in front of an audience, and I’ve never been able to do that in my life. When do you get a chance to do that? It was the coolest thing ever. I’ll take that with me for the rest of my life.
COLLIDER: What did Chilli think of your “Unpretty” performance?
MATTHEW: Hey, she was very supportive. She said I did it justice, which is, like, crazy, you know? I mean, it’s crazy. So, yeah, she was so great about it.
COLLIDER: Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg ultimately figured you out. Were there any clues that you were nervous that would give you away early on?
MATTHEW: Yes, every clue! I love the Paparazzo thing. That’s the reason why I did it. I had a mask. I could get through my fear without exposing my face, and it was familiar. I’m an actor. It’s a character I was playing. So when they were given some of the clues, I was like, “It’s too good!” Oh, I wanted to fool people. I was not, it’s not even fooling people.

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Matthew Lawrence Shares the Advice Robin Williams Gave Him as a Kid

The actor has been part of some of our favorite childhood memories

Image via FOX

COLLIDER: What did your brothers think of your performance?
MATTHEW: Oh, so supportive. You know, Andy, who I live with, when I got home, he was like, “Dude, you did so good, such a great job.” Then I get texts from other brother, and my mom. My mom said the sweetest thing. She came out and she’s like, “You know, I know it’s just a silly show, but to say I’m so proud to be your mother is an understatement. So it’s like, so sweet man, my family’s great.
COLLIDER: How is your how’s your podcast, Brotherly Love, going?
MATTHEW: Podcast is going great, man. Thanks for bringing it up. We love doing it. We’ve such a blast. And everybody shows up, you know? We do so well, and we’re just so humbled by it. It’s been such a great way to reconnect with fans and make new fans. It’s been awesome, man.
COLLIDER: You spoke about your relationship with Robin Williams in your clue package. What’s the best advice that he ever gave you?
MATTHEW: You know, don’t judge someone until you’ve walked in their shoes. You know, it’s really true. He was one of the most compassionate people, humble people, talented people I’ve ever met. And you know, he also gave me some, it’s really wild to think about it. I was 12 years old, and the way he took me under his wings, and the way he opened up to me, and the way he treated me as a peer, like he didn’t talk down to me. It’s just miraculous. He also opened up to me about what it was like for him when he wasn’t entertaining people. And what his personal life, you know, the troubles that he was having. It wasn’t all laughs, and you know, he really guided me. He had a strong belief that there were things that he did in his life. It exacerbated his condition that he had, and he was dead-set on making sure that I steered cleared of it. And he successful with that. He got me the role in Mrs. Doubtfire. Got me that role. There was another kid who was definitely in the lead. Everybody liked, and he, in the audition process, he came up privately and said, “We gotta push this over the edge for you. We gotta. So when I do something, I’m gonna do something, I can tell you, gotta go along with it. Really play it up. No one’s got it yet.” And sure enough, we nailed that moment, and he got me the role. So, you know, he was that guy, man.
COLLIDER: That’s incredible. We love nostalgia. People still live for the 90s. What is it like to be able to continue to celebrate the decade and the projects you were part of?
MATTHEW: It’s wild. Everything’s cyclical, right? I remember back when I was young, hearing about the 70s and watching the 70s come back around. And now that’s what’s happening with the 90s. And it’s just, it’s an honor to be a part of that decade. It was a feel good for when you were a kid in that. And it’s always a blessing. People come up, and they say, “You’re such a part of growing up.” And, man, that’s such an honor. That was such a great time. Such a great time for me. I’m happy to go along the ride with everybody. It’s great man.
COLLIDER: I mean, Boy Meets World was a big part of my childhood. I loved it.
MATTHEW: Yeah, dude. Mine too. It was a ride for sure.
COLLIDER: Anything else coming up for you? Anything you want to tease the fans with?
MATTHEW: Lots of stuff. Obviously, the podcast, and that’s kind of spawned the brothers and I really working a lot more together. We’ve got a TV show working on and a film that we’re going to make, and I’ve got something that I’m working on this summer. So life’s busy. The springtime outside with all the animals. Everybody’s coming out of hibernation and broomation, and it’s my favorite time of year.
COLLIDER: Well, congratulations, and thank you so much for chatting. It’s an honor.
MATTHEW: Yep, thanks, man, thanks for having me.