Bunheads star Bailey Buntain is leaving Paradise behind for a new adventure in The Middle, and she tells HollywoodLife.com she couldn’t be more excited. “I’m such a big fan,” Bailey says of the ABC hit-com. “I’ve watched it since the first season, so that just added more pressure.”

Bailey plays a “baby freshman” named Jenna on tonight’s all-new episode, and as crazy as it may sound, her character is “mentored” by hot-mess Sue (Eden Sher). Let the awkward hilarity commence! 

“Sue is a sophomore now, so she knows the lay of the land, and she decides to share that widsom [with Jenna],” Bailey explains. But because we all know Sue didn’t exactly gain that knowledge easily — her freshman year was basically an endless series of train wrecks — Bailey says “it’s really funny watching Sue try to share her wisdom. It was hard not to laugh while we were filming.”

And if you’re expecting to see Bailey playing the same high-strung character she plays on Bunheads, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

“Jenna is very easygoing and relaxed,” Bailey says. “She doesn’t worry about a lot of things and she doesn’t have to try hard to fit in, whereas Ginny can be a little uptight and pragmatic. She’s more of an old soul.”

For more info. on The Middle, head over to ABC’s official Middle page — and be sure to tune in tonight at 8 p.m. to see Bailey in action!

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

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