A 6th grader from Maple Ridge made his acting debut on the world stage with a Super Bowl commercial.

Musashi Baillie, a student at Laity View Elementary, was recently cast in a Toyota Super Bowl commercial as Canadian Paralympic cross-country skier Brian McKeever. McKeever, who lost his sight due to Stargardt’s macular degeneration, eventually, with the help of his brother, won 17 medals, including 13 gold in six Winter Paralympic games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3pbC74bf8E

Baillie plays the younger McKeever in this commercial that depicts the relationship between McKeever, and his older brother and ski guide, Robin.

“I’ve never been in advertising before; this is the first time for me,” he said.

Baillie got an acting job after her mother saw a casting call online. He tried for the role and only after two rounds of auditions was selected for the role.

In the first part of the commercial, a young Brian, played by Baillie, is guided by Robin’s older brother as he learns to ski and bike around their neighborhood. Later, when 19-year-old Brian learned that he would lose his sight, the older brother continued to work with him and guide him as he did his practice run through the trees.

“It feels weird to be on TV,” he said. “But I’m really excited because it’s my first time being in a commercial.”

Many of her schoolmates saw the advert and she is now hoping to land more acting jobs.

“It’s nice because there’s a lot of food to eat when you’re not working,” he said. “There’s a lot of candy and a lot of good stuff.”