Q&A: Lizzy Greene making her mark on ‘A Million Little Things’

Lizzy Greene has achieved something many of her contemporaries have not: a second act.

Having started as a child actor on Nickelodeon – one of the stars of “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn” – Greene has successfully transitioned into an adult role, that of Sophie Dixon on “A Million Little Things.”

On “AMLT,” Greene’s character is miles removed from the carefree quadruplet the actor portrayed for 84 episodes starting at the age of 11.

In the pilot episode, Sophie loses her father, John (Ron Livingston, “Band of Brothers”), who takes his life when faced with crushing guilt over financial concerns and the loss of a friend on 9/11. Soon after, Sophie learns her mother, Delilah (Stephanie Szostak, “Iron Man 3”), had an affair with her guitar teacher and family friend, Eddie (David Giuntoli, “Grimm”) – and, of course, John is not her baby sister’s dad.

Sophie turns her attention to MMI, the music school she hopes to attend. But at her tryout, she’s told her music lacks presence. Her auditioner, Peter (Andrew Leeds, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”), offers to train Sophie. Just as she’s starting to find her voice, he steals it from her by assaulting Sophie.

Fighting back, Sophie arranges a new tryout at MMI – and asks Maggie (Allison Miller, “13 Reasons Why”) to record a podcast where she names her attacker. The recording serves as a warning to future students, and it buoys Sophie’s spirits.

But that feeling doesn’t last long.

When Delilah goes to France to see her ailing father, Gary (James Roday, “Psych”) is tasked with watching Sophie and her younger brother, Danny (Chance Hurstfield). It was on his watch that Sophie met Peter, and Gary can’t handle that – particularly when the Boston police decline to file criminal charges. He pays a visit to Peter, who winds up in the hospital.

You do the math.

Peter agrees to “forget” Gary’s break-in, but only if Sophie pulls the podcast – which she does. In the meantime, Delilah returns … intent on moving the family to France.

Seeing her friends off at college – and realizing the most important adults in her life constantly and spectacularly disappoint her – Sophie turns to partying.

An unexpected pep talk from Eddie leads to a mending of fences. Sophie returns to her guitar, knocks a new audition out of the park, and finally finds a little happiness along the way – thanks, in part, to some newfound band friends.

Did I mention the person bringing forth all of these emotions and shouldering the weight of this character started on Nickelodeon?

Or that she’s only 18?!?

On a show chock-full of TV titans – the aforementioned, plus Grace Park (“Hawaii 5-0), Romany Malco (“Weeds”), Christina Moses (“The Originals”) and Floriana Lima (“Supergirl”) – Greene is establishing herself as a formidable on-screen talent. She not only holds her own, of late she’s stealing scenes and making good episodes great.

The actor shared her journey to this role in a recent Q&A.