Alix Kermes and her mom, Johnna, already had boarding passes and were ready to get on the plane to return to Minnesota on March 1 when they got a call urging them to stay two more days and have Alix audition for a part on “The Gilmore Girls.”

“We almost didn’t stay,” Johnna Kermes, of Hayward, recalled. “They had to talk us into it.”

After all, they’d been to California 16 times in the last two years for auditions for roles on TV series pilots.

But they did stay, and as luck would have it, the 16th time would be a charm. Alix, 9, won a guest role on “The Gilmore Girls.” The episode, “Here Comes the Son,” airs this Tuesday at 7 p.m. on The WB, cable channel 18 in Albert Lea. Alix said her character is a bookworm, and believes she was cast because she wears glasses.

“There were only two of us with glasses,” she said.

They went back to California March 30, filmed the episode on April 3, and returned home April 4. When they were there, Alix attended school on the set, which is required by law.

Alix said she’s always known she’s wanted to be an actress.

“I love being in front of the camera,” she said.

Added Johnna, “Her dad (Tony) and I always knew she could do it. We just didn’t know when it would happen.”

Johnna Kermes said she’d only watched “The Gilmore Girls” once before Alix auditioned, but has been watching it regularly every week since to see how things will lead up to this show.

“It’s a fun show and won the Family Friendly Forum Award and the Viewers for Quality Television Award,” Johnna said. “It like that about it.”

The “Here Comes the Son” episode is actually a pilot for a new series, focusing on Jess Mariano, the character originated by Milo Ventimiglia. If the series is picked up for fall, Alix has a contract for a regular role. Her one-year contract with The WB is renewable through 2010.

The new series, which does not have a title, will be similar in style to “The Gilmore Girls,” but instead of an extremely close mother/daughter duo, the focus will be on a father and son who barely know each other. Lorelai and Rory Gilmore know each other’s every quirk and finish each other’s sentences, but Jess and his father are virtual strangers.

The spin-off includes Rob Estes, who will play Jess’s estranged father, and Sherilynn Fenn, who plays the father’s girlfriend. Alix is Sherilynn Fenn’s daughter “Lily” on the show.

Alix said it’s a lot of fun playing Lily. “She barely ever listens to conversations and she hides in strange places. Almost everywhere she goes, she’s reading a book,” she said of her character.

“She’s more introverted than Alix,” her mother said.

They’re also not alike in wardrobe.”She wears these really wacky clothes,” Alix said of Lily. “I would never wear anything like this to school.”

Alix said her friends at St. Theodore Catholic School are happy for her. “But I don’t think the fourth-grade boys believe it,” she added.

Alix has been acting and modeling since the age of 2, working through Minneapolis talent agencies.

She gained film experience shooting short films and independent films such as “I Am Smiling Because It’s Beautiful Outside,” “Low Grade Genius” and “Monster Under My Bed.” Alix has done commercial, industrials, product covers and print work for companies including General Mills/Pillsbury, the American Cancer Society, Andersen Windows, Campbell’s Soup, Target.com, Paper Magic and more. Her first experience on stage was in the Matchbox Theatre production of “The Snow Queen” in February in Austin.

Alix got a California agent two years ago.

When she’s not working or in school, Alix enjoys dancing in Just for Kix and Dance Extra, traveling, swimming, riding bike, trampoline, ice skating and being with family and friends. She has a younger sister and a younger brother.

The family doesn’t know where this role will lead or what will happen, but they plan to remain flexible.

“No matter what happens, she’ll still have to make her bed the next day,” Johnna said.

“There are no divas in the Kermes household.”