Kimberly J. Brown Fondly Recalls Working with Late Debbie Reynolds in Halloweentown: 'Like a Real Grandma to Me' (Exclusive)

Kimberly J. Brown and Debbie Reynolds created a special bond through Halloweentown. 

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE about her partnership with STEM, the actress, 39, fondly recalled acting alongside the late star in the Disney Channel original films from 1998 to 2004. 

In the movies, Brown plays the curious teenage witch Marnie, who comes to terms with her family’s magical background, while Reynolds plays her eccentric witch grandmother, Aggie Cromwell, who helps her embrace her inner witch. 

While the magical bond between Marnie and Aggie captured many fans’ hearts, Brown notes that their relationship was very similar offscreen. 

“Our relationship, Kimberly and Debbie's relationship, ended up very much mirroring Marnie and Aggie's over the years,” Brown tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I grew up with her, and we became very good friends outside of working too. I went and saw her variety show in Vegas and Hollywood, and we would have dinner. She was very much like a real grandma to me.”

She adds that their time filming the first three films far exceeded her expectations.

“You never know when you hear you're going to work with a legend of that status, you don't know what you're walking into, but she could not have been nicer and funnier and just wanting to lift up everybody around her as much as she could,” she says of working with the Hollywood icon. 

“I was intrinsically trying to soak in as much of her wisdom as I could as a teenager, because what an honor to even get to share a scene with her,” she continues of Reynolds. “What an incredible, incredible woman. It was such a privilege to get to know her.” 

Reynolds died at the age of 84 in December 2016, just one day after her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher. 

Reynolds built an illustrious career in Hollywood, ranging from Singin' in the Rain to How the West Was Won, though her role as Aggie continues to hold a special place in millennials’ hearts. 

When asked about why the movie still resonates with audiences today, Brown tells PEOPLE that the family aspect gives it that special magical touch. 

“Beyond the supernatural magical themes in Halloweentown, at the core, it's a family with teenagers and children trying to find their way,” Brown says. “Marnie is the 13-year-old trying to figure out who she was in life, and I think that's relatable to all of us.”

She adds that she and her costars grew really close during filming, which further added to that family bond onscreen.

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“The cast and I, we genuinely all got along and had such a great time working together, and I feel like that comes across,” Brown continues. “I am constantly blown away that after all of these years, people still watch the movies and love them.” 

She goes on to credit the success of the franchise with the fans’ initial support for the first film.

“We were just supposed to do one movie, and that was it,” she says. “And the fans loved on it so much over the years that we got to do sequels. It's incredible that I do a lot of appearances and conventions over the years, and I meet generations of families, the grandma, the mom, and the kids, and it's so touching. I'm so honored to be a part of people's traditions, and it's super special, and they bring me as much joy as hopefully the movies still do for them.”