After spending years accompanying his big sister to fancy-shmancy parties and award shows, Austin Swift is ready to break out on his own. The 24-year-old is beginning his foray into acting, and he has one of the best role models in the biz to help him transition to fame: big sister Taylor.

In a new interview with People, Austin reflects on the early days of Taylor’s career and her rise to superstardom, saying her level-headedness has taught him the importance of staying grounded.

“When we were kids, I saw Taylor write songs every day for years when there was no one to play them to,” he said, adding that he used to watch her “go door-to-door dropping off demo CDs at labels that never called,” and “performing at karaoke contests and in the corners of parties with the same enthusiasm she now plays to stadiums full of her fans.

“Having seen that example, how much goes in, how long it took... That’s always going to be bedrock for who I am and who I want to be,” he said.

The budding actor graduated from the University of Notre Dame last year, where he studied film, and now has a small role in the Pierce Brosnan–starring thriller I.T. As for Taylor, she couldn’t be prouder of her little bro’s big screen dreams. Last year, she posted a pic of him on Instagram and gushed, “My brother @austinkingsleyswift just acted in his first movie and I'm all proud and stuff.”

Looks like the admiration goes both ways. #SiblingGoals.