Chat

Monday 18th of June 2007
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What's a typical day like for you?
Well, a typical day for me when I'm filming would be, I wake up and you know go to the set... Probably around .. early morning call times, around 7am. Do the whole hair and makeup thing.One scene for me usually takes about two hours. Then I'll do about five hours of school, go and run whatever errands I have to do and then go to sleep and do it all over again!
Do you have any pets?
I do, I love animals. I have two dogs. Oscar and Maxie. Maxie is my little girl, she was just a little baby when I got her. They are Yorkies. They are the cutest and most adorable friends that you could imagine.
What is your Lifetime TV movie about?
It is about your kind of normal 17 year old girl who finds out that she might be HIV positive, which is scary news to get. It is an awareness movie. Getting the message out there about how you can get this virus, and how to protect yourself from it. It is shocking how little people know about it, so make sure you tune in and watch.
When did you find time to shoot Girl, Positive?
Well, I filmed it towards the end of our third season of Desperate Housewives. I did it the entire month of March and the show was very accomodating with letting me have the time to do that. It was difficult having to film both things at once. I filmed in New Orleans and I had to fly back and forth. It was complicated but very well worth it!!
Out of all the projects you've done, which was the most fun doing?
Oh no, that's such a hard question! I've been doing the business for about 13 years now so it is hard to pick. Desperate Housewives is definitely up there on the list. It is the first show I've done where it was more than one season so that's great.I grew up doing Broadway, the first show I did was "Les Mis". So It is really hard to pick. I get to do so many amazing and fun things... but both of those are definitely high up there.
If you could be any other character on Desperate who would you want to be and why?
I would play Bree because she is just so anal attentive about everything. She is complex but she has these funny moments, breakdowns... I think she would be a fun character to play.. But there are so many good characters on my show, I would have a tough time picking which one!
Besides, Girl, Positive, do you have any upcoming projects?
There really isn't too much time to get anything else in. The next season .. we start filming that on July 2. It won't start airing until the fall. But with being on the series, it is hard to fit anything else in there. I was lucky to do the movie, but I'm focusing on the show right now.
What was it like working with Jennie Garth?
It was so much fun! She was just an absolute pleasure to work with. She is very lovely, very professional. She just made it so easy. We got along really well during it. I just loved every second of it. She is a lovely person and mother. I got to meet two of her three children. She was just lovely.
Is there anything you can tell us about the upcoming Desperate Housewives season?
Well, I know a few things. I know there is supposedly conflict between Mike and Julie. Julie has always been the kind of 'other person' in that household. She has been the parent the whole time. So if Mike moves in and tries to be the father to her, that might create a little conflict. Also, it has been hinted that I might have another love interest -- so that should be fun!!
Would you ever consider recording an album?
You know I've been approached about it a few times. I've always been a singer, my whole life as long as I've been acting. Right now I'm so busy I just haven't had the time to even consider putting that idea into practice. It might be something fun to do, I know a lot of people who have gone down that route. I don't know if now is the time to do it but I have a whole life ahead of me so thatmight come up !!!
Who are some of your famous friends?
You know, I don't know! I know a lot of people in the business. When you are growing up in this business, chances are you've auditioned with a lot of people. There are a bunch of them! That is a f unny question, I don't know how to respond to that :)
Do people recognise you on the street? how does that feel?
Oh yeah. That is something that happens pretty much on a daily basis. It surprised me, I didn't think that would happen. I don't think of myself as a recognizable person. That was a weird thing at first. But I find it very flattering, I like it when people come up to me and tell me they enjoy my work.I mean, we do it for entertainment. I mean, I've had a few weird encounters but generally I find it very nice and flattering!
How long does an episode of Desperate Housewives take to film?
We film on an 8-day schedule. So, it is different between hour long dramas and half hour comedies. One episode for us takes eight days.
What message do you hope teen girls get from Girl, Positive?
I really hope that they just absorb some of the knowledge from the movie. The film does a good job with getting the message out there without preaching it to people. Just to know simple things - how can you get it? How can you protect yourself from it? I just want the basic idea on how to protect yourself to come across how old are u
Haha. 17
Do you prefer shooting a TV series or a movie?
I don't know... I mean, that is a hard decision to make. They are similar but they are also very different. I just will consider myself lucky if I get to do either at all. I love being on my show, when you film on a series, you'll work with those people a lot longer than you do with a movie. So you definitely might bond a little bit more, if you're on a series with someone.But, I loved the whole experience of doing my movie and filming it. It is a hard call, I don't think I can pick. I'm lucky that I can do both.
asks Could you describe one of the weird fan encounters you've experienced?
Lets see, I"m trying to think of the recent ones. Not too long ago I was at a restaurant with two of my friends. It was a small little place.This guy started freaking out going "oh my god oh my god you're on Desperate Housewives" and he was really really loud and excited about it. His friend hits him on the arm and he's like "don't talk to her like that, she's normal". They were both really sweet but then he turned around to me and he was like "wow the camera really does add ten pounds! You look so much better in real life."You don't know how to respond to that.... A lot of people don't differentiate between my character and me. People will come up to you and be like "why doesn't your mom want you to date that boy?" and I'm like "huh? My mom likes that boy.. wait... which mom are you asking about?" But I haven't had anything too scary yet so that is good.
how old were you when you start on desperate housewives?
I filmed the pilot when I was 13 and started the actual first season when I turned 14.
is James Denton as cute as he seems?
Aww yes, he is. I love him, he is such a great person and such a great guy. He and I get along really well. I don't think people would necessarily pick us as being really close. But he and I get along really well. Everyone who meets him is like "oh you're so much cuter in person and your personality is great!". He is just as wonderful and adorable as he seems.
Have you done any modeling?
I haven't! I mean, I think when I was really little I did a modeling thing for a little toy duck or something. But no I haven't really. I've kind of gone the other route, and I'm very content with that. I'm not good at holding a pose for a very long time...
If you could be in another movie that gives awareness to any cause, what would it be and why?
Hmm. You know, I don't know? It is kind of hard to just select one. Probably something else that would resonate with teenagers. Because I am 17, I like to pick things that really can affect people in my own age range and I can relate to. Probably something that would be along those lines. As far as actually picking something, I don't know. I've been approached with scripts about lots of different causes and I've been interested in most of them. It is a hard thing to choose!
Have you graduated yet?
Nope I'm still a junior in high school. Trying to get all my schooling in along with filming. It can be difficult, but I'm still working on the high school thing!
Which actor/actress would you like to work with in the future?
Hmm, the first one that comes to mind is Meryl Streep. She is remarkable in everything that she does. I really have so much respect for her, I would love to work with her... but I don't know if I could form a sentence around her! I'd be so nervous.Oh and Johnny Depp, I don't know what 17 year old girl wouldn't.. Jodie Foster, I am impressed with how she made the transition from child to adult actress. But I feel very lucky to work with the people on my show every day.
Who do you hang around with on the DH set?
There are a few people. Teri and I because we work so closely with each other. We get along just great, I love being with her and hanging out with her. She is up there on that list... Also, Joy who plays Bree's daugther. We hang out all the time whether it is on or off set, I see her pretty much every week. We are good friends but it is funny because our characters hate each other
What kind of hobbies do you like to do?
You know pretty much just the normal teenager stuff. Hang out with my friends, go to the beach, reading, I love horse back riding, spending time with my family. Low key things.. I'm not one for living a huge high profile life. I like to keep things very simple and private and low key and fun.
What's the best advice you've ever bee given?
You know it sounds very cliche to say this but definitely the whole thing about never giving up. It applies in all aspects of life, but it can resonate with someone like me in the entertainment business. You are constantly dealing with so much rejection and being judged all the time, on superficial things -- the way you look, dress, your hair color, etc. It can get really hard. Keep in the back of your head why you're doing what you're doing. Having a positive outlook really really helps!
what movies do you really want to see this summer?
Probably my number one is Harry Potter!!! I'm the biggest Harry Potter fan/dork ever! I absolutely love Harry Potter so I'm really excited for the new movie coming out.
Hey andrea what was your first tv show you´ve appeared on?
I think it might have been "All My Children". I did that when I was maybe seven. I played one of the character's daughter's best friends. The first series I ever did was a series for ABC called "That was Then".
Who is your inspiration?
Probably my family inspires me most. I have a very large family, I'm the youngest of six kids. My parents have always been very supportive of everything I've done. All of my siblings are in the entertainment field in some way. The fact that we all relate, that we all love what we're doing, it is great to have that constant support and friendship. You can talk about it and everyone gets what you mean. I am constantly reminded about why I'm so passionate about it!
Was it awkward to film making out scenes with Josh Henderson, being that he's a lot older?
Haha. No it actually surprisingly wasn't that awkward. He was really great to work with and we got along really well. We had a lot of fun. It was more awkward for the crew who were watching it. They've seen me grow up on the show and to watch me doing that was weird for them. But he and I treated it like any other scene. We joked about it which lightened the mood.It can be awkward but he was great to work with. All of my friends were very very jealous.
What's your favorite kind of music?
My favorite kind of music.. I have such a huge interest in music and such a weird mix of things. My favorite -- one of my favorite artists of all time is Stevie Wonder. I am a huge Stevie Wonder fan. He is amazing, very very talented. I love pretty much every song of his, I know every single one. Also, the Beatles, James Taylor, I grew up doing a lot of theatre, broadway. When you get my iPod it is kind of a strange combination of rap, musical theater, pop, old music, but I appreciate it all the same.
What is your favorite book/series? (I love Gossip Girl!)
Harry Potter is definitely up there. Also, "Of Mice and Men". Like I said I really love to read. I like getting new books all the time. I'm reading right now "Welcome to the Monkey House". It is a fun book, a mixture of short stories. I just kind of like to have something in my purse with me that I can pull out and read any time.
How has your life changed since your role on Desperate Housewives?
Oh it has changed immensely. My everyday life is definitely different. You kind of get recognized everywhere you go. Also it has opened up a lot of doors for me professionally. Whenever you get the chance to be out there a little more, people take notice and that is really nice. I've got to work with a lot of charities and organizations which I didn't have the chance to do before DH. I absolutely love getting the chance to do that. It has changed my life a lot but I've loved every single second of it !!
Hey Andrea! I'm a big fan of yours and love Desperate Housewives. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
You know, probably doing the same thing hopefully if I'm lucky enough. I would really like to be doing either TV, Broadway, Movies or more animation! For me all of those different aspects fall under the category of the entertainment industry. I love each of them equally. In the best circumstance, in ten years I'll be able to do all of those things and continue doing what I love.Lets hope that happens!
Okay, that was the final question!
Thank you so much for all of the questions. I hope my answers did your questions justice!