A walk down mandy lane - Hangin' With - Interview

Girls' Life, Feb-March, 2002 by Alicia Clott

After hitting the music scene only two years ago, Mandy Moore, 17, has a heck of a lot under her belt--three albums, her own MTV show and a part in The Princess Diaries. Her new film A Walk to Remember opens in theaters on Jan. 25--and it's her first starring role. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Mandy plays Jamie, the overprotected daughter of a Southern Baptist minister. She may not be the coolest girl in school, but when she and the reckless class hottie are thrown together for a school play, romance blossoms. In the midst of her busy schedule, Mandy dishes on A Walk to Remember and her most memorable Valentine.

How do you find time to record albums, make movies and do appearances? Are you totally stressed? I don't know. There are lots of really good people around me who keep in mind that I'm human. I know it sounds cheesy, but my parents are on the road with me. It's not normal for someone my age to be surrounded by her parents, but it's nice to have them take care of me at the end of the day.

Why did you decide to be part of A Walk to Remember? I'm a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks [author of the book on which the movie is based]. I read the script and said, "I have to be a part of this." The book is from the '50s, but the movie takes place in 1996 so it's easier to relate to. It's a very positive movie, and I'm very proud of it. I'm really excited for people to see it.

Your character Jamie is a total outcast in school. She's very conservative and religious. Was it hard playing someone so serious and unlike yourself? The fun of acting is playing someone so different from you. I take something away from every character I choose. Jamie is such a positive person because, at 17, she is so comfortable in her skin. I'm 17, and I'm not 100-percent comfortable in my body, with myself and with what I want to do for the rest of my life. Jamie's an outcast and not up to other people's standards of being cool. But she's still confident, and I really admire her. Playing her was such an experience.

So, Jamie's father is really strict. Are your own parents strict about your dating? Fathers will always be strict. I'll always be Daddy's little girl. My parents understand I'm 17, and they've raised me well. I know how to find a good guy.

A Walk to Remember is not a teeny-hop flick at all, is it? Seems there's a lot more to it. What should people take from this movie? To reassess their lives and how they are leading them. We have a gift to be living on this Earth and with the families we are raised with. Live each day positively. Look around. How are you treating others? At school, maybe you can change your habits and befriend someone you wouldn't necessarily be friends with.

Will we hear any of your music in the movie? My single "Cry" is on the movie's soundtrack. And there's a cover of the New Radical's 'Someday We'll Know." And I do a duet called "Only Hope" with John Foreman from the Christian rock group Switchfoot. I'm most excited about that song.

You became famous as a singer, but now you're becoming known as an actress. If you had to choose between acting and singing, what would it be? Definitely singing! But a healthy dose of both is really nice. Not to sound cheesy again, but actors have really easy schedules. Musicians constantly travel around. Doing movies, you know your schedule in advance every day. As a recording artist, my schedule can change every five minutes. Actors have it easy.

What was it like filming your first role as the lead character? We shot in Wilmington, N.C., which was wonderful. It was the most amazing experience in my life to date. It's like that one vacation or summer camp where you make all these friends and have an awesome time. The cast and crew still hang out.

What's your next movie? In a perfect world, I want to do another film next year. I'm looking at some scripts right now.

Will you have time to tour? I think a small theater tour is in the cards, hopefully this spring.

What else are you doing? I just filmed a special called Broadway's Best From Bravo [on Bravo in March] in New York. I am the biggest musical theater nut. I started out doing that. It's a bunch of Broadway stars and recording artists performing their favorite Broadway songs with a band. I sing "Adelaide's Lament" from Guys and Dolls and "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors. It was so cool.

You're only 17, and look what you've accomplished. What haven't you done that you still want to do? I would love to go on a huge worldwide tour one day. It doesn't have to be some enormously huge and well-produced show. I just could travel to all these neat places and tour on top of all that.

Tell me something no one else knows about you. I just got a new puppy, Winston. He's a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier. He's three pounds. Can you believe there are dogs that small?

Do you have any other animals? I have another Yorkie, named Oliver, and three cats--Milo, Chloe and Zoe.

What's your favorite romantic movie? Wow, that's hard... When Harry Met Sally.