Emma Roberts: in a business that loves a legacy, here's the latest Hollywood newcomer to pick up the family mantle

Interview, April, 2008 by Joel Schumacher

Seventeen-year-old Emma Roberts is establishing such a wide-ranging reputation in movies that mentions of her family (aunt Julia, father Eric) may soon become a little less prevalent. In August, Emma stars as a rebellious Malibu girl shipped off to an English boarding school in Wild Child. But the actress was as good as gold when director Joel Schumacher asked her about her burgeoning career.

JOEL SCHUMACHER: Is this the Emma Roberts?

EMMA ROBERTS: Is this the Joel Schumacher?

JS: Where do you go to school, Emma?

ER: I'm home-schooled right now. But I used to go to Archer School for Girls.

JS: So you had to wear a uniform?

ER: Yeah. I liked it, though. You just get out of bed and put on the uniform.

JS: I'm sure you're a huge role model for a lot of teens, especially with your TV show, Unfabulous.

ER: I like to think so.

JS: Do you feel pressure from that?

ER: I do a little bit. I don't want to be doing things that younger kids shouldn't be doing.

JS: That's a very interesting point. We live in this world where we see a lot of people in their teens or twenties who get overnight stardom and who seem to be on a very destructive path.

ER: Everyone makes mistakes as a teenager, whether you're in the business or not. But, unfortunately, when you are in the business, everyone sees your mistakes.

JS: Do you feel you can walk down a street anonymously?

ER: Yeah, I can. I don't really get recognized that much, which is nice.

JS: I know your father and, of course, I know your aunt. But I don't think I know your room. Is she in our business?

ER: No, she's not. She's just my mom. [laughs]

JS: Are you very close to your mother?

ER: Yeah. I'm pretty close to my family, which is nice. I don't really notice that some of my family's in the business. It's something you forget because you've grown up with it.

JS: It's good to have your own identity.

ER: Yeah, it is. And it's been hard because when I started everyone always said, "Julia Roberts's niece." Lately, I've been doing my own thing.

JS: Which actors do you like?

ER: I absolutely love Rachel McAdams. And I love Drew Barrymore.

JS: Are there people you admire for what they do in their personal lives?

ER: When you're in a business like this I think you should definitely give back and work with charities. Not just do the acting and then go away.

JS: What music do you like?

ER: I'm listening to so many random things. My friends burn me CDs, because they always make fun of my taste in music.

JS: Are you a MySpace or a Facebook person?

ER: I'm not a fan of either, actually. There are just so many people on them who pretend to be other people, and it really bothers me.

JS: Do you have time to watch television?

ER: My TiVo broke last summer. And ever since, except for Lost and Grey's Anatomy, I really haven't watched TV--as sad as that sounds.

JS: Is your TV series still shooting?

ER: No, we finished a while ago. Now I'm just working on some movies. I'm about to go to New York to do a really cool independent. It's called Lymefife. It takes place in the '80s on Long Island, when Lyme disease was going around.

JS: Don't get bitten by the Lyme ticks.

ER: I'll try my best.

Joel Schumacher's next film, Town Creek, is due out later this year.