QQ. What are some of the recent projects that you've been working on?
A. Well, I just finished my first lead role in the movie Alice. That's about a young girl finding herself and coming of age and she doesn't have a mother. She actually has to grow up with just guys around her. I am working on a Disney animated show called "Phineas and Ferb," where I play the voice of Isabella. Se has this huge crush on Phineas and then there is possibly a series of dance instructional videos that I would be instructing young kids in hip hop lessons.
Q. Did you ever think that you'd become a role model not just for your acting, but for your dancing as well?
A. I think that's insane! I still don't think I'm a role model, I don't do anything to save the world. I think that's amazing, I appreciate it so much when people say that they look up to me. I'm only thirteen and I am glad that I have been able to have the chance to accomplish so many things. I still don't see myself as being a role model of any type.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit more about the premise for Alice and about your character as well?
A. Alice is I'd say more introverted then I am in real life. Since she is growing up without a mom, she only has guy influences. Her choices in style is not as girly, she doesn't wear any makeup, she's more of a plain Jane. When she moved to a new town so her dad can open a new business, she goes to this whole new school. She's scared to death because she's starting junior high, when I was starting junior high I was so scared. I was home schooled the first year but it's even scarier this year because I got to go back to regular school. There is a lot of pressure with homework and all of these different assignments. She gets the teacher that she didn't really want and she figures out in the end that you can't judge a book by its cover. They become better friends then what she expected. The movie is also based on a series of books, so it's not an original movie, it's a remake based on the book. It's the first time that they made it into a movie series but there are twenty-four books right now. They kind of change the premise so it is more family oriented. Other than that, I think it's pretty much the same as the book.
Q. What made you want to be a part of this project?
A. It was actually a regular audition and I went in and I thought I did horribly. I came out saying, "You know what Mom, it's okay, we'll wait for the next one." Then, they gave me a call back and I got to meet with the producers and the director. I guess they saw something in me, I didn't ever expect having a lead role in the first twenty years of me working in the business. That doesn't come often so it was an absolute pleasure working on Alice.
Q. Was anything challenging for you about working on the role?
A. Two very challenging aspects were that I had to imagine that I didn't have a mom. I always run to my mom after everything, she picks me up from school everyday, she gets me where I need to be and she does all of these things for me. Alice only had her dad and her brother so it was a challenge for me to put myself in that position. Also, this role is very dramatic, there is a lot of sad themes, but of course there are fun ones too, but there is a lot of dramatic parts. I had never done anything like that before so hopefully it will be good.
Q. You have done a lot of comedic roles. Is comedic timing that comes naturally to you or do you have to work at it?
A. I don't wan to sound like I'm bragging but I guess I never really studied comedy. I think I've been around a lot of hilarious people, like Bonnie Hunt, who played my mom in Cheaper By The Dozen. I think they help me with my timing but the way I deliver my lines I kind of put some of my own personality into it; which is a little bit of sarcasm. With Alice the director kept telling me, "You can't be so outgoing, you can't be so funny, Alice wouldn't be so sarcastic. She would be honest and shy."
Q. You got to work with legendary actress Penny Marshall and many other wonderful actors in the film. How was it getting to work alongside them?
A. In the movie Luke Perry, who is from "90210," plays my dad. Lucas Grabeel from High School Musical plays my brother. We have Penny Marshall, who you said, there are also other actors who appeared on ABC shows. One is even a pro tennis player! I never imagined having such a great cast. In Cheaper By The Dozen there is a lot of famous names, and in both of these movies, everyone has been so nice. Everyone becomes such a tight family that I could run to Lucas for anything now. He gave me this journal that I can write whatever I want to in. He helped me out with singing, the whole cast, everyone was so nice.
Q. You've worked on many Disney projects, what is it about working with the company that is so appealing for you?
A. I think the image that Disney has is wholesome and modest. It doesn't involve dirty subjects, I'd say that it appealed to me because I want to keep that image for as long as I can. In real life my friends and I are starting to grow up and things are starting to happen and there is peer pressure in our lives. I think working with Disney keeps this whole other world of me staying a kid and staying clean. It also influences me to make the right choices. If I do another role that might have profanity; that might get stuck in my head and my vocabulary and I don't want that to happen.
Q. You've done acting, dancing, and singing - is there anything else you'd like to try your hand at?
A. Actually, for Christmas, I want to get DJ lessons. I think that would be really fun, I always wanted to mix my own music. As you know I sing and dance, but if I could mix my own music it would be so often. I like to cook and I like to learn how to cook better, as far as I can go now is cereal.
Q. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
A. I love playing with my basketball team up in my area and we have been together for three and a half to four years now. We've become so close, this is going to be my last year. I am going to high school next year and they don't have a high school team. But, I love playing basketball, I teach dance classes with my friends. Even my friend Amara and I go out and sell lemonade sometimes. I just try to keep myself from getting too bored.
Q. Do you have a latest obsession? Are you into any particular activity, book, sport or music group?
A. Lately I've been obsessed with listening to every type of music that has ever been made. My mom is amazed that I know songs from her generation. Music inspires me to choose certain decisions and make the right choices. Basically I've always been into Hip Hop and now I'm starting to listen to acoustic like Jack Johnson. I absolutely love his music.
Q. What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
A. I know this is not advice, but just to get this out, I'm just letting everyone know I don't have a Myspace. That's the latest thing that I've been getting fan mail about. They think I have a Myspace and I don't. For the people, not so much follow your heart, but if you want to do something, you can do it. You still have so much time to be whatever you want to be. Don't let all of these people tear you down. You should use it as constructive criticism to become a better person. When people used to start a rumor about me; it would get me so depressed. I realized I should use that and trigger that into something positive; use it to work that much harder to achieve so many more things. People might think that working in this business is glamour and glitz, but it's not all about being in the business. You can do so many other things, there are so many jobs that show all of your skills. You don't have to be in the business like everyone thinks, you don't have to be famous. You can be famous for being an engineer and you can be the one that has the cure for cancer. Don't just try and be the celebrity; be your own individual. If you love something; follow it.
