Brittany Curran Interview

Maeve Kaplan-Taylor: You went from small-town Massachusetts girl to the big time in Los Angeles. In what ways do you think you’ve changed? How have you stayed the same?

Brittany Curran: Well, my blood has certainly thinned out since moving to a warmer climate! Now, when I visit Boston during the winter, I shiver like a little Chihuahua dog.

As far as change goes, I think I’ve matured like other teen girls. I was lucky because in Los Angeles, we moved into a nice neighborhood, enrolled in a public school, joined a church, and I got involved in a youth group and hung out with friends a lot. My parents made sure we were like any normal family. The biggest immediate change was that I started going out to auditions for commercials, television, and movies.

As far as some of the big changes, I take a lot more limousines, fly first class, and wear designer clothes and accessories to red carpet events! I have to admit, I like it. Also, my focus and confidence have increased a lot because I’m constantly on sets surrounded by lights, cameras, props, and lots of people. And, because I have to learn lines for scenes, my memory is really fast now. Usually, when I learn my lines in a scene, I memorize everyone else’s, too!

Another positive change is that I get to participate in a lot of charity events. Most recently, I got to participate in Max of a Million Dreams. It’s a new foundation that raises money for research and programs to help children with cancer. If you or your family are looking for a great cause to contribute to, go to maxofamilliondreams.org—that would be really cool. It’s my adopted charity.

MKT: Did anyone ever tell you that you’d never make it? How did you overcome that kind of discouragement?

BC: Before I moved to LA, some kids thought it would be impossible for me to make it. It’s funny because a couple months ago, my father was surfing the web and came across a posting on some site that said something like: “We didn’t think Brittany was gonna make it, but we were wrong!”

I got over the kids saying I wouldn’t succeed by just not believing them. I believed in me! One of my strengths is that when I want to achieve something, I do everything I can to prepare, and then I’m persistent and adapt when I have to. I’m also fortunate that I have a dad who has always told me I can achieve whatever I want in life. He tells me to surround myself with people who are positive and can help me achieve my goals and to stay away from people who are negative and get in the way of my dreams and goals. As long as you believe in yourself and go after what you want, it doesn’t matter what anyone else says.

MKT: I know that to be an actress, you need a ton of support. Who believes in you the most?

BC: Ultimately, I believe in myself the most, and I am extremely self-motivated. Besides myself, my dad believes in me more than anyone else on the planet! He’s like a ball of support, honesty, and love. He completely believes in me and cares enough to tell me the truth if my work is great, but also tells me if something is bad.

I remember auditioning for a prime-time ABC sitcom several years ago. I went to a professional Hollywood acting coach to help me prepare. At the end of the session, the coach invited my dad in to watch us perform the scenes. The second my dad and I walked out the door, he looked at me and said, “Brittany, that was horrible. Go on your own instincts, and do the character the way you want to.”

I agreed with him. I went to the audition and got a callback to audition in front of the show’s producers that night. Soon after, I got a call from my manager telling me I booked the job! Thank you, Dad, for being honest and telling me to trust my own instincts. But like any “good” teen girl, I don’t always agree with my dad!

MKT: It must be hard to attend regular school when you’re shooting a movie. What do you do for school?

BC: I have three situations going. I started taking college classes when I was 14. When I was 15, I took my high school proficiency exam (equivalent to a high school diploma). After getting my high school proficiency, I stayed in an independent study program and went to college. This year, I went back to John Burroughs High School, so I can graduate with my friends. I also joined the Native American Club! However, I did have to take two months off to shoot Legally Blondes.

MKT: Do you think people treat you differently because you’re an actress?

BC: Well, I do everything I can to just blend in. Sometimes, people will approach me and ask about movies or shows I’m in. They’re always very respectful. Usually, I’ll answer the questions and then quickly ask questions about their interests.

Recently, I went to an elementary school in Burbank, California, to read to kids at the grand opening of their newly-renovated library. Once the elementary kids saw me and I was introduced to read them a story, they swarmed all over me like a bunch of bees! They were quoting my lines and asking tons of questions. The librarian, principal, and superintendent had no power over the kids. It was funny!

MKT: Okay, on to the glam stuff! What’s it like to get hair and make-up done by pros?

BC: I’m so used to it now that it doesn’t really seem glamorous anymore! It is a luxury, but it’s also a lot of fun! While I’m in hair and make-up, I start transforming into my character, my look, and attitude. I walk into the hair/make-up trailer as Brittany and emerge as a whole new person!

The last movie I did was Legally Blondes. Toward the end of the shoot, my make-up person, Karen Rentroop, told me that she could always tell when I got into character because at a certain point every morning when she was applying make-up, I would look in the mirror, raise my left eyebrow, and give a devilish look. I didn’t even notice that until she told me! Karen is an amazing make-up artist, and we actually became friends.

MKT: Oooh! Tell us some glam-fab tricks of the trade!

BC: First, of course, we all know that lots of fruits, vegetables, and water contribute to skin health and keep it glowing. But, here’s the trick I learned from my dermatologist and a couple make-up artists: every night I wash my face with olive oil. It has to be extra-virgin cold pressed. I rub the oil into my face and neck, then wipe it off with a hot wash cloth. It really cleans out the pores. It’s particularly important to do after I’ve been on the set all day with heavy-duty movie make-up on my face.

Another little trick to treat your face well! Use mineral based make-up when you can (I used La Bella Donna). It doesn’t clog up the pores like the cheap, thick stuff. Girls, whatever you use, don’t leave it on too long, clean it off as early as you can, and DON’T sleep with make-up on.

MKT: What is the typical day like on the set of a movie or T.V. show?

BC: It’s awesome, busy, intense, fun, and I love it. I love early call-times because the catering companies make fantastic breakfasts. When I get to the set in the morning, I‘m usually rushed right off to hair and make-up. The actors trickle in and we give each other good morning hugs.

Sometimes on sets, I get the boys to give me piggyback rides! On a typical day, we’ll shoot more than one scene and have to do several wardrobe and hair and make-up changes. And let me tell you, these folks are fast. I’m stripped down and dressed in nanoseconds. But before any changes are made, there’s always someone on set with a Polaroid camera taking pictures of every square inch of me from every angle. They have to make sure that when we finish shooting a scene, or re-shoot part of a scene for whatever reason, I have I look exactly the same.

A typical day should also include a good relationship and communication between the actor and director. The director of Legally Blondes, Savage Steve Holland, and I bonded and had a great working relationship. He really trusted me and let me explore and create my comedic character, Tiffany. He would always come up to me suggesting great ideas and hilarious lines. He’d even let me create my own lines sometimes. Our relationship allowed for the creation of a great character.

MKT: I’m SO excited about your movie, Legally Blondes. Tell us a behind-the-scenes secret!

BC: Here’s a little secret story for you. When you’re watching Legally Blondes remember this: During one of the scenes, my character is getting out of a Hummer limo in front of her house. You see me emerge from the limo; what you don’t see is the unplanned chaos in the limo! Right before the limo door was supposed open, I fell backwards spread-eagle on the floor. I couldn’t get up! My costars, Rebecca and Camilla Rosso (they play Becky & Millie) were rushing to pull me upright! All of a sudden we heard the director yell “ACTION.” We started giggling frantically! Well, they got me up in the nick of time, I regained my composure, and we continued the scene without missing a stride. Becky and Millie were so fun to work with.

In a film called Diamond Dog Caper, there is a scene where I’m at the front door speaking with the three thieves (played by French Stewart, Kevin Farley, and Kelly Perine), and it was hilarious to film. When the camera was on me, I maintained my composure, but when the camera was on the thieves, they were so hysterical that I had to close my eyes and say my lines without looking at them. Otherwise I would have started laughing hysterically and ruin their close-ups!

MKT: Haha! I can’t wait to see it! Have you ever have an embarrassing moment on set?

BC: Oh my goodness! Yes! It was during the cockroach scene in The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It. After my character won Pumpkin Queen, I had a major embarrassing scene. With cameras rolling, 600 live cockroaches poured out of the piñata onto me, which was supposed to happen. Unfortunately, the tape that the wardrobe people used to keep my corset sealed against my skin came loose. Four mega cockroaches crawled into my corset, and I could feel them crawling and scratching my skin!

I maintained my composure during the shoot, but the second the director, Alex Zamm, yelled “CUT!” I freaked out and started to rip my corset off. I was on stage in front of the crew and a lot of extras. I turned around and with my back to the crowd finished ripping off the corset. I don’t know if they kept the cameras rolling, but there’s probably some interesting footage in the archives at Universal Studios!

MKT: You’ve worked with some of the most popular kid actors on TV. Any insider info you want to share on what they’re like in real life?

BC: One day on the set of The Suite Life, I found out that the role of my boyfriend was being cast and about ten cute boys were waiting on the soundstage. I was so excited! I found Brenda Song, who plays London, and told her—she got excited, too! We snuck into the soundstage, slithered around the set so we could sneak a peek at the boys. Then, a producer entered the soundstage and lined up the boys. He saw Brenda and I peeking and called us over to watch and give our opinions. During the casting, Brenda and I would whisper about the qualities of the different boys and giggle. It was so girly of us, but fun!

Jason Dolley of Cory in the House and I have been friends for about five years. He’s really cool and very smart, unlike his character Newt. One day, when we had a break during an ABC show we were on, we decided to go on an adventure. We found a gate between the Universal backlot and the theme park. We “snuck” into the park and went on a few rides. It was so fun! The last ride we went on was The Mummy Returns. Jason rented a locker to store our ponchos in; he bought them for us for one of the wet rides we went on. After The Mummy Returns ride, we realized we had to get back to the set to shoot our next scene. After bolting back to the set, Jason reached in his pocket (panicked face) and realized he still had the locker key. Jason took off back into the park, retrieved our ponchos, returned the key, and got back in time to shoot the next scene. Jason is a great kid and a lot of fun to be with. He is so kind to other people.

MKT: Sigh, I heart Jason’s hair. On The Suite Life, you play kind of a ditz, but what are YOU like in real life?

BC: My character, Chelsea, is very much unlike me except that we are both very confident. Not that I don’t have Chelsea moments, but I’d like to think I’m a tad bit brighter than her. Chelsea’s not the sharpest tool in the shed! She’s rich and very bright about fashion and accessories. She’s also extremely savvy about the boys she likes; just don’t ask her what “savvy” means!

Unlike Chelsea, I love to read and write poetry. We’re both really happy. Hey, if our goal in life is to be happy, Chelsea’s there. Chelsea and I both love music; the difference is that I like to listen closely to the lyric and seek out the meaning.

In real life, I love classic films and music from the 1960s and 1970s. I enjoy running, watching The Office with my family, and I LOVE being with people of any age!

MKT: When you’re not working, what do you like to do with your friends?

BC: We like to do normal things that most girls like to do. I like to catch a flick and go out to dinner with my girlfriends. My friend Justine and I just saw Atonement, and we like to go out for lunch together. My friend Amy Teegarten (from Friday Night Lights) and I just went to a party to watch the premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie Minuteman. My friend Luke is in it; we just did a feature film together in Washington called Diamond Dog Caper.

Amy and I are also on the Looking Ahead Leadership Council at the Screen Actors Guild. We love going to events (laser tag, crafts, charitable events, etc,) and meetings together. My other good friend, Christa Allen (from 13 Going On 30), and I have gone camping, do sleepovers, and like going to the Universal Studio Theme Park!! Next week my friend Janice Lynde (from Six Feet Under) and I are going to have a girls’ night—we’ll watch movies and then have a sleepover! I can’t wait! I LOVE MY FRIENDS!

MKT: Me too! What’s it like to be called an up-and-coming star?

BC: Honestly, hearing you ask that makes me very excited! It’s kinda cool to realize that some of my friends and I are the next generation of Hollywood actors! Really, most of the time, we don’t think about it and never talk about it when we’re hanging out. The whole acting process is kinda like sports teams where kids work hard to make it from JV to varsity and then hope one day to make it to the pros. We work really hard getting ready for auditions and preparing for shoots. It involves a lot more than memorizing lines. I spend a lot of time exercising every day and pay close attention to my diet.

It is quite flattering to think that my job brings joy to a lot of people. I’m also very excited imagining all the places I’ll be able to travel to and the different people I’ll be able to play! I love learning new things and visiting different cultures!

I know that some day I’ll be starring in a film with a friend and we’ll look back and saying, “Hey, remember when we were 16 in that show together, when we were all so new, or the feeling of booking the first job!” Going from up-and-coming to full-blown movie star is sooooo exciting. I’m enjoying every step of the way!

MKT: What is it about you that you think sets you apart from other girls dying to be where you are?

BC: Willpower, determination, work ethic, persistence, confidence, and a free spirit. When I go to auditions, I don’t think about what they're looking for, but what I can bring to the character. And I don’t try to be like other actors, but I do study all the classics and the great actors.

MKT: Tell us about The Adventures of Food Boy and other upcoming projects. When do they premiere? Who do you play?

BC: The Adventures of Food Boy is about a boy, Ezra (Lucas Grabeel from High School Musical), who discovers that he can make all kinds of food appear in his hands. I play Shelby, his best friend and love interest. In one of the scenes, we have a HUGE food fight! It was insane! My little brother Ryan was an extra in that movie (look out for him, he has the orange/auburn hair) and during one take, he walked across the cafeteria and poured a bowl of spaghetti right on my head. Within three days, I had five showers just to get the smell out of my hair!

I just went to the premiere of my feature film Diamond Dog Caper at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. It should be hitting theaters sometime around the end of 2008, possibly in the summer. It is a hilarious film! Luke Benward (from How to Eat Fried Worms and Minutemen), French Stewart (from 3rd Rock From the Sun and Home Alone 4), Kelly Perine, and Kevin and John Farley all star in it and are hysterical.

I also have a horror film called The Uninvited, which is supposed to be out some time at the end of 2008, beginning of 2009. I play Helena, a tormented young girl.

Coming out in 2009 is Legally Blondes. I play the role of Tiffany, the lead antagonist. Tiffany rules a prep school called Pacific Preparatory, and many of the buildings are named after her family because of the money they contribute. One of the most exciting things for me during the shoot was when I found out Reese Witherspoon approved my audition tape!! I love Reese and based my entire 6th grade wardrobe on whether I thought Elle Woods (Reese’s character) would have worn it. This role is a dream come true for me! I have chills running up my spine right now thinking about it. And this is why you should go for your dreams and don’t let anyone stop you.

MKT: Where do you see yourself in five years career-wise?

BC: Well, I hope to win my first Oscar within that time or be much closer to it! I had the chance to touch an Oscar won by Bobby Moresco for Crash. I took acting classes from Bobby, but refused to touch the Oscar; the first one I touch will be mine, mine, mine!

What I want to do most is to do great films and play complex, interesting, deep characters. I would really like to do a film where two characters go on some type of a soul searching journey.

MKT: Think back to junior high... what do you know now that you wish you knew then?

BC: Junior high girls can be “catty” sometimes. If you can rise above the immature, irrational emotions, then you’ll be way ahead of the game, not to mention a lot happier. You’ll find antagonists throughout life—middle school is only the beginning. You just have to realize there are unhappy people in the world who will try to project their issues onto you. Rise above it and find your own inner peace.

MKT: That is FAB advice, Brittany. Thanks for all the insider secrets!

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Up close and personal with Brittany!

Full name: Brittany Elizabeth Curran

Birthday: June 2, 1990

Color: Pink

Sport: Lacrosse

Animal: Bunny (I have a bunny named Petite Amie, which means “little friend" in French.)

Store: Urban Outfitters, Hard Rock Cafe restaurant & store, Guitar Center

Song: House of the Rising Sun by the Animals and 16 Candles by my dad, Marty.

Movie: Thelma & Louise, Rebel Without a Cause, Legally Blonde

Candy: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

Band: Led Zeppelin

When I grow up I want to be an: actress

My idol is: Meryl StreepMy favorite subject in school is: English

Best quality about me: My ambition and empathy for others.

Worst quality about me: I can be quite disorganized!

I want to accomplish: Winning eight Oscars throughout my life and contribute to finding a cure for certain children’s cancers.

My cause: maxofamilliondreams.org

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