Actress Amanda Crew sat down with us talk about her new movie, Charlie St. Cloud, starring Zac Efron. She dishes on everything from kissing Zac Efron to how her character, Tess, is a great role model for girls.
The first thing you notice about Amanda Crew (The Haunting in Connecticut, She’s the Man) is that she is very tall, pretty and, as one of my fellow mommy bloggers pointed out, she is the perfect mix of Molly Ringwald and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Wearing a black and white belted Bill Blass dress, Crew was charming and poised and she chatted about her latest movie.
You found out you got the part for Charlie St. Cloud on your birthday?
Amanda Crew: It was on my birthday I found out I would be doing the chemistry test with him [Zac Efron] so it was kind of like going to the next step.
What is the chemistry test?
Basically we make out for hours! (laughs) The chemistry read is to read with whoever has been casted (in this case, Zac) to see if there is something there. And once you do that, next is the screen test for the studio. I was like, “Oh my god, I am going to be reading with Zac Efron! Oh no!’ To be considered for this role was such an honor and it is always nice to read with another actor – with the person who has the part.
What was it like to kiss Zac?
All the mommies want to know!! I wasn’t kissing Zac Efron, I was kissing Charlie St. Cloud, guys! (laughs) He is a diva so I never got to kiss him. I had a stand -in and they CGI’ed his face in so I never go to kiss him. No, kidding. He is such a down to earth, genuine nice guy. Not guarded and amazing person to work with. Those scenes weren’t difficult. Love my job! (laughs) but it is technical too. Lights everywhere. You turn your head this way; I turn my head this way. So not romantic.
How much sailing experience do you have? You were awesome! You look like you knew what you were doing!
Thank god! I really didnt! We did a lot of sailing training and had personal trainers for weight lifting so we could fully embody those characters. I’m not athletic and I’m a huge klutz so I was falling down a lot and I had a lot of bruises all over my body. I always had to have an extra 20 minutes in makeup to cover them!
How are you similar to your character Tess?
What I loved about the character is that so often for my age range — they are always the pretty girl next door love interest. She had so many layers. Such a great role model for girls. She is strong, a woman, and is independent. She knows what she wants for life and is unapologetic for it and is not going to let anyone stand in her way. She is going to sail around the world by herself which is so ambitious and brave. I think she is a role model for girls.
I loved she knew what she was going to have to do, but love was going to have to wait.
You can plan your whole life to do something, but different stuff comes in and shifts you off course and you have to re-evaluate. She didn’t expect love to come into the equation. She couldn’t deny the connection with the person. When you feel a connection with a person it is amazing and scary. She didn’t run away from it.
How did you get into acting?
My mom saw I had a passion for acting, but wouldn’t let me get an agent until I was 15 or 16. You have to be stable mentally in this job. I think for anyone, just make sure this is what you want to do. If you are passionate don’t let anything stand in your way. Take classes — but know it is not an easy!
Will we see you in tabloids?
Definitely not! I like having fun, but not that kind of fun!
You grew up in Canada. Do like living in LA?
Take me home! No, I enjoy LA. I think it is about the people you surround yourself with. I found a solid, normal group of friends not swept up by the Hollywood thing. I have industry friends and non-industry friends and they don’t’ care I’m making a movie with Zac Efron. They are happy, but know that is a job and not who I am and that is why I love about them.
Also check out: Zac Efron and Charlie Tahan scoop on Charlie St. Cloud
Charlie St. Cloud is in theaters right now. Check it out!
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