Miley Cyrus talks Hannah Montana: The Movie, living in the spotlight and being a role model ...
Hannah Montana the TV show vs. the movie. What’s the diff?
“I think the cool thing about the movie is that we actually got to take away from the persona a little bit. It's not so separate. It shows that, realistically, you're not going to be able to have this double life and keep them as separate as you want … The reason that she had this double life was so that she could not become this person, not obsess over material things and be so obsessed with Hollywood and what she's become and not remember who she is … it's important to always bring it back to what's important, that's who you are and your friends and your family.”
Your costar Lucas Till sure is easy on the eyes!
“Lucas was an OK-looking guy, and we thought maybe with some hair and makeup and what CGI can do, it'll work [laughs]. And he's a good actor.”
Movie Miley goes back to her roots -- could you go country like that?
“I would like to do that at some point because that's where I'm from. I think that I was really happy to go back to Nashville and get to write a little bit more. That song ["The Climb"] is just so important. I feel like it had a little country vibe to it anyway, a lot of those songs do because it went so well with the movie.”
What’s next for you and Hannah Montana?
“Hopefully, just continue to do different movies, and I have a tour in mind for this year. I'm excited about that. For a sequel, I feel like this is a TV show. We got really lucky with having the material to make one movie and to do another one I feel like it takes away from the reality of it all … We all wish to do a season 4. I would love to do that if the time is right, and if that's what everyone agrees on. I don't know if I would do another film, but I would love to do another season.”
Do wish you had an alter ego?
“I think that would be fun every once in a while, but for me, being myself is what I love. If I ever had to change and become someone else to live this life I'd probably just want to go home and stay home. I feel like when you love what your job is, it's so much more than a job. It really is my life, but it's not everything that I sleep, eat and breathe. I love it, and when I'm working it's the best thing ever and music is my number-one passion. I love making movies, but you can't let it completely control you because otherwise you're just a puppet on strings, and you become something where you don't have that reality anymore.”
Is it hard being Miley Cyrus the superstar?
“I feel like the hardest thing about dealing with all the different things that I do go through with paparazzi and stuff is just people remembering that you are a real person. I feel like they forget that sometimes and forget privacy and respect. It's important for you to remember that I am a real person and have feelings.”
What’s the biggest misconception about you?
“I think that people will always say that I'm overworking and overexposed and that's what I want -- all this attention. That's not. What I love is the art of it all. That's why I say that I want to go off and do other things at some point when the time is right. My dad taught me that it's all about the time. If the time isn't right, nothing is going to fall into place. I do listen to him every once in a while.”
Is being a role model overrated?
“For me, there are two things. I find that if you look at me as a role model, I agree with it. If you look at me as an idol, I don't. An idol for me is someone that you want to replicate. You want to be them. I don't wish that on anyone, to lose what they have personally because that's when your spark is lost. What I think that people like about me and the way that they relate to me is because I don't try to change, and I haven't let what I do for a living become my life and completely affect me … I'm going to make mistakes, and I would not trade that for anything because I always say that the minute you stop making mistakes is the minute that you stop learning … My decisions, sometimes, not only disappoint other people, but disappoint myself as well.”
What keeps you going?
“My dad always says that “a trying time is no time to quit trying.” So I think that's deep.
Nicholas Sparks wrote a movie for you. What’s that about?
“This summer, I'm working on a movie -- he actually wrote the movie before he wrote the book and he wrote it with me in mind. So I've been lucky to play parts that relate to me. This doesn't at all because this girl … I have my issues, but not as bad as this chick. So I'm happy to play someone that's just out there and not someone that I'm like. I can actually see if I'm a good actor or not or just good at playing myself.”
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