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Have you been able to use your fame and wealth to do things that you couldn't pull off before all this?
I was able to put myself through college, which is pretty cool. I can get tickets to anything I want, which is amazing. I've been able to work with great artists in terms of photographers, doing photo shoots has been so much fun. I mean, it's just very, very exciting. That's kind of the cool stuff. Getting free clothes is nice. And no, I don't hold it against actors because anybody would keep free clothes. There have been a lot of good parts, then there's been a lot of surreal and strange things that have taken a lot of getting used to.
Do you live on campus? What's life like in school?
I think I'm about to transfer. I'm going to transfer to the city so I won't be living in a dorm, but in the past I have lived in a dorm. And you know, it's normal college life. You hang out with your friends, you eat too much, you drink way too much. You sit around watching movies when you should be writing papers, and then you freak out and you don't sleep for two weeks because you have to write papers on American Gothic and the Construction of American Identity. And you're like, “What's my name again? Hold on.” It was a great time. It was a good time to be young and stupid and be around passionate, smart, idealistic people.
Do you keep a diary?
I do. Yes, I do. When I was little I kept one but I was a really bad diary keeper. I would say things like, “This is a really bad day ever, “ and then not explain. But now, I've actually been keeping a diary since before “The Princess Diaries,” that was when I really began it. I've gone through a few now. And there's nothing really as satisfying as finishing a diary. It almost feels like just a chapter of your life. Like, “Wow, where am I going from here?”
What were the major changes in your life after “Princess Diaries?”
It's also been my luck, my draw of the cards, that I've always been a very busy person. Things haven't changed that much, just the opportunities that have been afforded me have come, I think, a little quicker because of it. I've had to deal with a lot more responsibility, a lot more stress at the same time. I've had to grow up a lot faster. Like I said, I'm very busy and there's not a whole lot of time to just sort of sit around and daydream. But at the same time, it's been important to me to learn how to do that, too.
Did you base this character on any real princesses?
The one that I based Princess Mia on the most was Princess Victoria of Sweden because I like the way she lives her life. She's going to school at the same time she's touring the world. She's doing things princesses typically don't do like visiting troops. She trained in the National Guard and she does all the princess glamour stuff real well, but when the cameras aren't around, she lives her own life. She's an avid outdoorswoman. She doesn't compromise who she is. She's always very, very much herself and that's a very down to earth, real person and I thought that would be a good role model for Mia. I definitely admire her.
Obviously, Princess Di has a special place in everyone's heart. I think she did a lot of good in the world and had to deal with a lot of stress, much more than we'll ever know, than will ever be recorded, that we can even imagine. I have, actually, a lot of respect for her.
Can you talk about “Brokeback Mountain” and working with Ang Lee?
I adore Ang Lee. I think he is a genius. So sweet, so humble, and is such a strong director at the same time as being such a gentle man. He's wonderful to be around and I'm truly lucky to be a part of that movie. I mean, of course I wake up in night sweats every night because I'm in a panic that I'm the only one in the movie who is not being emotionally honest.
What's your favorite Ang Lee movie?
I love “The Ice Storm,” I love “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” I love “Sense and Sensibility,” and I love, “Eat Drink Man Woman.” I don't know if I can decide between them because they're all such beautiful pieces of art.
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"PRINCESS DIARIES: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT" RESOURCES:
Interview with Julie Andrews
Callum Blue and Chris Pine Interview
"Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" Photo Gallery
"Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" Credits, Trailer and Websites
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