Producer Clifford Werber came up with the idea of doing this contemporary take on the timeless story. Acknowledging the original story's appeal, Werber felt the underlying message of empowerment is as "relevant today as when it was first introduced." And with Hilary Duff as the main attraction, "A Cinderella Story" comes with a built-in fan base.
INTERVIEW WITH HILARY DUFF ('Sam'):
Do you believe in happily ever after?
I don't know. I would like to. I'm only 16. I don't really know (laughing). I don't really know if I believe in that kind of stuff.
Are you searching for happily ever after?
No, I'm not searching. I mean, I work a lot and I don't have time to think about that kind of thing. Maybe someday.
So right now, work is more of a priority than having a good personal life?
No. Both things are very important to me. But I think that right now, I'm really focused on work and it's hard to kind of have a relationship and try and search for the perfect person in my life.
When there is someone special in your life, what sort of things do you like to do?
Well, I'm kind of like ‘Sam’ in a way. You're very cautious and you don't want to put yourself out there to get yourself let down or hurt or something. But I guess if you really care about someone and they really care about you too, then you sometimes just go for it and let everything go. And have fun with it. It can be exciting.
Would you describe yourself as an ambitious person?
Definitely.
How do you stay on top in such a competitive market?
It is so competitive. There are so many great movies coming out every single day and like great projects. I don't know if I think about it as being competitive like, “I better get this. If I turn this down, so and so is going to take it.”
I don't really think about it too much. I have a really great team around me that helps me. Of course, sometimes I think, “Oh well, I should probably do this or that.” But it's really fun for me. Even though I do work my butt off, I still have a good time and try to not make it competitive.
Do you see your life as being a kind of fairy tale?
Yes. I don't think that I necessarily relate to this story but definitely, I feel lucky, very lucky all the time. Why is this me and why do I get this? You know?
Are you ever torn between music and acting?
Sometimes. They're such different feelings. When I'm on tour, I'm in a new city every single night, and the energy and the crowds and the kids and the screaming and them knowing every single word of my music and being onstage is such an energetic feeling with a big payoff. Working on a movie, things are a little more slower paced. But sometimes if I'm in the middle of touring, I'll be like, “Man, I really wish that I was working on a movie right now.” Or if I'm working on a movie, I'll be like, “Oh, I wish that I was touring right now.” I just love them both so much. It's hard to choose which is the best.
How about doing a musical film?
Yeah. I would definitely do that. Actually, I have a movie that I just filmed called “Raise Your Voice” and I got to sing in that movie and perform.
Who is in “Raise Your Voice” with you?
It's with Rita Wilson and John Corbett and Oliver James and Rebecca DeMornay and it's about a young girl. It's actually very dramatic. I get to sing a little bit in the movie, but it's a different kind of thing. It's not like a musical.
Was there ever any talk of doing a more fantastic “Cinderella” and not setting it so much in the real world?
No. There was never that. I feel like that there've been so many remakes of “Cinderella” and there's never really been like a modern day, high school version of it. I love that about it. I love that the characters are very different. Each character kind of had a twist to it, and especially Sam. Like, she was very ambitious. She was a very ambitious person and even though she was put down throughout the whole movie and torn down and told that she was nothing, she still had goals for herself and she had dreams that she'd accomplish herself. Then the boy came, which is great. But it's a good message for girls.
In real life, what’s the greatest thing about your friends?
My friends are really great. And they're really supportive. I don't think that they really care anything about this stuff. I don't really have that many friends. I try and stick to a small group of people, and they go on tour with me and they come and travel with me and stuff like that. They know how hard it is for me to work sometimes and not just get to have that completely normal life.
PAGE 2: Hilary Duff on Celebrity, Family Life, and Friends
