Mandy Moore

Spotlight By: Rocco Passafuime
RoccoPassafuime@TheCinemaSource.com

Previous interviews with Mandy:

• Mandy Moore interview on License to Wed
• Mandy Moore interview on Because I Said So
• Mandy Moore interview on American Dreamz

Mandy Moore was by far one of the unlikeliest success stories in film of recent years. Starting off as teen pop singer with ditties like 'Candy' and 'I Wanna Be With You' who ended up getting lost in the shuffle of much bigger stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, Moore has managed to do what neither of them has been able to do, parlay a successful acting career.

While her movies have met with varying degrees of reaction from movie critics, Mandy's consistent raves as a performer from them and audiences has only managed to provide her a career that has done nothing but steadily rise year after year as her work continues to evolve. After having gone into more adventurous territory musically this past June with her more folk-style new pop album Wild Hope, Moore prepares to do the same with her film career with her first indie role in the film Dedication.

The directorial debut of actor Justin Theroux, the film, co-starring Billy Crudup and Tom Wilkinson made its premiere in January at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Speaking with us, Mandy Moore made no bones about the clout she has managed to gain from her successes in Hollywood romantic comedies and how different she felt the experience of an indie film would be.

'I felt lucky because I went straight from Because I Said So into this and straight back into another mainstream comedy,' she claims, 'It was great to break it up and be here in New York and I was so nervous though. I was so intimidated walking onto the set. I'm a fan of Justin's as an actor and obviously as a director and working with him and with Billy and it was so not my scene and I was very, very nervous. So it was a great exercise for me.'

While we were on the subject, she did in fact tell us point blank just what was the difference for her in working on an indie film.

'I think the people more so,' Mandy believes, 'It was definitely this project specifically and being in New York and working with actors like real theater people. You know what I mean, 'Oh, jeez, Louise, how did I get myself into this one'''

However, Moore was quick to tell us how enthused she was about the film and also about playing the role of Lucy, an illustrator who must work with a rather gruff and unfriendly children's book author, played by Crudup.

'Well, I think it was the project in general,' Mandy recounts, 'I read the script and I was like, wow, it's fantastic material and an opportunity to work with Billy and Justin and everyone. But I think it's hard to find good stuff out there. It's so few and far between. When you want to find a project that you really want to be a part of, it's so, 'Hold on for dear life,' and there are very few well-written young women roles. I just loved her sense of self. I mean, she's a very patient person and I just had a lot of admiration for her ambition. But the fact that she really did have this strong self, face with Billy's character and all these crazy obstacles in her life, she succeeded, you know.'

In noting that, we asked her of the depth of the parallels between her own personality and Lucy's.

'I'd like to think so,' Moore replies, 'I'm not quite as confident as she is in her self, but I related hopefully to that sense of patience and ambition.'

Justin Theroux is best known for the film adaptations of Strangers With Candy and Miami Vice. We asked Moore how she felt working with him.

'It was different in the sense that I never worked with an actor/director before, so I felt very comfortable, very safe,' she recalls, 'I think because [Justin Thoreux] was so prepared. He knew exactly what he wanted, not just of the cast, but the movie in general. It made it so much easier being nervous walking into the experience where you're working with everybody. I just felt very safe like he was in control, he knew what he was doing, and he knew exactly how to relay what he wanted and so I just loved that. It's easier than working with most directors.'

In hitting upon the actor/director mention, we asked Mandy whether she sees directing in the cards for her anytime soon.

'No, I have no interest,' she states, 'Not right now.'

Having put out back-to-back films with Because I Said So, License To Wed, and now Dedication this year, Moore notes she plans to temporarily switch gears in her next move for the time being.

'I'm going on tour with my record,' she notes, 'That's where my head is.'

With that in mind and with acting now undoubtedly her more successful venture, we asked the starlet what she sees herself more as.

'I don't know,' Mandy replies, 'I just sort of go back and forth between the two. I don't really think of myself as one or the other. I just feel lucky to do both.'

And finally, with Moore only 23 years old and already a popular and beloved actress, we inevitably asked her how she's managed to keep her private and professional life relatively enjoyable, without being compromised by the watchful, glaring eye of the tabloid press, which has recently plagued similarly talented young actresses like Lindsay Lohan.

'I think it's a balance of both really,' Mandy states, 'Honestly, I'm not really interested in living my private life in a very public way. I love what I get to do and I wouldn't want to put anyone or myself in any kind of position to jeopardize it. I have a good family, I have great friends, and I have a great support system, I don't know. It all keeps me sane and grounded.'