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 Having recently wrapped her work on New Moon, the next movie in the Twilight saga, 18-year-old Pasadena, Calif. native Christian Serratos has been performing her entire life.
{sidebar id=1}A competitive figure skater, model, dancer, singer and actress, the teenager landed the role of Angela, one of Bella Swans human friends in the hugely successful vampire film Twilight, although she admits to screwing up her first audition. Returning to the role for the sequel has been fun for Christian, even with the extra addition of fans and paparazzi, everywhere the cast went.
In this exclusive interview, the rising star spoke about returning to the Twilight world, working with a new director and launching her own clothing line.
IESB: Having gotten into figure skating, modeling, dancing, singing and acting pretty early on, how did you know that it was acting you wanted to pursue?
Christian: I never really wanted to act. I started off skating and, when I started doing modeling at Ford, they were like, We want you to do theatrical as well, and I didnt want to, at all. Once I realized that I was acting, all of a sudden, I ended up liking it. But, it wasnt until I was actually doing it that I fell in love with it.
IESB: Was there something specific that made you decide acting was your career path?
Christian: Just when I started feeling confident about it, which was probably when I booked this independent short film, called Mrs. Marshall.
IESB: Do you think that having been a figure skater, it gave you a discipline and dedication, at an early age, that you wouldnt have normally had?
Christian: Probably, yeah. Im definitely one of those people who has to try new things, and be decent at them. Im actually slightly competitive.
IESB: When did you realize that you could sing and what made you decide to start writing music?
Christian: I started off writing music. I dont think I ever wanted to be a singer. I think I just wanted to write. But, if I did end up doing anything with my music, I wanted to be singing it. And then, I realized I wasnt so bad. Then, it was just practice and that competitiveness Ive got.
IESB: Do you have any musical inspirations?
Christian: My mom introduced me to a lot of good music, like Fiona Apple, Dead Kennedys, Queen, and all that stuff, when I was really, really little. I had this taste for classics, when I was really young.
IESB: What did working in modeling help teach you about yourself? Did it help prepare you at all for the rejection youd face, as an actress?
Christian: I think skating helped more for that. People dont realize that skating is pretty gnarly. Competitiveness can be good, but there are a lot of over-the-top girls and parents. The term Hollywood mom is used, but I think skating moms are 10 times worse.
IESB: How did you became a part of Twilight? Did you just go through the regular auditioning process for it?
Christian: Yeah. I just got a call from my agent about this film, and I thought I should probably do my homework and figure out what it was all about. And, thats when I saw the slight obsession with it. I was like, Oh, dont screw this up, and I did. I flew all the way from Minden, Nevada, cause I was living out there, at the time. I completely messed up the audition, but I guess (director) Catherine Hardwicke knew what she wanted, and she had faith in me and brought me back in. I just flat-out blew the audition. Because I did do my homework, I realized how big it was and I think it psyched me out.
IESB: Had you been familiar with it before hearing about the audition, or did you give yourself a crash course before the audition?
Christian: The funny thing is that I wasnt even fully aware of it. I thought it was big, when I really just had a taste of it. I looked it up, but I didnt see how massive it was, from just the little bit I saw, and even then I thought it was massive. So, it just goes to show you how big it actually is.
IESB: Was Angela the character that you had always auditioned for, or did you read for anyone else?
Christian: I was originally called in for Jessica (played by Anna Kendrick). There was a lot of mixes and matches, and chemistry reads. They kept calling me in for Jessica, but at the last minute, they were like, Can you read for Angela?, and I was like, Oh, yeah, totally! I was really excited because I really liked that character. I wear glasses. The glasses I wear in the film, Ive worn. Ive been wearing glasses since I was little. So, I put my glasses on and I put my hair up in a ponytail for the audition. And then, I went up to film and we were talking about looks for the different characters, and Catherine told me that she liked my glasses and ponytail, so she said, Were gonna keep it.
IESB: Did you do anything to feel more like your character, or did she just come easily for you?
Christian: I think one of the reasons I liked Angela was because I related to her, more than I did Jessica. It was easier to play Angela. But, of course, I did research, like reading the book and seeing what fans had to say. You cant make everyone happy, but you can sure as hell try.
IESB: When you did Twilight, was the first day nerve-wracking at all?
Christian: I think everyone was a little nervous. What helped was that it wasnt like we had walked on to set the first day and we were just introducing ourselves to each other. We had met through the auditioning process. And, the first day we flew up to Portland to film, we went to lunch and discussed with Catherine what our looks would be. So, we had known each other. The first day of filming was the first day of filming, but it wasnt like the first day. We had all known each other.
IESB: How much of Angela will audiences get to see in New Moon?
Christian: Theyre going to be pleasantly surprised, through the whole movie. I think theyre going to get enough of everyone. I dont think anyone is going to wish they had more. I think theyre going to be really happy.
IESB: Was it more comfortable to be on set, this time around, because you already knew this character?
Christian: Yeah. Although, Angela did go through a minute transformation. Shes a little more confident. In the first film, she was a little more timid, but now she has this friend. She has Bella, and they help each other. You dont really see it a lot on screen, but fans of the book know that Bella and Angela help each other out a lot.
IESB: Whats it been like to work with this ensemble of young actors, who youve gone through this crazy process with? Has that whole experience bonded you all together?
Christian: Oh, yeah. I think thats natural, when youre doing a project, especially one like Twilight. Its just natural that everyone sticks together. They know whats going on. They know whats up. But, its been great to work with everyone. Were all around the same age and we all get along. Its a great cast.
IESB: How is Chris Weitz, as a director?
Christian: Hes handling it. Hes extremely organized. You would expect someone who was that organized to be really uptight, but hes the most relaxed and laid-back person youll ever meet. I dont think I saw him stressed out on set once. He knows what hes doing. Hes doing a great job, and the script is awesome. Hes a really fun, cool guy.
IESB: Does it seem any different at all, having a male director this time around?
Christian: It doesnt feel different at all. Its just a job, and hes doing a great job. It doesnt feel weird at all.
IESB: At what point did you realize how crazy all of this had become and that you were a part of it?
Christian: It was pretty interesting. It goes in stages. I booked it and I was like, Wow, this is big! I filmed it and I was like, Well, this is bigger. And then, I was done and, with the press and the premiere, I was like, Wow, this is huge! I dont think Ill ever be done with, Oh, that was big! I think Ill always just continue to say, This is getting bigger."
IESB: Does it help you feel more anonymous that you get to play more of a character in the film?
Christian: At first, I thought it would be more difficult because I was going to look in the film like I do in real life, since Im wearing my own glasses. But, I dont wear my glasses as much as I should. Its been cool to have that disguise that I could put on and off. Its been pretty easy. When I booked Twilight and people started calling me Christian instead of a character name, I was like, Oh, damn! That was so weird to me. After doing Nickelodeon, everyone called me by my characters name and I was like, Thats cool. They recognized me. But, when they start calling you by your real name, thats when you know its big. I remember I went to the bank and the teller girls at the window started freaking out and had me sign Breaking Dawn books. I was like, This is weird!
IESB: What was it like to meet Stephenie Meyer, knowing that she had created all of this?
Christian: The first time, I was very, very, very nervous. But, Im more comfortable around her now. I saw her on the New Moon set and I thought it was so cool because I got to go up to her and I already knew her. It was interesting. She did something amazing with all of this. Im still very intimidated.
IESB: Did you ask her about your character at all?
Christian: During Twilight, everyone was very nervous when she would watch things because no one wanted to disappoint her. But, I think were more comfortable asking questions now. I think we have more of a feel for it now that Twilight has been filmed and were moving on. We kind of already have a knack for it. Well, hopefully. I guess well know after New Moon comes out.
IESB: Whats it been like, this time around, to have all these fans around the set, every time youre filming?
Christian: I remember going to set for the first day, and I wasnt going to film, I was going to talk to hair and make-up, and meet Chris for the first time. I got out of the car and the A.D. came up to me and introduced herself, and she had an umbrella. It was actually hot in Vancouver, and they put umbrellas over you on modeling shoots when its really hot out. I was like, Oh, you dont have to do that. Its not that bad out. And, she was like, No, its for the paparazzi, and I was like, Oh, my God, is that really how its going to be this time? Seriously? Every time any one of the cast members went anywhere, they had to have guys with umbrellas around them because there were that many paparazzi. Just going outside and seeing dozens of people with signs, as if its a concert, I felt like Duran Duran. It was weird.
IESB: Has it been advantageous to you, that the shooting schedules for these films are pretty close together? Does it help you get back into the character?
Christian: Oh, yeah, for sure. I love that its so quick and back-to-back, just cause I get so bored. Even when I should be relaxing, Im like, I dont want to. I want to do something. So, thats been really cool. Im excited about going back to film the next film, Eclipse.
IESB: If the attention you receive from all of this helps to generate other offers for you, are there specific types of roles or genres that youre hoping to work in, that you havent gotten the chance to do yet?
Christian: Ive gotten to do comedy. Ive gotten to do dramatic. Twilight has been kind of in between. Ive pretty much covered it, when it comes to genres. But, Im really excited to see what projects will come up. Ive gotten word of a lot of cool projects, but there have been scheduling conflicts. But, I think Twilight has brought me crazier stuff, which I love.
IESB: Do you also hope to pursue music professionally, or do you see that as more of a hobby?
Christian: Yeah, one day, Id definitely love to do that. It will probably be once Twilight is done, just cause its been so time consuming.
IESB: What made you want to start a clothing line?
Christian: Nothing ever fits me. Its god awful. Its just really frustrating. So, I started just taking in clothes that I bought from the store, and I was like, Why am I paying money for something that Im just going to edit anyway?, so I just started making my own stuff, just to go out on a daily basis. And then, I started getting compliments on it, from people wanting to literally buy the clothes off my back. I thought that would definitely be something that would be fun to do. And, plus, my moms a jewelry designer and Ive always made jewelry. I was selling to stores when I was eight years old. So, I figured, why not do a clothing line too? Theres no reason I shouldnt.
IESB: Does the line have a name?
Christian: People always ask me that, and I want to come up with something really interesting, but I think it might just be Kish, my nickname.
IESB: Do you get something from that type of creative outlet that you dont get from acting or singing?
Christian: I think certain people have something they do that mellows them out, whether it be knitting or painting or drawing, and I think thats my thing. Being able to sit there and relax and just focus on something is just good for everyone.
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