Emily Osment: More than Miley's BFF

Pretty, blonde, 17-year-old actress Emily Osment was born in the shadow of her famous actor bro Haley Joel (The Sixth Sense, A.I.) but she has certainly claimed her own center stage in the Spy Kids films and for several seasons as Lilly, hyper and loyal BFF to Miley/Hannah on the TV series sensation "Hannah Montana". You can also catch her starring in the Disney Channel movie "Dadnapped" and now, of course as Lilly in Hannah Montana: The Movie.

It's now all over the web that Emily would love to be "slaughtered" in a horror movie as a departure from her more tame TV roles but what young actress doesn't want to branch out and take on new characters? We were determined to learn more about this talented performer so we sat down one-on-one in her Beverly Hills hotel suite to chat. We learned that, only an hour before, a high school friend had asked her to prom and she can't go because she'll be working. Ah, the price of fame!

As we entered the room, Emily was on the phone telling somebody "I love you" over and over. Humm, Mitch Musso, Joe Jonas, new boyfriend or hey, her mom or dad? Unlike some sites, we only pry on the surface. It makes stars like us more! "Hey, can we sit outside on the patio?", says Emily. "It's pretty out and I've been cooped up inside all day". "Sure" we reply [so have we].

As Emily gets up, we note her cute outfit; black silk chiffon dress with ruffled neckline topped with a lightweight tan sweater and accessorized by appropriate tan Hannah Montana cowboy boots. We settle on the patio and we're off.....

TeenHollywood: I think fans want to know how Disney Channel series stars get cast in all the Channel movies. You were in "Dadnapped". Were you sent a lot of scripts to choose from or did they write it for you or what?

Emily: Oh gosh, no. It's not as special as everybody thinks. They basically came to me and said 'we have a script that we'd like you to be in called 'Dadnapped'. Why don't you read it and tell us what you think?' I read it and I liked it and I got to sit in on the casting which was great. I had a blast doing the movie. It was one of the best experiences I've had. It was so much fun.

TeenHollywood: While making the 'Hannah Montana' film, did you, Miley and the gang hang out off set and what did you do?

Emily: Yeah, of course. She's a very busy girl but we make time to hang out and just sort of relax because we don't really get a dull moment. it's crazy. I got to go to her house and where she grew up. It was great.

TeenHollywood: Did you meet some of her friends?

Emily: I met one of her friends. Her sister had a birthday party so she had a bunch of friends over and it was fun.

TeenHollywood: What did you do for your own 17th birthday on March 10th?

Emily: Miley actually threw me a party! She had a party for me at her place with all of her friends. Lucas [Till who plays Miley's love interest in the new film] came too and it was fun. We just hung out and used the Jacuzzi so it was fun.

TeenHollywood: In real life are you the friend who is always cleaning up after your friends when they mess up [like Lilly is] or are you the one who messes up?

Emily: No. Not really the one who messes up. I'm definitely the peacemaker kind of. I'm not like a busybody. I'm not much into gossip but if somebody is blatantly rude, I have no problem telling them.

TeenHollywood: Hey, dude, you're rude!

Emily: [laughs] Yeah!

TeenHollywood: The Lilly character is kind of hyper and manic. Are you more laid back?

Emily: Definitely more laid back. I kind of go crazy during the day when I'm Lilly so I kind of get the chance to sort of relax when I'm home.

TeenHollywood: So, what do you have in common with Lilly then?

Emily: She's very sporty and I'm very into sports; snowboarding and soccer and track and golf. She's more into skateboarding and basketball.

TeenHollywood: How are your own musical tastes different from Miley's and different from Lilly's?

Emily: It's funny. I'm definitely more into rock and roll. I like old classics. I'm majorly into Radiohead, John Lennon and The Beatles and Miley is like Elvis and James Taylor and like that. Over the years, she's been like 'who's Radiohead?'. "Oh, they're this really cool band. They're my favorite band in the entire world. Why don't you check them out?' And she's like so into them now and John Lennon. She's got John Lennon all over her walls. 'Yes, I taught you that'. That's the one thing I get to say is that I sort of influenced her on musical tastes.

TeenHollywood: Well, Lennon was a great songwriter so maybe that inspires her as well. So, is there any truth to a rumor that you taught her how to knit and she taught you how to play the guitar?

Emily: That is total bulls***. I've been playing the guitar since I was very little.

TeenHollywood: You have your own singing aspirations.

Emily: I do. I've been working on an album for two years. Co-writing a bunch of songs.

TeenHollywood: Let's talk hot guys! What qualities does a guy have to have if you're going to go out with him?

Emily: I like guys who are very comfortable with themselves. I'm comfortable with who I am. I'm not controlling but I'm like 'This is who I am'. A guy needs to be like that too I guess. And funny is a big one for me.

TeenHollywood: What would be your choice of places to go and what to do on a first date?

Emily: It's so funny! Like an hour ago I got asked out to prom and I can't go. I'm working. I grew up here and went to school here and it was my old school, my friend called me with 'hey, you want to go to the prom?' And I was like 'I can't. I'm working'. I'm a Junior so this was my prom. It was kind of out of the blue but I can't.

TeenHollywood: Awwww. Well, sometimes they aren't as great as they are hyped up to be.

Emily: As for the first date thing, I'm not too much a dinner and a movie person. Something more fun and creative. Something where I can actually get to know the person. You can't talk too much in the movie theater.

TeenHollywood: What do you do on days when you don't have to work?

Emily: Oh it's so nice. I would go to the beach. The weather is so gorgeous lately. I'm definitely an outside person. [She looks out over the city from out 8th floor balcony]. I would just take my bike and go on a bike ride for an hour.

TeenHollywood: Miley keeps getting spotted riding her bike down the alleys of Toluca Lake with or without her boyfriend.

Emily: Yeah, well, I have a trail bike and I go up the canyons and on the mountains by my house.

TeenHollywood: If you were inside, would you play Rock Band or is that just a rumor?

Emily: Yeah, we play. Miley and Jason and I have a serious competition going on Rock Band. We're all on Level "hard" now which is awesome and we compete. It's so fun.

TeenHollywood: Which songs do you like to play in the game?

Emily: There's a bunch of songs by Rage Against the Machine on there. And like Weezer is my favorite!

TeenHollywood: You are 17 now and on the show but after 18, how are you going to make that transition to young adult actor? Any projects in mind?

Emily: Every actor wants variety in their work and I was just thinking today, 'I wanna get slaughtered in a movie. Like in a horror film.

TeenHollywood: Like My Bloody Valentine or something?

Emily: Yeah. Just something crazy, just something completely opposite. I've been playing this character for four years now. You need something completely different. Everyone wants that dark, serious role but I think it would be fun.

TeenHollywood: Is there anybody in real life or an historical character that you would love to play?

Emily: Ann and Nancy (Wilson) from [the band] Heart. That would be cool.

TeenHollywood: Well, they are doing a movie about Janis Joplin's life eventually.

Emily: That's true. I was just watching Janis Ian. My mom and I were watching TV the other night and we saw Janis Ian doing a tribute to her and they showed footage of her now and Janis Joplin back in the '80's and she sounded like her.

TeenHollywood: So, who do you think is hot right now?

Emily: I think Tyson Ritter from All American Rejects is kinda hot. The sad thing is, I don't listen to a lot of their music. I should. I'm not so into the new age Pop kind of thing but he's a good looking guy.

At this point, a publicist apologizes and shoos me out of the room. Emily tells me she enjoyed our chat.