Q: You are so busy these days and so great in everything that you do. When you get a script how do you pick?
A: I don't know. I guess it's just instinctual, sort of. It's completely and utterly an instinctual thing.

Q: What was it about Riding In Cars With Boys? Faye is such an amazing character.
A: The thing that was the script that I had first read by Morgan Upton Ward was probably one of the best scripts that I have ever gotten a chance to read for a movie before. That was unbelievable, and then you have a meeting to go to at Penny Marshall's house who, I mean come on, you can't get any better than that. And then Drew Barrymore's attached to it —all these components. I choose roles for different reasons. Again, it's instinctual, I might have a gut feeling about it or I see who is attached to the project.

Q: How did you and Drew develop your relationship?
A: We did it as we were working. When we first met we just sort of clicked. Our energy is very particular and pretty quirky but different. However I think that we complemented each other beautifully in real life. Then to be able to be with her every day and have most of my scenes with her and be able to be her best friend for seven months was just something that naturally came about. The characters soon took on a life of their own based on the friendship that we established off the page.

Q: Did you sit down with Beverly D'Onofrio (author of the book, Riding in Cars With Boys), and talk to her about her relationship with Faye? It must have been interesting having the real Bev there and getting her feedback.
A: Well Faye in the film is actually a conglomeration of a few different characters from the novel. But it's particularly one and she did tell me a bit about her and her name. I don't know if I can say her name but she's an artist and she sent me this fabulous fuzzy thing a great work of art and actually Drew has it. I have to ask her about it.

Q: Did working on this movie make you think about your own family, your parents. Did it make you think differently about things?
A: I think everything that one does, it can't help but make you think about things. If you spend more hours out of the day being someone else or are in a different environment other than your own home environment then the lines begin to blur. One trickles into the other and you learn. I know I do, I come home learning so much about every character and every set and every environment that I end up in.

Q: I understand that you and your mom are very close.
A: Yes we are. I have actually dedicated my performance in this film to her. You see, like Faye, my mother is a single parent of an only child. My parents divorced when I was a baby. I don't know my biological father and to tell you the truth, I don't want to. It's always been just me and my mom.

Q: your career is going gang busters.You are currently starring opposite Michael Douglas in Don't Say a Word, and now Riding in Cars With Boys plus a few more films coming our way. You truly are one of the best young actresses out there at the moment.
A: Bless your heart!

Q: What will we see you in next?
A: I am in Edward Burns' new film Sidewalks of New York. I really loved working on that. Plus I have a pretty extensive musical theatre background and I am very excited because the producers of the upcoming film, Chicago, are the producers behind the current Broadway revival of Cabaret. They have offered me a six-month run in New York as soon as I can work it into my schedule.

Q: That's fabulous. I have also read that you will be in a movie with controversial rapper Eminem. What is that about?
A: Yes, I'm looking forward to that. I am going to play Eminem's girlfriend in the movie that is being made about his life. It's being directed by Curtis Hanson who made L.A. Confidential.