GETTING TO KNOW: LAUREN COLLINS

Lauren Collins

It's hard to miss “Degrassi” diva Lauren Collins this month -- you can catch her in brand new episodes of The N's popular teen drama (Fridays, 8 PM) and on the big screen opposite Antonio Banderas in the dance flick “Take the Lead”. Lauren put her busy work schedule aside to give Teenmag.com a call and chat about all things Degrassi. Here, Teenmag shares with us!

TEEN: How are you and your Degrassi character Paige different?
Lauren Collins: I think that we're actually quite different. Paige is really
confrontational and she says what's on her mind whereas sometimes I think too much about what I am going to say before I say it. So, I would definitely say that we're quite different. But, over the years, I guess just when you play your character for so long, cause it's been like five years, a little but if Lauren has gone into Paige, I think, and maybe a little Paige into Lauren, which is kind of cool.

TEEN: Have you bonded with anyone in particular on the Degrassi set?
L.C.: Yeah, absolutely, Stacy who plays Ellie, she's one of my best friends. And, Adamo is also one of my incredibly close friends. And it's cool because these are people I met not have ordinarily met had it not been for the show.

TEEN: What would you like to see happen to Paige in the future on the show?
L.C.: So much has happened to her. It's hard to think of her having to go through anything else. I love doing like the relationship stuff. I think it's really fun. So, I think maybe it would be cool to get Paige involved in a love triangle kind of thing.

TEEN: What do you like to do in your spare time?
L.C.: I am a pretty normal teenager. Love going to the movies; just watched the Oscars last night; it's like my favorite night of the year. I was hoping Brokeback would win but I loved Crash too so. And like that's the Canadian connection because Paul Haggis is Canadian. I love fashion; I love clothes, music; I love going to concerts.

TEEN: Have there been any real-life romances on the Degrassi set?
L.C.: With me, no! Nothing, just lots of good friendships.

TEEN: What was it like working on “Take the Lead?”
L.C.: It was incredible. It was such a different experience because I have never worked on a feature before. And Antonio Banderas the sweetest man in the world and going into it, I was a little nervous because I had never worked with someone of that status before. But, I couldn't have wished for anything better. He's just a down-to-earth guy and everyone was really, really cool.