GETTING TO KNOW: ROMI DAMES

You know and love Romi Dames from her hilarious portrayal of Tracy Van Horn on Hannah Montana. Here though, are some things you probably DON'T know about the 18-year-old actress!

Romi Dames

Full Name: Romi Dames

Currently Live: In Burbank

Born / Grew up in: On an American army base in Tokyo, Japan. Then Seattle, Washington.

What is the best thing about your job? Getting to play a character that is my complete opposite! Every time I get the new episode’s script, I totally laugh out loud. The writers are SO funny!

What was your most embarrassing audition moment? I had an audition for a commercial and it was for an action hero type character. When I walked in, they started gushing that I had ‘the perfect look’. Then the casting director said, “We just want to put you on tape. Could you pretend to fight? Just punch at the air. Give us your best round house kick! Okay, now you’re wielding nunchucks! Go!” In the absence of any martial arts training I began doing the most angry, aggressive hip hop dancing anyone had ever seen. They never called.

If you could live in any past era which would it be and why? The 1940s—I love the music, the fashion, and the way they speak in those old movies!

Who is your role model and why? My mom. She’s so creative and spontaneous. One day, totally out of the blue, she came into the living room and announced to me and my dad, “I’ve decided to learn to play an instrument--either the trumpet or the violin. Do you have a preference?” The next day she went out and bought a violin, and now she plays in a community orchestra!

What do you do for fun? I love getting all dressed up and going out to dinner with my friends.

Tell us about your pets. I don’t have pets, but I LOVE cats! I totally need one—I really wanted to kidnap (catnap?) the Persian kitty that played my cat, Madonna, on Hannah Montana. His name was Potato! How cute is that?!

Do you have a good luck charm? No… is that why I got into that car accident???

Do you like to cook? If so, what? Anything that doesn’t require actual cooking. I am very unfortunate in the cooking skills department. One time I (tried to) make a cranberry orange relish. I threw a bunch of cranberries and oranges in the blender. It tasted weird, so I tried heating it…it got worse. My boyfriend said it tasted like hot Jamba Juice.

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked Frozen Yogurt

What was your favorite book when you were a kid? All the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary.

If you could interview any celeb whom would it be and why? Steve Carell, because he is SO funny and so talented! I love EVERYTHING he’s in!

Anything about yourself you wish you could change? My memory. I wish I could remember all the names of everyone I meet.

If you could be granted 3 wishes, they'd be…
1) I’d wish for mashed potatoes.
2) For stuffing
3) And for turkey …
…This also could be called a “to-go order” from Jerry’s Deli. Hopefully when I meet that magical genie, I’ll have just eaten.

Where on earth are you most dying to go? I would really love to go back to Japan for a visit--I haven’t been back since I moved.

If someone gave you a million dollars tomorrow, you'd… faint from shock. Then I’d write a them a lovely thank you note.

Your favorite charitable cause is… St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Your must-click website is… Cuteoverload.com I have lost hours of my life on that site…everything on it is ridiculously cute!

Shower or bath? Bubble bath!

What's your favorite pizza topping? Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes

What's your dream car? 2004 Thunderbird in “Vintage Mint Green” or the 2003 version in “Desert Sky Blue”. It’s such a cute car! It looks like it’s smiling!

Are you afraid of flying? Nope.

What stunt are you dying to try? (Or are you a 'fraidy cat? That's cool too!) I really want to sky dive.

Favorite video game? Super Mario World for the SuperNintendo! Totally vintage and awesome—I just received it as a present.
Favorite junk food? Chocolate! I’m a total chocolate monster. Anything chocolaty, I’ll devour.

The most spectacular place on earth is… Maui!

The most pampered I've ever been was when… I stayed at the Maui Prince Hotel and all I did was eat at the breakfast buffet by the water, snorkel, and relax on the beach.

My dream prom date would be with… my boyfriend! But if my boyfriend suddenly had to cancel due some urgent matter and really truly didn’t want me to miss out, then I’d go with James Marsden. But only under those extenuating circumstances.

The thing you'd be most surprised to know about me is… I don’t actually sound like my character Traci.

Would you like to travel to the moon? YES!

If you could switch jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? I’d switch with Josie from “Josie and the Pussycats. I want to be a fictitious rock star with an excuse for wearing cat ears.

Who was your favorite teacher and why? Ruben Van Kempen, who was my drama teacher. He’s awesome! He took a whole big group of us to Scotland to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was SO much fun!