Over the Moon
Recently married pop-rock princess Avril Lavigne couldn’t be happier — she’s wedded her musical counterpart, is working on her next album and is living out her acting dream
The Canadian-born singer Avril Lavigne went from the big stage to the big screen this year. While she works on her next album, the 21-year-old singer is also trying her hand at acting. You may have heard her in this summer’s animated animal romp Over the Hedge, where she voiced the character of Heather, an opossum. Seems like acting isn’t so complicated for Lavigne — watch out for her upcoming small on-screen roles. Zeeks catches up with the recently wed renaissance girl.
Zeeks: How did you feel about filming your first movie, Over the Hedge?
Avril: “My part’s pretty small so it was easy enough, but it was my first film ever. It was easier because it was just voiceover so I didn’t have to be on camera and it was fun. William Shatner plays my dad and Bruce Willis and Gary Shandling are in (the movie), so it’s a cool cast. The Over the Hedge animals are hibernating and they wake up and there’s a hedge and we dare to cross it. We get over it and see the real world and it’s really scary for us,” Avril says laughing.
Zeeks: Did you use your natural voice for the character?
Avril: “It’s my voice and I’m just supposed to be young and my dad embarrasses me a lot and stuff like that.”
Zeeks: Are you good at creating different voices or impersonations?
Avril: “I don’t really do impersonations. I just kind of do whatever the character is.”
Zeeks: What was it like hearing your voice coming from a cartoon critter?
Avril: “It was cool to see that. (And) it was weird.”
Zeeks: You have an onscreen role in The Flock, a crime drama with Richard Gere and Claire Danes. What character do you play?
Avril: “(Richard’s) a cop in (the movie) and he’s going to interview this guy who is my boyfriend. I (play the guy’s) girlfriend and have a chipped tooth and glasses and all that stuff, so I had to get a mold of my mouth so they could fit a (fake) chipped tooth. That’s a smallish part.”
Zeeks: Do you have a scene with Richard?
Avril:Yeah, he’s asking me some questions about my boyfriend.”
Zeeks: Will you pursue acting now?
Avril: “Yeah, I want to do this for a bit of a change. I want to start off small, see how I like it, and make sure I’m comfortable.”
Zeeks: Do you have an acting coach?
Avril: “No. (I) just read the script and act out how I think it should be.”
Note: *Ms. Lavigne also acts in Fast Food Nation about the health risks of the fast food industry, which is directed by Richard Linklater (School Of Rock, Before Sunrise and Dazed & Confused)
