I Love You, Beth Cooper : Hayden Panettiere Interview


HAYDEN PANETTIERE for I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER

Hayden Panettiere returns to the big screen as a cheerleader in the new comedy, I Love You, Beth Cooper.

After appearing in Heroes, were you reluctant to play another cheerleader?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I wasn’t reluctant to take on another role as a cheerleader because I didn’t really have to do wear the outfit in this movie. I only had to put it on for one picture. I think cheerleading is used more as a symbol of high school in I Love You, Beth Cooper. The cheerleader and the quarterback are very symbolic of popularity in high school. It’s an easy way for the audience to discover Beth is one of the popular girls.

How similar are you to Beth Cooper?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I’m similar to Beth Cooper in certain ways. I might not have the same insecurities as her, but I still have my own insecurities. People think they know Beth because she’s a cheerleader. In the same way, people think they know me because they see me on TV or in movies. I don’t know how you can think you know somebody if you’ve never even had a conversation with them. It’s a very odd concept, but it happens to me all the time. I am an image and I am what the public wants to make me. I’m just an idea in the head of the public because they don’t really know me. They don’t know who I am and they don’t know what I am.

I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)What is the biggest misconception about you?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
Is there anything that isn’t a misconception? I’ve learned that no matter what you do, someone is always going to have a problem with it. At the end of the day, the only person you can please is yourself. I don’t like the idea that someone can see me on screen and say, “Oh, I don’t like her.” You don’t know that you don’t like me. You’ve never hung out with me and you’ve never had a conversation with me, so you don’t know that you don’t like me.

Did you enjoy filming I Love You, Beth Cooper?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
It was a tough shoot. We were dealing with weather and elements that weren’t on our side. We shot the movie in Vancouver where it was freezing cold, but the film is set in the summer. They had to hose down the set occasionally because of snow. If you looked beyond the cameras, it was a winter wonderland and we were sitting there in our little dresses saying, “It’s not cold here at all.” But we had a good time. It was a lot of fun.

What was your favourite scene to film?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I’m always big on the stunts. Stunts are my sport. I can’t play baseball and I can’t play basketball, so I’ll do this instead. I got to do some of the driving stunts in the movie, which were a lot of fun. They wouldn’t let me do all of them, but I enjoyed what I did get to do.

What was it like to work with the director, Chris Columbus?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
Chris Columbus is incredible. He’s one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. He’s so talented and he has no ego. It was great to go in with somebody with so much experience and talent – and yet he still allows collaboration. There was no ego there, so it was nothing less than wonderful. I hope this is not our last film together.

Are you comfortable with the sexy jokes in I Love You, Beth Cooper?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I’m not uncomfortable with sexual innuendo. It’s funny. I have that sense of humour. I’m very dry and sarcastic, so I don’t find it too hard to swallow sexual innuendos and jokes.

Let’s talk about the shower scene… It’s clear you didn’t use a body double. Did that worry you?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
It didn’t bother me. Everyone was very professional on the set, so we just got on with it.

Do you have any body image insecurities?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
Everyone has insecurities. Sure, I have my days when I don’t feel great and I will put on something baggy. I’ve never been really skinny and I’ve never been obsessed with working out. I just try to stay healthy and that’s it.

How important was it for you to get the shower scene right?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I don’t know if it was very important. Maybe some high school boys will disagree with that, but I don’t think it was very important to me. We just wanted the audience to understand that this is high school and that the people are young and reckless. All of the goofing around and playing and seducing – it’s all about my character having control of the situation on her last night of high school.

You were home schooled through your high school years… Did you ever feel like you missed out?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I was home schooled, but I didn’t miss out because I grew up around the kids who went to middle school and elementary school with me. I started home schooling because I moved to South Africa to film something in my freshman year. It made things easier in certain ways – but I still went to prom and I still went to homecoming. I remember a time when we ran from the cops and another time I got punched in the face, so I definitely had my fair share of experiences. We also had a place called the fort, which was an amazing place where all of our friends could meet. It was in the middle of the woods and on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River. My friends dug out campfires and we had torches – it was an unbelievable time. I had a really great time growing up. I had really great high school experiences, even though I didn’t actually go to high school.

Why were you running away from the cops?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
We were grouping in a place where we weren’t supposed to be. We’d chosen this party spot because no parents were going out of town that weekend. Some of the older kids thought it would be funny to light firecrackers just as the cops drove by, so we got chased. I don’t really know why I was running, but it was funny. I got a kick out of it. Unfortunately, three of my friends got grabbed. Oops. Big doo-doo! You’re in trouble. It was nothing that bad, though.

There are loads of false rumours in the press about you. Do you want to clear any up, such as the rumour you’re dating Steve Jones?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I’m single and mingling. I am not dating anyone specifically. I’m not pregnant and I’m not getting married. I’m not looking for houses with anyone. Let’s see… What else could there be? They’re all rumours. Don’t believe any of it. None of it is true.

Is there any truth in the rumour that you’re appearing in the new Footloose movie remake?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I don’t think so.

Does that movie mean anything to you?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
It was a classic film and I’ve seen it, but I wasn’t the right age when it first came out. It’s still a great film, though.

It doesn’t sound like you’ve completely closed the door on the opportunity of starring in the remake…
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
Well, you never say never with anything. But I’m on a show where we have two months off in the year to do something else, so it’s tough to fit anything in there.

Can you talk about your other projects, such as your environmental documentary, The Cove?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
Sure. I’ve worked on a documentary called The Cove and some of the footage is from my trip to Japan, which has had a lot of press. It obviously has to do with whaling and it was a painful experience. I can’t really watch it anymore, although I have to. I’m still trying to do as much as I can to save the whales.

Are you allowed back in Japan?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I had a meeting with the foreign minister who said I was welcome back anytime. They are a country of very, very kind, nice and respectable people. I don’t agree with what they’re doing, but I think I’m welcome back. I might be watched pretty closely, though.

Where did this activism interest stem from?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I got involved with the whale and dolphin causes because I grew up a big fan of animals. It’s the way I was raised. I love animals. If I could work with animals for the rest of my life, I’d be the happiest person – but this just fell into my lap. I was shown footage and educated about whales, so when I was asked if I wanted to help out, I said, “Absolutely… Tell me where to sign and tell me what I can do to help.” I believe in seeing things through to the end, which is what I’m trying to do. I don’t want to spread myself too thin, but this is a big, big problem. I said I’d be by their side to the very, very end.

You were pretty brave to take a stand in Japan…
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I was so excited to do it, but it’s the only way you really get things done. That’s why I became involved in politics, too. Ultimately, we want laws to be passed and we want to get people involved because the more people who learn about it and become outraged, the more uproar and the more force to change traditions. It made me feel like I was doing something. I can sit down on camera and say, “Save the whales,” but this was much more fun. I would rather go back in that water and stand in front of those animals again than do any PSA Public Service Announcement or go to any meeting. I did it once. I’ll do it again.

What other projects are you working on?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
Apart from Heroes, I did an independent film called Carmel with Lauren Bacall and Alfred Molina. It was fun. We went up to Carmel to shoot it and it was a great experience.

Lauren Bacall was the same age as you when she first hit the big time… Do you see any parallels with your careers? Do you think your career could follow her track?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
My career could take any track. I don’t know where it’s going and I take joy in not knowing. I’m excited to see what comes my way, but I don’t know what the future holds.

You’ve worked with so many stars. Do you ever have a ‘pinch me’ moment when you’re standing next to an A-lister?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
There are definitely ‘pinch me’ moments because I’ve worked with some amazing people – but I prefer the ‘step up your game’ moments more. That happens when you’re working with someone who brings the best out of you and you have to step up to their level. They force you to be better – and that’s really fun as an actor. I enjoy it immensely.

Before we go, can we talk fashion for a moment? How would you describe your sense of style?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I still can’t define my sense of style. My sense of style is like my taste in music. It’s very eclectic and it’s very all over the place. It all depends on how I’m feeling that day. I love short, tight dresses, I love pant suits, I love jeans and baggy sweatshirts. I love everything.

What’s your favourite item hanging in your wardrobe right now?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
My wardrobe changes all the time because I never keep anything now. I borrow things for a red carpet and then I have to send them back.

But there must be one outfit you live in all the time…
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
You know what? I love my sweaters. I have a Demy Lee sweater from New York that I live in. I seriously wear it all the time. A cast member literally chased me around the set the other day saying, “Hayden, this needs to be washed. Come on, just give it to me. It’ll be back by the end of the day. You need to take off the sweater!” They did get it off me eventually and it’s very clean now, but I love it so much.

What’s the worst thing in your wardrobe?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
I don’t think I’ve got anything bad in my wardrobe. If it was bad, it would be gone by now. The memory would be erased immediately. You see, my mum came up with a great idea for a website, which is where all of my clothes go – good and bad. It’s called panettierecloset.com and I put all of the swag I get on there, as well as clothes I’ve worn or clothes I don’t want anymore.

So all your old outfits are up for sale?
HAYDEN PANETTIERE:
Sure. People can go and buy them with all the money going to Save The Whales. Things become so cluttered that it’s a great way to open up a space in my closet. And I’m not somebody who changes their purse everyday. I couldn’t care less about things like that. I’m also not worried about wearing the same thing twice. That’s not me at all.

“If you’ve got something to confess, then go to www.iloveyoubethcoopermovie.co.uk