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In support of the January 4th return of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”, I was invited on a conference call with Shailene Woodley, who plays Amy Juergens on the show.
Shailene talked about her personality change on the show, playing the part of a teenage parent and how this whole experience of being on a hit show changed her or hasn’t changed her. Here’s Part 1 of the interview:
Q: My first question for you, I wanted to talk to you a little about Amy and the personality change I think that she went through after the baby was born. What do you think the writers were trying to do there, was that like postpartum depression or just that she was kind of overwhelmed?
Shailene: I think that all teenage girls kind of go through that mean stage where the world revolves around them. I think it’s very hormonal and especially after having a child I think that your hormones are all out of whack and it causes a lot of mood swings. So I think they were just trying to portray that life isn’t perfect after you have baby, you are going to go through exactly like what you said, post dramatic depression. You’re going to go through a lot of things that you wouldn’t necessarily go through if you hadn’t had a child at 15.
Q: Well you do a very good job of playing the part there I think.
Shailene: The mean one?
Q: No, I think you’re so nice, and then you’re mean, and then you’re nice again. It’s just really fun to see.
Shailene: Thank you.
Q: My next question here is that last season or I guess in the second part of the season, kind of confused about what season we’re even in now, there was a week break or so, and then the story jumped ahead across the summer break.
Read the rest below.
Shailene: Yes.
Q: That was a little bit confusing I think for people watching it. Do you know why that was done or what was kind of the point of that?
Shailene: Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not the writer. We collaborate sometimes with them, but most of the time it’s just their ideas being creatively put out. So I don’t really know the reasoning for that. I think it was just to kind of keep the main storyline going and not go off too much like on a tangent.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the evolution of both the character and you playing this? When it started I think you weren’t nearly as recognized, but your picture was everywhere in malls. How has this whole experience over the last year and a half or two years, how has that evolved and kind of changed for you?
Shailene: Honestly, my life is kind of the same. I’m a lot busier and, yes, there are a couple of people who will stop on the street, but people are generally very respectful and very nice. I don’t put myself out there. I barely wear any makeup. I just feel like I’ve kind of taken on the responsibility of being a professional.
It’s always awkward for me the whole fan situation, because I don’t know them and they don’t know me, so I want to engage in conversation, but then that’s always awkward too. It’s a very interesting dynamic, but other than that life has just been the same. I’ve stayed with the same friends and have the most amazing family ever, so I’ve been very lucky.
Q: I know you can’t say too much about what’s going to kind of happen in the next episodes, but is there anything you can share with us about what to expect when the show returns?
Shailene: Yes, there’s a lot of new things. Another maybe pregnancy, weddings; there’s a lot of confusion as far as in Ben and Amy’s relationship; there’s a lot of up and downs with Ricky’s character and trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. A lot of the characters are going through that stage in high school where you’re starting to become a person and in that recognition of who you are there’s a lot of confusion and you get scared. And I think a lot of teenagers react in not the best ways and I think the whole next season kind of discovers that and goes into depth of that confusing state of adolescence.
Q: Since you portray a teen that’s been through a pregnancy, if any of the fans are teen moms themselves or pregnant. If you’ve met anybody and they’ve kind of give you their thoughts or feelings about the show?
Shailene: Honestly, I haven’t met as many teenage parents as I have met parents who are now like in their 40s or 30s even, but were pregnant as teenagers; and pretty much their feedback is just like, "Wow, the show brings me back to my days of confusion and torment and putting myself down for doing such a thing as a teenager; and I think it’s really great how you kind of opened this up into current day 2009’s teenager world and showed them the consequences of having fun per se without being careful about it."
Q: If you could have anybody guest star or direct or just help in the show in anyway, who would you like to see be involved in the future?
Shailene: Oh man, that’s a tough one. Obviously, who wouldn’t say Meryl Streep? I don’t know, I think there’s a lot of amazingly talented people out there and I think there’s a lot of actors who haven’t even really done a lot, who’ve only maybe done a couple of things, but who are truly incredibly talented. Anyone who just brings forth commitment, I think that’s the most important thing. I’m always happy to meet new people and see their amazing talent.
Stay tuned for Part 2!
Image Credit: INF