IML: How is Natalie, your character in Agent Cody Banks, different from Lizzie McGuire?

Hilary: It’s really cool because when I finished the last season of Lizzie McGuire, we wrapped during the day and that night I flew to Vancouver, and then went to work on Cody Banks the next day. It was rushed but it was cool. Natalie is the popular girl at school and she has everything going for her and she’s really independent. She didn’t have a mom and she took care of the household situation with her dad. That made it very different because Lizzie McGuire has the whole family environment going on. Lizzie’s also very insecure and she’s not the “cool girl” at school. That’s how they were different.

IML: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Hilary: That’s so far away, but hopefully I will be doing the same thing I am now! I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep doing it and that’s why school is important. I’m singing now and my album will be out in August or September, so that’s fun. My sister also sings and she’s writing a lot for my album.

IML: Do you have plans to join forces and sing with your sister?

Hilary: We haven’t found a song that’s really cool for us to do together. But I definitely think if I go on tour, I want her to come with me and perform some.

IML: Would you like to go on tour, if you had the chance?

Hilary: I’m dying to go on tour! I go out of town now to do a lot of movies because most movies are going out of town now. It’s hard because I’m away from my friends all the time and I’m 15 years old. I think going on tour and going to all those cities and countries would be really cool, though.

IML: Do you practice in your hotels with a hair dryer as a microphone?

Hilary: Definitely I have! Every girl has, I think.

IML: What’s your style of music?

Hilary: It’s definitely not pop, but it’s definitely not hard core rock. It’s somewhere in between.

IML: How do you get along with your sister?

Hilary: We’re really close. When she got her car, she started driving me everywhere. She turned 18 in February and her name is Hailey. We do everything together and she’s my best friend. We fight and bicker, but usually about “You stole my clothes!” or “You stole my makeup.” It makes me sad to see that some of my friends aren’t that close with their siblings. They’ll fight all the time. My sister and I have a really cool relationship. My mom was worried that when Hailey turned 18, she would want to move out of the house. But we just bought a house in California and there’s a guest house in the back, and Hailey feels like it’s cool to live there.

IML: Would your relationship be different if you weren’t acting?

Hilary: Everyone always says, “You have the TV show. Don’t you guys get jealous of each other?” It’s not like that at all. We’re both really supportive and close. If we ever get into fights, it’s because she stole my clothes and I stole her makeup or something. It’s cool that she’s writing for my album because she has a really special talent for that.

IML: You’ve said in the past that volunteering is really important to you. What type of volunteering have you done recently?

Hilary: I feel bad because I’ve been out of town working so much that I haven’t had too much time like I did before. When I’m in town we do hospital visits to sick kids. It’s called Kids With A Cause and it’s a non-profit organization and it’s cool because all of the money we make goes to the kids. 100% of it. If I’m in New York, maybe I’ll have time to go to a hospital and see kids. It’s all over the country. There’s one in New York and one in LA that we go to a lot. We also get groups together from less fortunate homes who have never been able to go to a theme park and we just hang out and be like a normal kid. We get food for them and clothes.

IML: Did your parents encourage you to volunteer when you were younger?

Hilary: My mom is into charity. If we have a dinner party or a birthday party, she tells people, “Don’t bring presents for us, bring diapers or something so we can give it away.” I think the influence from my parents started it for me and my sister. It’s really important to give back.

IML: Does your mom help you decide who to give back to?

Hilary: She always asks me first. She’s usually dead on and we know each other so well. My parents are so supportive of us. My mom goes with me every time I go out of town and every time I work she is there. Most kids my age don’t get along with their parents at all, and it’s creepy because my mom and I are really close and we do everything together.

IML: What qualities in a guy are most important to you?

Hilary: He has to be tall, pretty tall. He has to make me laugh and he has to be smart. He can’t spend more time in front of the mirror than I do. That’s definitely important. It’s hard because I’m only 15.

IML: We hear you’re into some cool sports. What are your favorites?

Hilary: I actually am! I like gymnastics a lot, and swimming.

IML: What do you like about gymnastics?

Hilary: It’s a big release for me. I have a trampoline in my backyard so I can go out there and go crazy.

IML: How do you stay in touch with your friends when you’re working so much?

Hilary: It’s hard because I go out of town so much and I don’t really have a lot of time to spend with my friends, but they understand that I’m working and I love to work. That’s definitely important but they’re awesome and I love them. When I’m home I get to spend as much time with them as possible.

IML: What do you think it means for a girl to be strong?

Hilary: I think it means, especially with guys, that you have to stand your ground. It’s like the expression: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything.”

IML: If you weren’t a celebrity, what do you think you’d be doing?

Hilary: I always wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger, but then I figured out that animals actually die there, so that was not the job for me.
Definitely something with kids or animals or something like that.

IML: Is there a Lizzie McGuire movie in the works?

Hilary: Yes, there is and it will be out May 2, 2003. There are four episodes of Lizzie McGuire which haven’t aired yet, and the last one leads up to the movie, which shows us graduating to high school. The movie picks up where the TV show ends off. The class gets to go to Rome and there’s all sorts of adventures.

IML: Will Frankie Muniz be in the Lizzie McGuire movie?

Hilary: No, I don’t think so. He made appearances in the show. It was cool because I got to work with him again.

IML: Is there a special bond with Frankie since you are both young stars in this business?

Hilary: I think so. Frankie is a little older than me, but we’ve known each other for a long time. I think I met him right when he was filming the pilot for Malcolm In The Middle. It’s cool because we’re kind of the same age, but I’m bitter that he can drive already and I can’t!

IML: Are you surprised at how popular Lizzie McGuire has become?

Hilary: I think so. I never thought that would happen or this would happen. I’m shocked. I’d say shocked more than surprised.

IML: Were you prepared for the huge fan base?

Hilary: No, not at all. I kind of guessed it but especially when the show first came out. A couple of people would recognize me here and there. Now, going to restaurants is hard or going to the mall is hard. It’s very cool though. It’s nice to know that people like the show and they like what you’re doing. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment.

IML: Now that you get recognized, have you had to change your lifestyle?

Hilary: I can go to malls but it’s hard. If I’m in a rush and I want to go to certain stores, I can’t. But it’s not a bad thing. It makes it worse if you wear a hat or scarf because people are like “Oh, that’s her”. But it’s cool and I like it.

IML: What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Hilary: I’m a totally normal kid. People don’t think that, because I’m on TV. When I come home I have to take the trash out and feed my dog and make my bed. Then I want to hang out with my friends and shop and I’m really just totally normal.

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