noelle starr-the silk interview

i know you've read enough of these to know how it usually goes. reporter waits in a quaint coffee shop for the It Girl/starlet/pop sensation. its the type of establishment that proves it girl is not unlike one of us; she prefers small venues and hasn't let fame change her a bit. however, she gracefully shuffles in an hour late at least with an apologetic smile and the new 8,000 it bag. noelle starr is a bit different, though. she chooses the cheesecake factory just outside the city for our first meeting. i thought it was odd and overanalyzed the choice for two straight days. but was more fascinating was that she was early. i was the late one. just by five rbecause of my mother who wouldn't let me get off the phone and my lack of luck with the red lights. im defensive perhaps, but the point is i was only five minutes late and noelle sat in a back booth distractedly chowing down on an order of chicken dumplings. clearly, she had been there for awhile. for just a minute, minus the stunning beauty, noelle doesn't look like a starr, but more like a normal, hungry girl.
maybe its because she hasn't been famous for long enough. she has been dabbling in acting and modelling for three or four years now, most notable, her performance as a teenage runaway in the indie film, winded. there were a few roles as the angry teenage daughter in a few barely successful romantic comedies (maybe you remember her endearing scene with hugh grant last year in Love Square?). but then came what artists call the big break. famed director, dave orman jumped on board to direct the much anticipated film, Dirty Dozen based on the teen novel series of the same name, and handpicked noelle to be the leading lady. if you don't know about the Dirty Dozen Series then 1. you must be seriously uncool, dude and 2. you better ask your teenage niece or nephew immediately.
after sitting at the booth with a sheepish smile and mumble my apologies, i take note of ms. starr. she is wearing the normal new york uniform, a black turtleneck (that looks straight out of Banana Republic) and black leggings with low top chuck taylors. i can't tell if she's not into fashion, which is what she told teen vogue in their september issue) or if she is so chic she makes it look effortless. she seems very aware of herself, methodically planning out her answers to my questions. when asked what she thinks of the character she portrays in DD, she responds after swallowing her lemonade
"fiona is unapologetic about who she is and what she wants. thats what i admire about her most. on the other hand, i completely loathe how dependent she is on marco. i understand WHY she's like that but would never condone that, you know? if she were my friend, my suggestion would be to get a life."
then she pushes her stylish bob behind her shoulders and takes another bite of her entree (chicken avocado salad) as if thats the end of that subject. so i move on to juicier issues. its been reported that she and co-star/hunk mico sanchez are the new item, despite him being six years older than the seventeen year old.
"so what was it like working with mico as your love interest?" i innocently ask, warming up to the real question.
she gives me a small sly grin, no, more like a smirk before she places her fork down to reply.
"mico was great. he really was helpful since he has a bit more experience with big budget movies than i do...we had a lot of fun."
that doesn't confirm anything so i continue on, its my job, for petesake.
"there were a lot of rumors circling about the two of you being more than just co-stars. im sure you've heard..."
noelle picks up her martini and looks over at the display of cheesecake before giving her last response to my annoying curiosity.
"there will ALWAYS be rumors. mico and i are friends, he's a great guy." end of story, she might as well add. but after this interview and before this story is published, gossip websites everywhere will have pictures of the two kissing, holding hands and giving affectionate stares you only give your significant other everywhere. but for now, mum is the word. i move on to even more touchy territory, her off screen battles and rivalry with co-star, megan bullock. on this topic, noelle is surprisingly chatty.
"there are people in the world who can't stand to share the spotlight. even if they have everything, they still don't want to see you get anything" her voice is louder and filled with hurt.
"nasty things were said about me in the press that were totally not true. i find it completely unprofessional for someone who has been in this industry for this long. but, i won't stoop to her level. i have no comment about that girl."
noelle is no doubt referring to the comment megan made on a late night talk show about noelle's lack of talent. it went something like this 'when i read the novel, i knew that I WAS fiona. I knew i had the chops to do it. but...someeone else (who has like almost no experience and hadn't even read the book or any book for that matter) swoops in and lands it. some roles aren't based on your talent in the audition but your talent elsewhere...youknowwhatimsayin?" the fights that were reported about the battles over dressing room, make up people and ultimately mico kept access hollywood and entertainment tonight in business for months. but thats what megan bullock is all about. its what she thrives on...no one should take it personally, but noelle is new and doesn't know that yet.
noelle tells me about her mother, after getting a text from her. she's a nyc assistant teacher who sacrificed a lot to get her daughter where she is today. based on the description, i take a logical guess and ask if her mother was a performer herself. noelle swears that im psychic but goes on to tell me what a great singer her mom is. she use to sing at dfferent venues on the lower east side before she married noelle's father. dad is a sticky subject since its been reported that he was arrested last year for some sketchy business dealings. noelle doesn't mind discussing him since she says she doesn't have any dealings with him and hasn't for the last four years of her life. she looks sad but strong when she talks about it. i kind of get the feeling that her disappointment in fiona's flaw stems from daddy issues. she is unwilling to be dependent and then ultimately disappointed.
we finish the meal and pay the check and i feel that we have bonded a bit, as much as a reporter and a new it girl actress can bond. is she for real. im not sure if i have been charmed by the likes of a starr. i mean their whole career is about sucking us in. however, the following week when i see a glam noelle at the photo shoot, she jumps out the make-up chair to hug me hello. she just may be the real thing, i decide.
it went something like this. "