Sheila Magazine

" sheila I news Why do want my picture? huge football scene with a thousand people including extras. All of a sudden I heard someone calling, "Heather, quiet chick!" I really didn't understand what was going on. People wanted their photo with me. It was really shocking and I remember thinking, I'm not better than you. Why do you want my picture? Q: Do you understand now why A: It is still so awkward. After I worked on Loser with Jason Biggs, I went through a very rebellious period. I really wanted to go back to school. I started to take some extension classes at UCLA. They told me I can take the first two years as an extension student, but had to take the last two years full time. I really juggled with this because I wanted to take control over my life. In this business, you're always waiting to see what is going to happen. I hated this feeling and felt a bit like a pawn. I thought about leaving the business and went through this whole kind of inner angst. Ultimately, I came out realising that there was me, Mena Suvari, and there was this persona. I had to learn how to work with that. I realised that I had to go out to events and take pictures with people. But I didn't grow up like that. Some people told me that ultimately I was going to be famous. But that was never a goal of mine. It's weird. But you have to understand that you are (not that I am giving myself credit) an icon in a way to people. They really admire you, although they do not know you. That's awkward. people want a picture with you? Q: Is there a famous person that you would like to take a picture with? A: Yes. But it depends because I know how I felt sometimes when I'M NOT BETTER THAN YOU. people asked me. It has to be the right moment because I don't want it to be awkward. I have definitely geeked out on a lot of people. Q: Can you give us an example? Daniel Day-Lewis at one of the Academy Awards parties. I acted like a fool and was like, "Oh my God, it's Daniel Day-Lewis. You are totally awesome!" And it seemed like he had no idea who this crazy person was talking to him. A: I think the biggest one was Q: When you say that the business has changed a lot in the past five years, what do you mean exactly? A: Reality shows, people being famous for really anything and people that are being acknowledged for things that are really negative, horrible role models. Drug addicts can be role models nowadays. It's so twisted and really confusing to me. Q: Did you go to your A: I didn't. I went to two different high schools in Los Angeles, but was just ready to get out of there and never come back. I was always into work. I never went to prom or anything like that. So I felt like the first American Pie gave me my high school experience. I had my hot boyfriend Oz and went to a prom. own high school reunion? Q: What is the most have learned about yourself? A: I think you find a lot of strength within yourself. There was a point in my life where I pushed myself further to try new things. I would travel to places that I used to hold myself back from because I thought I probably couldn't do something. That's a good, refreshing feeling important thing that you hot new releases must see FILMS WANDERLUST Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston star in Wanderlust, a comedy from director David Wain (Role Models) and producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) about a couple who leave the pressures of the big city and join a freewheeling community where the only rule is to be yourself. BIG MIRACLE Based on the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, this is the tale of a news reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly-forming ice in the Arctic Circle. CONTRABAND Mark Wahlberg leads the cast of Contraband, a fast-paced thriller about a man trying to stay out of a world he worked so hard to leave behind and the family he'll do anything to protect. SHEILA MARCH 2012 23 "

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