Interview: Miley Cyrus

In the process of pulling off a double departure from both her split personality persona Hannah Montana and the girl performer she no longer wants to be, Miley Cyrus grabbed the chance to project wilder and more seductive grownup attitude in the Nicholas Sparks scripted and Julie Anne Robinson directed The Last Song. She made no bones during this interview about dumping those wigs, comfort zones and security blankets for something a bit more on the hopefully exciting and adventurous side. Miley also weighed in on concurrent temptations in her midst, like putting on a few pounds when unable to resist the local cuisine while filming on Tybee Island, sexy Australians, and how to tell when love is real and a guy is a keeper by how much he’s ready and willing to get into her loco family.

Q: What was it about the switch-up from Hannah Montana with The Last Song that lured you in?

MILEY CYRUS: It was cool, a film that wasn’t based on Hannah Montana and wasn’t such a comfort zone. And a little bit more like me. But I want to give myself new challenges, and not be the same person over and over.

[popup url=”http://assets.longislandpress.com/photos/gallery.php?gazpart=view&gazimage=2022″]Click here to view more photos from The Last Song[/popup]

Q: How are you feeling about leaving Hannah Montana behind?

MC: As a new chapter is beginning, one that has also been my life for the last five years is ending. It’s interesting, to be leaving my security blanket behind. But it’s also exciting to get involved more with this movie. It makes me want to just continue to work and do more films. But it’s been such an amazing journey.

Q: Will there ever be another Hannah Montana movie for you?

MC: No, and the Hannah Montana wig is out! I’m not wearing that. One will be in a museum and one will be burned, or something. But I can’t put it on again, it’s just too much.

Q: What has been the most challenging stuff in maintaining a career, for somebody as young as you?

MC: There are always things that you’re going to pick yourself apart about. But you just have to go into each day doing your best, and not get too attached to anything. And you just have to not criticize yourself. I’ve gone these last five years with Hannah Montana, with everyone telling me what to do. Now it’s up to me, and what I think is right in my career. So I’m just going in my own direction. I want to continue to do what I love, but also give myself new challenges and not just be the same person, over and over.

Q: How about getting Liam Hemsworth for your leading guy in the movie?

MC: I like hot Australians. So I owe Nicholas big time. I got a little nervous about how big he was in height. I was like, I’m going to have to stand on apple boxes or something! So that made me a little bit intimidated, even though I’m usually the one that’s intimidating someone else!

But he ended up being awesome, and it was so fun. And I got to drop my guard for a little while, and throw all the fits that I wanted to for the past year, on screen. And I definitely related to the music, and the animals were really cool.