A nice girl with a big heart

MANILA, Philippines - After playing as the indestructible cheerleader Claire in Heroes, Hayden Panettiere enwraps herself once more as a cheerleader in the upcoming comedy I Love You Beth Cooper.

Hayden takes on the role of Beth Cooper, the hottest and most sought-after girl in school. Beth is shocked when school nerd and valedictorian Dennis Cooverman (Paul Rust) declares his undying love for her in his graduation speech. Dennis is equally surprised when Beth turns up on his doorstep that night and promises to show him the time of his life. Below are excerpts from an interview with Hayden:

What is Beth Cooper like?

“She’s a very interesting character who undergoes a real evolution. In the beginning the audience probably won’t really like her. She is kind of a nasty girl, the popular girl. And then you discover over the course of the film that she actually doesn’t think much of herself. She is actually a very nice girl with a big heart, but really struggling in life.

Can you discuss the story and what it says about the high school experience? 

“The story is interesting because it focuses on five people who come from really different social groups, who would not normally have anything to do with each other. There are always those kids at school you would never hang out with. You know who they are   but you never talked to them. These five people come together and actually meet and realize that they’re not so different after all.”

Have you ever had a moment when you professed your love to somebody like Dennis does?

“I did. His name was Mike. I was madly in love with him and I was seven years old. I told him I loved him and I remember him telling me that he was actually in love with my best friend at the time. He told me to tell her and I was so jealous. I remember I threw a Jolly Rancher (candy) at his face.”

Did you enjoy bonding with your co-stars?

“Yes, it was really fun; it’s a nice change for me, working with people around my age. I think it was a great experience for all of us because we had to learn quickly how to work with each other. It’s a growing experience to be around people with varying opinions and views of the world.”

What does this film say about the archetypal   gorgeous, popular girl at school?

“I think a lot of the popular girls struggle within themselves to find out who they really are. They are always pleasing everybody else because at the end of the day, when you’re popular you want to make sure that you keep being popular and you keep your friends, and that is hard.”

I Love You Beth Cooper is now showing in theaters.