Article 12:Transcript from People Online Chat
PEOPLE: Hi everyone! I'm Patrizia DiLucchio, yr host--and tonight's
conference with Beauty Poll Winner LARISA OLEYNIK is PEOPLE Magazine's
way of saying THANKS! to all of you for making our Online Beauty Poll
so successful.
I bet you all KNOW who Larisa is... She's the fetching star of Nickelodeon's "The Secret World of Alex Mack" and the star of "The Babysitter's Club."
Hiya Larisa! I know you do a lot of online conferences. Do you have the time or interest to do much websurfing on yr own?
Larisa Oleynik: Oh yeah! That's definitely mostly what I use my computer for... I use it to check out my favorite band, No Doubt! I just like looking around a lot.
PEOPLE: A lot of Larisa's fans who could not be here tonight have left questions for Larisa on our message boards. We're going to try and get a bunch of those answered too--it's only fair--so please don't get impatient if I seem to be asking Larisa questions directly: I'm asking for her fans!
Question from Sabotage: Are there any charities/foundations that you are involved with?
Larisa Oleynik: Because I'm part of Nickelodeon, I'm an active part of Nickelodeon's Big Help. It's kind of a year-round thing, but there are a few big days when we go around and collect food, and things like that.. And I'm also involved with Hands Across Communication,... It's a company that does signing for hearing-impaired people. Also Surfrider Foundation and Starlight Foundation.
PEOPLE: I've also heard you're involved with getting teens to stop smoking!
Larisa Oleynik: Yes. That's for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Basically, Ryder Strong and Ben Savage and I are Youth Ambassadors for them.
PEOPLE: This next is from our Boards...
"Dear Larisa, Sorry couldn't make it. I live overseas and have to attend High School. I was wondering if you had any prospective movie roles that you might take. If not, are you planning to expand from television to television and more feature length film roles? If not, how come? --Trevor Martin"
Larisa Oleynik: I would definitely love to do a movie in the near future. I really love the sappy, cry-your-eyes-out movies a lot. I'd love to do something like that. Right now I really can't audition for something, because I'm filming the fourth season of Alex Mack.
Question from Monkeybutt: Larisa, I just have to know... what kind of shampoo do you use?
Larisa Oleynik: Oh my god, it's Monkeybutt! It changes every day... I have like sixty different kinds, it's like a drugstore in there.
PEOPLE: From our boards..
"I was really surprised the other day when I walked through a Barnes and Noble and saw Alex Mack books with your face on the cover. I immediately bought three, of course, but I'm wondering if you've seen these. Did you know that there are Alex Mack books? If so, what do you think about them? Do you write them or read them yourself? Are they all about episodes of Alex Mack or are the stories different?--Esther Liberman"
Larisa Oleynik: Yes, the books started about a year ago. I forget how many are out now, but the stories are all different from what the episodes have been. I've read a couple, but I definitely don't write them!
Question from Bazza_cs: Larisa !!!! the whole CS crew is in the house! Have you got a message for them?
Larisa Oleynik: Thanks, guys! (CS is Celebrity Sightings, which is my website that I do with a bunch of friends who are also actors)
PEOPLE: From the Boards...
"I was wondering, what is your favorite No Doubt song? Love ya! =3D) Brian"
Larisa Oleynik: Oh goody goody! I love questions about No Doubt. My favorite is, I think "Total Hate." It's a duet with Gwen and Bradley Nowell from Sublime.
Question from Monkeybutt: Larisa, if you could be any kind of animal, what would you be and why?
Larisa Oleynik: I 'd probably be a deer, because we live right by an open-space district, and we have a lot of them around our house. They're so sweet and so beautiful, and I love them!
Question from Scully23: How did you begin acting?
Larisa Oleynik: When I was eight years old, there was an ad in the newspaper for auditions for the musical Les Miserables, and I begged my Mom to take just for fun... and I ended up getting the part! Little Cosette.
PEOPLE: (I think Lacey Chaubert from Party of Five was Cosette too!!!)
Larisa Oleynik: After Les Mis, I got an agent and took lessons... It took me a while to get parts after that.
PEOPLE: From our Boards: "What is your middle name? --Chris Osborne"
Larisa Oleynik: I don't like it that much... I'm not gonna say exactly what it is., It beings with an R, and it's Russian.That's all I'm going to say!
Question from Bazza_cs: Larisa. How is the new powerbook? Have you found any good No Doubt sites?
Larisa Oleynik: Oh yes, I have plenty of No Doubt sites bookmarked. I love my new computer, it's awesome. I spend more time writing reports than surfing the Web, though.
Question from Mejai: Larisa, I know that u visited Chicago, my hometown, over the memorial day week end and I was wondering if u saw any interesting things or did any fun things while in Chicago?
Larisa Oleynik: Well, I was probably only there for 16 hours, so I didn't get to do that much, But the reason I was there was for the opening of the Viacom store.
PEOPLE: Another from the Boards...
"Hi Larisa, I think you're a wonderful talent. I would like to know who is the one actor/actress that you look up to the most?--Earle"
Larisa Oleynik: I have a few. Clare Danes I really admire! got to meet her briefly, and she's a sweetheart. I also really look up to Liv Tyler, and Reese Witherspoon, and Patricia Arquette.
Question from Darwin50: what is your idea of the perfect guy?
Larisa Oleynik: I really just like people that are fun and spontaneous and can really get crazy with me but also have a really intellectual conversation with. Oh yeah, they to take me to concerts!
Question from Stupor_man: Larisa, do you have to memorize scripts, use cue cards, or both during AM? If scripts, how big are they (page wise :)?
Larisa Oleynik: We only film about five pages a day, so I can memorize the lines the night before, or even right before we shoot.
PEOPLE: From the Boards... "Do you watch much sports on TV?--Kristoffer Schermo"
Larisa Oleynik: Occasionally. I'm not really a sporty person, but I do like to go to actual games, like my high-school games.
Question from Mental_midget: This is going to sound really weird but I've always wondered, how did you get that little scar on your cheek? It's so cute :)
Larisa Oleynik: I got it when I was in preschool. I think I just ran into the corner of a table or something... I was really hyper.
Question from Emailking: What's the origin of your name?
Larisa Oleynik: My dad's side of the family is Russian... Larisa is a very Russian name. And Oleynik is Ukrainian.
Question from Williaml: Do you like Classical music?
Larisa Oleynik: I like all types of music. I grew up listening to classical music, because both my dad and I play piano. when I was really little, my parents took me to the opera. So I really grew to appreciate it.
Question from Williaml: Larisa are you getting your license soon? Have you started those defensive driving courses yet?
Larisa Oleynik: I am so lazy! My birthday is on two weeks -- I'll be 16 on June 7 -- and I haven't even gotten my permit yet.
Question from Danwholey: Have you ever visited www.larisa.com?
Larisa Oleynik: I've visited all the sites that people have told me about, and they've all been really well done!
Question from Danwholey: How large is your school, and do you feel you are treated differently from others in it?
Larisa Oleynik: I go to a relatively small school, and I've had the same friends since kindergarten, so they don't really treat me any differently, and neither do most people.
Question from Sabotage: Are there any other performers in your family, or are you the only one in the business? :)
Larisa Oleynik: I'm an only child, first of all, but in my extended family, no one else is really a performer, but most of them are very talented. My dad won awards when he was my age for piano, but he didn't make that his profession.
PEOPLE: From the Boards: " Larisa Oleynik what is your favorite outfit from Alex Mack?
Larisa Oleynik: I like ALL of them! My favorite was when I got to play when Alex turns into a little wild girl... I dyed my hair purple, and had these funky clothes, it was really cool.
Question from Brandon16: Do you play any musical instruments?
Larisa Oleynik: I used to play piano, but right now, no. I want to learn to play guitar this summer, though.
Question from Brandon16: What has been your favorite episode of Alex Mack?
Larisa Oleynik: The one called Creeper. It's about this guy at the school that everybody makes fun of. It was a really sweet story.
Question from Sheridan2: Are you going to come out to Washington DC and sign autographs any time soon?
Larisa Oleynik: I was there about a month ago! I don't know when I'll be returning. But I'm thinking about possibly going to Georgetown for college.
Question from Nick13: Why do you want to learn how to play guitar?
Larisa Oleynik: I have so many little poems and things in my journals..This would be for my own release, to learn how to play, just for myself.
Question from Don_s: Do you spend time off the set with Meredith Bishop?
Larisa Oleynik: Oh, yes! Meredith, who plays my sister, is the coolest girl, she's like a big sister to me, we do tons of stuff together!
PEOPLE: From the Boards:
"Do you watch National basketball Association on tv? I like watching the NBA. Do you think Woman National basketball Association is good thing? You would play in the WNBA. You were great in Hoop War you can use powers. Do you like any National Basketball Association Players or think they are cute? --Karl Malone"
Larisa Oleynik: About the women's league, I have a friend who's one of the founders of the ABO, and I think it's ABOUT TIME! What took them so long?
Question from Bobby_lof: Do you have a crush on anyone at the moment?
Larisa Oleynik: Sort of! There's someone from my school that I have a crush on, but it could all change next week, so I won't say any more.
Question from Sabotage: I think you're the most talented and beautiful actress to come around in a long time. I was wondering what advice you have for aspiring young actors out there?
Larisa Oleynik: The most important thin is to get an agent. and start going out on auditions. I think a lot of people think it's better to stay natural, but I think acting classes are a good idea. It's important not to get discouraged.
Question from Don_s: Do you plan to do any writing in the future?
Larisa Oleynik: I do have a lot of input on the show, like what kind of episodes I want to see coming up, and that's really cool. The head writer of the show has offered to show me how the scripts are put together and that kind of stuff, this summer.
Question from Bobby_lof: DO you like People magazine?
Larisa Oleynik: Yeah! I don't have a subscription of anything, but I read it in the grocery store, and if there's a good story in it I buy it.
PEOPLE: [beams approvingly]
Larisa Oleynik: I just like reading all the gossip in it.
Question from Bobby_lof: Would you actually dye your hair purple?
Larisa Oleynik: Actually, not toot long ago, I put pink streaks in my hair. I don't know if I'd dye it ALL OVER purple, but I wish I had the guts to!
Question from Aimmee: Hey Larisa its Aimmee from CS! what's your favorite type of coffee?
Larisa Oleynik: I just had a Starbuck's mocha frappucino It was SO yummy.
Question from Don_s: Did you enjoy making the movie The babysitters club?
Larisa Oleynik: Oh, yes, definitely! That was one of the greatest experience.
Question from Scully23: Is it strange to open a magazine and find a story about yourself?
Larisa Oleynik: It is strange, but it's so surreal sometimes. Sometimes it doesn't even register that it's about me. It's definitely cool, though.
Question from Emailking: Do you watch MTV/VH1?
Larisa Oleynik: I watch MTV a LOT! I like that they're putting more music videos on.
Question from Danwholey: How often do you use the Internet?
Larisa Oleynik: About twice a week, I guess, I don't have that much time. For a while I was using it twice a day, because I was doing research for a paper.
Question from Toad_man: Do you ever plan to go back and do some more theater work?
Larisa Oleynik: I was thinking about that this summer. My coach was thinking of putting on a play with some other people in my class. I don't know if I'll have the time. I love the theater!
Question from Crys14: Hey Larisa!! Wut are u gonna have for dinner???
Larisa Oleynik: I just bought some pasta! I get it practically every day.
Question from Scully23: Larisa- What's your favorite food/color?
Larisa Oleynik: My favorite food -- don't really have one. My favorite color is purple. It's just one of those colors that you NOTICE.
Question from Sabotage: I find a lot of similarities between you and Alicia Silverstone. Needless to say I think the world of both of you! I was wondering if you see any of that similarity at all? :)
Larisa Oleynik: When I didn't have bangs in my hair and its was longer, people used to tell me that all the time! I think she's really pretty, so thank you. I can do a really good impression of her in Clueless, too.
Question from Doug283: Are u going on vacation anywhere soon?
Larisa Oleynik: No. My summer is basically booked with Alex Mack. I might be able to go to Hawaii for a few days.
Question from Scully23: From your experience with theater, how do you feel about the Little Orphan Annie thing?
PEOPLE: I think Scully must mean the girl who won that contest...
Larisa Oleynik: I must be one of the few actresses that's never done Annie. I don't even know the words to "Tomorrow."
Question from Groovy_shoes: Larisa are you a model?
Larisa Oleynik: No, I've never really been interested in it. But I do have a lot of fun doing photo shoots.
Question from Scully23: Is it hard to be a role model to so many people, and still live your regular life?
Larisa Oleynik: I write an advice column for Tiger Beat, and sometimes I can get really frustrated and wonder why they ask ME for advice, but it's part of the territory, and if I can help kids in a positive way... But I know how to separate that from my everyday life -- I'm a struggling teenager as well.
PEOPLE: Our hour is about up! I'd like to ask one question myself... Larisa, what do you do for relaxation when you're not working or in school???
Larisa Oleynik: I just like to hang out with my friends. Tomorrow, I'm going to a No Doubt concert, so I'm pretty excited about that. Also I love being outside, and where we live is near the woods. after school my friends come over and we take about an hour to walk... that's the best part of my day.
PEOPLE: Hey, Larisa--will you go back stage???
Larisa Oleynik: We're still working on backstage passes... I don't know if we can, but if we can it'll be my birthday present from Nickelodeon...
PEOPLE: Hear that? If any of you know No Doubt...
Larisa Oleynik: God I WISH!
PEOPLE: Great!
I think your fingers must be tired! Larisa, thank you VERY much for spending this hour with us!
Larisa Oleynik: Oh, my pleasure! Now I have to go do homework!
PEOPLE: Hope your homework isn't too tough! Thanks to everyone who logged on with us tonight... Good night everyone! Thanks again for coming!