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American Morning

Talk with Teen Sensation Mandy Moore

Aired January 17, 2002 - 08:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We switch gears here now. Mandy Moore is with us. Mandy Moore is maybe somebody you haven't heard of her, but I bet your kids have. When she was 15, she had her first album, went platinum, then came two more hit records, her own MTV show, and a gig as a skin cream spokesmodel. And there is more. She's already embarked in a career in movies. She's about to make her debut as the leading lady in the film "A Walk to Remember."

Mandy Moore, the hardest working minor in show business, joins us this morning. Thanks for being with us.

MANDY MOORE, SINGER/ACTRESS: Good morning. Thank you for having me.

COOPER: I guess at age 17, which is how old you are now, I was popping pimples and thinking about getting a date. What is it that drives you? You said you started when you were 14?

MOORE: I got signed. I had a record deal at 14. And it was just something that was always in me. I knew from about the age of 10. I did a lot of musical theater. I'm from Orlando, Florida. I sang the national anthem at sports events, just anything I could do to get myself out there and perform in front of a crowd, and eventually end up here, if I could.

COOPER: Everyone wants you to end up right here, I know. Is fame a lot different than you thought it would be? When you were 14, you probably had this image what it's going to be like. And how is it different?

MOORE: It's I'm not the biggest megasuperstar out there. I don't feel famous. It's the fact of the people that I'm kind of surrounded with. I've had my parents with me on the road since day one. My mom and dad alternate on the road. I think that keeps your feet on the ground. You know, Regardless of anybody else surrounding you that may be in the industry, to have your mom and dad there, that helps out a lot.

COOPER: You hear so many stories about young people your age who become stars, superstars, the entire cast from "Different Strokes," and then they end up years later, something bad happens. How is it that you keep perspective?

MOORE: I guess you have to keep perspective. I'm 17 years old. I am so lucky and so blessed to be in this position now. You have to take advantage of that, but not take it for granted, and realize, obviously, just as quickly as you got here, it all could be taken away. So I'm having fun, regardless.

COOPER: It seems like these days to stay on top, you constantly have to change your image?

MOORE: Reinvent yourself, keep people interested.

I mean, I definitely think that's a big part of it, but trying to remain true to yourself is a really hard thing in the industry, too. So it's something that has to be in your mind the whole time, because I think people were see through it if you're not necessarily being yourself.

COOPER: I run down myself every day, different tie, different shirt. Is that something you consciously think about? Do you sit down and say, six months from now, I'm really going to have to reinvent myself?

MOORE: I think it comes along naturally with age. As I say, I'm 17. A couple of months from now, I'm going to have different ideas in my head. And as I mature, I'm sure I'm going to change physically and so on and so forth, but I don't know, I don't think it's something you really should concern yourself with most of the time.

COOPER: Do you feel under a lot of pressure? Not only are you under a microscope, you know, you sort of live in a fishbowl, people are looking at you all the time. You really are an industry unto yourself. People probably support themselves by living off you in a way.

MOORE: It's such a weird thought at 17. I'm doing something that I love I consider to be a hobby, but obviously is an occupation now. But there are adults that kind of rely on me for something that I love to do that obviously I take seriously, but you can't take yourself so seriously. That could be a problem. It's a weird concept to kind of think about. And you don't really want to keep that in the back of your head.

COOPER: Do you like being the...

MOORE: I guess it's something that kind of comes along with it. It's such a weird concept, though, to -- again, like, I don't really feel famous. I still feel like my life is semiscrutinized, but at the same time, I still get to have a private life, hang out with my friends, go to the mall, go shopping, you know.

COOPER: The movie you're in, you're first time you're a leading actress, opens up in two weeks. Are you excited about it?

MOORE: I'm so excited. I'm really proud to be a part of a movie that I think is refreshing. It's based on the Nicholas Sparks novel "A Walk to Remember," and it's kind of antithesis to every other teen film that sells itself on sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, and actually have something positive to present teenagers with, but at the same time, a really realistic approach to high school, with the stereotypes and the clicks and stuff.

COOPER: That's cool. I look forward to seeing it.

Mandy Moore, thanks so much for being with us.

MOORE: Thank you very much.

COOPER: All right, take care.

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