The Fourth Period :: Magazine :: Summer 2012

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As seen in the Summer 2012 issue.

Snow Angel
Blue-eyed beauty Brittany Snow is one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood. Here's why.
By Jordana Divon | Photography by Tyler Shields

Brittany Snow will be the first to tell you she's got a lot on her plate.

The 26-year-old multi-hyphenate (that's actress, singer and dancer, in case you were wondering) has more films coming out this year than most actors manage to crank out in two or three -- and with a drama (96 Minutes), a comedy (Syrup), a horror flick (Would You Rather) and a musical (Pitch Perfect) in the mix, the Tampa-born talent gets to show off her considerable chops alongside co-stars like Amber Heard, Anna Kendrick and Kellan Lutz.

But it's all par for the course for this busy working girl. After all, she's been toiling under the klieg lights since she was a toddler, and with credits like Hairspray, Gossip Girl, American Dreams, and Harry's Law under her designer belt, Snow has managed that rare, seamless transition from child actor to full-fledged Hollywood star without so much as one documented TMZ meltdown.

TFP caught up with the sweet-faced blonde to discuss what keeps her grounded in a crazy business, the importance of keeping a balance and how she indirectly helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Cup in '04 (true story).

You're working very steadily in an industry where actors can be out of a job for a long time. Why do you think that's the case?

Although I do work steadily I took a year off a couple of years ago just to get my life in order and reevaluate what's important to me. I've been working since I was three years old and I needed that time to just find out who I am and what I like and do normal things. That rejuvenated me somehow and gave me the strength to keep on auditioning and also to be really picky about that parts that I do choose. I think it's just really being OK with yourself and being centered, because the more that you get into your head in this business the more it swallows you up and then you end up not working inevitably because you just get so stressed out.

Is it difficult to stay levelheaded in Hollywood?

I don't find it difficult because luckily I have amazing friends and family that keep me in check and constantly pull me back to reality to be grateful and not get overwhelmed and overworked. I try to stay pretty grounded, but who knows? Maybe I'm not doing it.

You mentioned you've been in front of a camera since you were three. Is this it for you, or has there ever been a Plan B?

I've never even thought for a minute that I'd want to do anything else, because in a way [acting is] my therapy and it makes me feel just like I'm a regular person. Of course, I've always thought if it didn't work out I'd want to do something with the production side, but even if it got to where I'm performing in a community theatre for a few people, I'd probably still do it because it's what I love to do. Maybe one day I'll do my charity work full time if I'm really, really old and tired (laughs). But that's probably a long time from now.

So many actors are double dipping in the music world these days. Any interest in picking up a microphone?

I'm a little scared of doing a CD because I don't think that being a pop star is in the cards for me at all. I'm way too shy to ever get out on stage and rock out with a tube top or something. If anything, I might do a low-key sort of thing with my musician friends one day and not tell anyone it's me. Then if people really like it I'll say, 'surprise! It's me, I'm singing.' But if they don't, I'll never say it's me.

What's it really like to be a successful working actress in Hollywood? Is it work, work, work all the time or are there opportunities to relax and enjoy yourself?

I don't even consider myself one of the busiest people. I sometimes think about people in the business who are doing movies constantly and how they still manage to be photographed at dinners. I'm like, 'how did they get out?' But I think it's all about managing your schedule and balancing your time. I try not to go crazy and go out to clubs until 4 a.m. But I think it's also nice to let your hair down every once in a while and be young.

When you do let your hair down are you afraid of getting caught in tabloid crosshairs, or is it actually harder to get all those stories made up about you?

A lot of people say that: "How do you manage to stay out of the tabloids?" And it's funny -- it really hasn't ever been something that I've done on purpose. I've just never been interested in those kinds of things that get people into the tabloids and it's not something I want to be a part of. More than anything I want to be respected and respectful, but sometimes things happen that are beyond people's control and they wind up in [the tabloids]. But I think there are a lot of times people aren't looking, which is really great for me because I get to get away with a lot of stuff.

What kind of stuff?

Well, I definitely had my years of going out to the clubs and hanging out with the people that I used to hang out with and just being young and having fun. Luckily now that's not my kind of life anymore but I definitely had my days, just no one was paying attention, which was great.

Do you ever read about yourself online? What is it like to know you have all these fan sites and fake Twitter accounts popping up?

It's really bizarre to me that people even know who I am. I don't think I'm ever going to get completely used to it when people make pages for me or fake Twitter accounts. I can't really think about that stuff or else priorities get all out of whack. But then once in a while I'll see a fan page that somebody made me and it's got every single thing I've ever done and every picture that I've ever taken and they've taken pictures from my childhood and made it into a collage, and I'm like, why do people care? This is so weird. It's very humbling and I'm very grateful for it. It's very cool, but I try not to buy into all that stuff too much because I think I would just lose my mind.

You're known for having a girl-next-door appeal but you took a pretty sexy turn in Maxim last year. What made you decide to go there?

It wasn't really a decision where I went, 'Oh I'm going to be sexy now,' I think it was just something I thought it would be kind of fun to do it while I was young. I wanted make sure it was done in a classy way and didn't want any leather or black or anything like that because that's for another time or maybe a character. But I thought they were really beautiful pictures and done in a nice way. I wanted it also just for my own confidence and exploring my own sexuality. I would never pose nude or anything.

So what was the reaction from your friends and family?

It was great. I really didn't get any negative feedback, even from my dad who didn't want to look at [the pictures]. And he didn't really look at them -- just the cover. I think I was most concerned about my dad and my grandfather (laughs). Because of the way I look and because of my voice and my demeanor, people kind of see me as this little girl and I wanted to do something where I could prove to myself and to people that I'm not that little.

Obligatory hockey question. Any interest in the game whatsoever?

No, but I'm from Tampa and I used to go to Tampa Bay Lightning games all the time when I was a kid. We had season tickets and they never, ever won a game in the five times that I went. And then I moved to L.A. and probably about two years later, I guess it was in about 2002, they became the best team ever, and I was like, dammit! because I never got to see them when they were actually doing well. My Canadian friends are all about it, of course. But I don't really know it well.

So you haven't caught any games at the Staples Centre?

No, actually. I have a friend who said he was going to hook me up with some Kings tickets but it never happened.

Is there anything people would be surprised to know about you?

I love really cheesy jokes and corny things, and every guy that I've ever dated has to have a really good sense of pun stuff. I don't know why. I think I'm like an 80-year-old man somehow.

For more stories from the Summer 2012 issue of The Fourth Period Magazine, pick up a copy or subscribe today.