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Hollywood can be a total zoo! Just ask 15-year-old Raven-Symone. She's back as Eddie Murphy's onscreen daughter in Dr. Dolittle 2, the sequel to the 1998 hit comedy set in the animal kingdom. Find out how she kept her cool among her furry costars and the film's man vs. nature showdown.
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Charisse (played by Raven-Symone) doesn't always see eye-to-eye with her famous dad in Dr. Dolittle 2.
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TFK: Describe your role in Dr. Dolittle 2.
Raven: I play Dr. Dolittle's older daughter Charisse, who's going through her teen phase. Her family's in the spotlight, and she's not able to have a normal life because her dad speaks to animals. In the movie, she's having trouble with him, but in the end they come together because they have something in common (you'll have to see the movie to find out)!
TFK: How do you prepare for such big roles?
Raven: I'm not as mean to my parents as she is to hers, so I had to go into a different mode. I mushed together how my friends feel and I feel about growing up, then added a bit of a mean streak.
TFK: What about all those cool animals in the film?
Raven: They used a lot of real animals in this one, more than the first. I got to pet the drunk monkey, the mole and the dog. The monkey was a good actor and pulled off the role quite well. It's all because of the wonderful trainers. They gave the monkey gummi bears to eat when he did tricks. But I saw the bear from afar, and I was scared to death!
TFK: What is it like to work with a star like Eddie Murphy?
Raven: He's a very funny and very nice man. When you read the script, you want to stick with it. But when you're with Eddie Murphy you've got to improvise. He's always making jokes and making me crack up when the camera's on.
TFK: What do you like most about acting? Least?
Raven: I get to play different characters who are opposite from me or who are like me magnified 10 times. I also love when you get to see your work onscreen. The thing I like least is waking up at 4 or 6 in the morning to get on the set! I love acting overall, though.
TFK: Who's your role model in life? Who are your favorite actors and actresses?
Raven: My parents are my role models. I also love Halle Berry, Robert DeNiro, Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lopez. When I see their work, I get engulfed in it. They really capture me.
TFK: What's the biggest misunderstanding about kids in Hollywood?
Raven: Not all of us are brats. There are some, but the majority of us are really sweet people. Some just took the wrong path as they grew up. But I'm very fortunate to have parents who have kept me grounded, so I hopefully won't end up in a bad situation when I grow up.
TFK: What challenges do kids in particular face in the entertainment industry?
Raven: I think we work the hardest. We go on the set and then go right back to school when our job is done. Grownup actors go on the set and then rest after filming. We're always up and doing things.
TFK: Any advice to kids who want to go Hollywood?
Raven: Be professional, and stay sweet so that kid actors can keep their good name!
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