Vanetta Smith
Vanetta Smith can be seen in 2007's Freedom Writers alongside Hilary Swank. With a gripping character and an emotional role, Vanetta puts her newly honed skills to the test. Focused on her goals, Vanetta knows where to keep her head, and even though she could be the next big thing, she makes sure she's always learning.
The Star Scoop:
Before you can have a big movie, you have to get into the business. How did you get started?
Vanetta Smith:
I got started in the acting business when I was about seven years old. It all just came together in Cleveland, Ohio. I started out in modeling at first. Because, I don't know, everyone thought I was this cute little girl, and I started out in modeling. Then my modeling teacher said, you should put her in acting, so my mom went to New York, and we found an agent in New York. I don't know, it just all came together. Now I got an agent, and I booked some commercials and started to learn.
The Star Scoop:
How did you get involved with Freedom Writers?
Smith:
I auditioned five times for the movie, and it was hard. I was very nervous the first time, I didn't think I was gonna get it. I got involved, I auditioned, and it just all came together.
The Star Scoop:
Tell us about your character and her role in the story.
Smith:
The character I play, Brandy, goes through a lot. She goes through a lot of tribulations, I think. I think also that she's just so mature so, she tries to take care of her little brother, her little sister. She takes care of everyone but herself. She keeps to herself and she's really quiet?
The Star Scoop:
You have some pretty emotional scenes. How did you get into character for that?
Smith:
Those scenes were really hard to do. The scene where Brandy is getting beat by her dad, that was the most tough for me. It was really emotional for me to have a man just beating on me with a belt, it was really emotional. In fact, in one of the scenes, they forgot to put the padding on me when we did it, and he whipped, and I was like, ahhhhh, I felt that one [laughs]. I felt that one. They forgot to put the padding on, and then it hurt, you know? But I kept on going with the scene. It was really challenging. I had my I-pod in my hand, and I just had to think of sad things to make me cry. It was hard, and I had to let myself go there, you know what I mean?
The Star Scoop:
What audience will the film, Freedom Writers be for?
Smith:
I think that the film is for all inner city kids. I think no matter age you are in the inner city, I think it's all for all inner city kids. I think everyone should go see this movie because a lot of people don't know that this is based on a true story, and they don't know that it can do a lot. When I was working on the movie, I didn't even see it, and I was just working on it...it changed my life. It really opened up my eyes, so I think everyone should go see this movie.
The Star Scoop:
So, what are you most excited about, with the movie?
Smith:
I'm excited to see the people's faces. I've seen the movie already, it's fantastic. We went to the cast and crew screening. It was fantastic. But I'm excited just to see the people's reactions. I want them to love it. It's a good movie to go see. It teaches you a lot.
The Star Scoop:
You got to work with Hilary Swank. Did you learn anything from working with her?
Smith:
Oh, I learned so much from her. So much. Acting wise, mentally, physically. Because she worked on Million Dollar Baby, and she taught us a few moves. Mentally I just learned, you know, you just need to learn to be yourself sometimes. You try to attract crowds, you try to be friends with everyone but you just need to learn to be yourself. Acting wise, I learned so much because she's such a great actor, you know? She would sit there, learn her lines. She just sits there and memorizes but she'd also be in the moment. She was wonderful to work with.
The Star Scoop:
What do you want to do next? Other films?
Smith:
I do have goals. There's buzz going around that I'm releasing a CD. I probably will. It a yes or no thing, I probably will. I do want to do that. That's one goal that I want to complete. I also want to get a TV show. I'm working on that right now.
The Star Scoop:
Do you have any other projects that you're working on right now, or anything definite that fans will get to see you in after Freedom Writers?
Smith:
I don't have anything I'm working on right now, not exactly at the moment, but I hope soon.
The Star Scoop:
Tell us a bit about yourself, and who you are. Obviously, when you see a movie, you don't get the real person.
Smith:
In real life, Vanetta Smith is just an average girl. I go through average problems. I go to a regular school in Burbank. I have regular friends. My life is very blessed, but I have to go home and do chores and if I don't my mom still gets mad at me. I'm still the same. I still go hang out with my boyfriend, you know, go to the movies, everything's regular...There's nothing really special about me. School's very hard. I stopped auditioning for a while, because I need to graduate. Home schooling has really messed me up. When I did the movie, I dropped out of my school, and went to home school, and it really messed up my credits, and I'm a senior this year. I was really upset that I won't be able to go to the college that I wanted to. That's just one of my goals, and I'm trying to get there. It's important to me, because my mom's a teacher. My whole family is full of teachers.
The Star Scoop:
If everything goes well with Freedom Writers, and in a year or so, everyone knows who you are, how will you keep the fame from going to your head?
Smith:
It's funny that you say that. People are already recognizing me, because the preview is in the theater. It's so ridiculous. It's like wow, you feel good about it. My mom doesn't let it affect me. She keeps me grounded. If I get a little bit of some air in my head, she will tell me. I can't. I can't. I don't have time for that, you know what I mean? You let it all get to your head, and it doesn't do anything but ruin you, and your career. People will see that, and it will affect them. It's bad for your reputation, too. My mom keeps me grounded by doing chores, but not treating me any different than other kids are treated.