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Danielle Panabaker

THE BEAUTY, THE BRAINS AND THE SKILL:
Danielle Panabaker, the wholesome star who is turning heads

By Traci J. Grant

In today's world of divas and club-hopping stars, Danielle Panabaker is a breath of fresh air. Talk to her for mere moments and one will quickly learn that even since starring in this summer's smash Disney picture Sky High as Layla, Danielle has her feet firmly on the ground. "I am seventeen years old, I live out in Los Angeles, California with my family: my younger sister Kay and my mom and my dad, and our two dogs, both Yorkshire Terriers - their names are Peanut and Butter. We've lived here for almost three years now. I'm finishing up my associate's degree in college, and this fall I'll transfer to UCLA as a junior. And I'm also an actress in my spare time," laughs Danielle.

Mothers around the country can finally relax, knowing there is a good role model for their daughters out there as Danielle Panabaker emerges as one of today's hot young stars. She's as wholesome as she sounds, and, having started college at just fourteen years old, Danielle is the perfect advocate for putting education first. "I'm so happy that I have the opportunity to continue my education while I'm working. I've learned different ways: taking Saturday classes, night classes, online classes, correspondence classes, there are so many different ways to make it work."

That's a load for anyone, especially an actress in the spotlight. But Danielle is quick to explain that although she skipped out on going to high school, she hasn't missed a thing. "I went to my freshman year of high school in Chicago, where I was living at the time. And I got a pretty good taste of high school and realized that I didn't much care for it. I was always labeled a nerd, and I didn't really enjoy high school. There were catty girls, and all kinds of different things that made it difficult for me. So leaving after my freshman year was never a problem for me. When we came out here [Los Angeles], I quickly finished up at an independent study high school, but I still got to go to prom and my little sister came with me, and I think I actually had it a lot better than a lot of kids my age."

Danielle puts herself in the "kid" category, but she's almost an adult whose manner seems beyond her age. She's tackled some heavy roles with mature content and has continued to prove that she's up for the challenge. Recently, she appeared alongside Jane Krakowski and Mercedes Ruehl in the Lifetime original, Mom at 16. She plays Jacie Jeffries, a teen dealing with the fact that she's a new mother and has to keep it a secret. Danielle says she was attracted to the role because of the script. "I think that teenage sex is a topic that shouldn't be taken lightly. And I love this movie because it really took time to explain what can happen and it showed the difficulties of being a young mother. I think it had a wonderful message. There's a scene in the end of the movie, where the character I play got to address all her peers and say as much fun as it might be, here's the reality of it, and I was very attracted to the message."

With a trend of acting in such mature projects it seems as though Danielle might have some pressure to continue the pattern. However, she simply pushes the notion aside, explaining, "Any pressure I have is self imposed, and it's to do projects that I'm proud of, that at the end of the day I can put my head on the pillow and know that I've done good work and ten years down the road I can still be proud of how I spent my time and the projects I was part of. I just want to continue doing good work."

With good work comes good results, as Danielle Panabaker already knows. She's already won a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special for Searching for David's Heart. "I'm very honored, very flattered. It's so wonderful to know that my work is well received by people who are judging other work and that I have something worth pursuing. It's extremely flattering," she says about becoming part of an elite group of young award winners.

Awards, college, and roles that let her talent shine, Danielle Panabaker is the ultimate role model for young girls. If that's not enough to convince you, here's another reason: she's a good girl, inside and out and her wholesome image isn't going anywhere. "I think my mom is the biggest influence on my life, and if I ever started to do anything that was detrimental to myself, she'd pull my out of this business and ground me so fast it'd make my head spin. She does a wonderful job with keeping me very grounded and focused on reality." With a pause, Danielle adds, "I'm a very private person, and so going out at night to parties with people older than I am doesn't really appeal to me. I prefer to have fun, you know, swimming in the backyard with my family and close friends. So, while these girls have dropped their wholesome image, I think it is who they are, and that's just not who I am, if that makes sense."

Danielle kept her distance from Hollywood's pressures, but there has been a price in the past to pay. "You'd be surprised how many people are headed in the wrong direction and it makes me very sad to see these people with so much potential at such young ages getting involved in things that they should not be getting involved in. I try to surround myself with people who won't encourage me to do bad things but people change and I've lost friendships because of it, because of decisions people have made. I prefer to be safe and healthy among so many other things. People who would persuade me to be otherwise, I just try and steer clear of."

So what does the future hold for this bright and talented star? "I love acting right now. I think there's so much to be learned. I'm so fortunate that I can be on movie sets and learn everything that everyone does. If anything, I would love to produce some day. I love acting, and no plans to stop anytime soon. But I could eventually pursue producing. But, we'll see. I'm seventeen right now. I've got a long way to go." Anything else? "Hopefully [in the future] still working, have my bachelor's under my belt, still working and maintaining the same sort of integrity I've been able to maintain for the past couple of years in terms of the projects I've done."

Danielle Panabaker is here to stay and she's finally getting the mainstream roles she deserves. She currently co-stars in Sky High, and her next film with Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo, Yours, Mine and Ours will hit theaters soon. Danielle is many things: smart, talented and beautiful, she has a good head on her shoulders and she is the classic girl next door. We're glad Danielle Panabaker moved into the neighborhood of stardom.  

All quotes in this artircle were given in an interview with TheStarScoop.Com

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