Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesRemember Willa Holland as Kaitlin Cooper on The O.C.?
If not, that's OK, because you're going to have a lot of chances to get reacquainted with the young stunner in the next few months. First up, Holland (whose stepdad is director Brian De Palma) will be seen in Jason Freeland's indie drama Garden Party, followed by at least three big-screen projects opposite A-list talent like Dennis Quaid, Colin Firth and Susan Sarandon.
We caught up with the 17-year-old former child model at last night's Garden Party premiere at the Vista Theater in Los Angeles...
What was it like to go from The O.C. to Garden Party?
It was very, very different, because on this film it wasn't that large of a crew, probably only 20 or 30 people. But on The O.C. we were working with like 200 people on the call sheet!
You worked with Dennis Quaid in the upcoming Legion. Did he give you any advice about making it in Hollywood?
He is one my favorite people ever. The night before we began shooting, we had a cast dinner, and we randomly got seated next to each other. We ended up having like a 45-minute-long conversation, and we got really close on this project...I think for everyone in this industry, he just prays that we all manage to keep our heads firmly on our shoulders in this day and age and our feet on the ground.
Did you check out Bridget Jones's Diary before going to work on Genova with Colin Firth?
I actually have never seen that. For an actor, I am actually a really bad movie watcher. I should have seen every film out there, but oddly I have not. But I knew who he was, I saw him in Love Actually. I love him to death. He is one of the biggest sweathearts.
In Middle of Nowhere, you worked with Susan Sarandon. She's so political. Did she try and impart any of her enthusiasm onto you? Did she inspire you to get excited for the election?
I actually try and stay away from politics because I don't know too much about it.
—Additional reporting by Alexis Brunswick