Statuesque, radiant and good-natured, young Mandy Moore has branched out from being an MTV host and teen recording sensation to a career in film. In 2003, she held her own with Allison Janney and Nina Foch (as a pot-smoking granny) in How To Deal. She also released her most daring and rewarding CD, Coverage (Epic), on which she performs admirable renditions of the songs of Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, Elton John, Joe Jackson, John Hiatt and The Waterboys, to name a few. In her new movie, Chasing Liberty, Moore plays Anna, the teenaged daughter of the President (played by Mark Harmon), who longs for a little freedom from the watchful eye of the Secret Service. Here is what she had to say about her new movie and her new CD.

Gregg Shapiro: As with Anna, in Chasing Liberty, are people always recognizing you and coming up to you in restaurants or on the street for a photo and an autograph?

Mandy Moore: That scene kind of jolted me back to reality. There was no acting required (laughs). It's very sweet. I feel like I'm able to escape that or maybe I'm just oblivious to it sometimes. I feel really flattered or honored when somebody comes up, because they're always respectful, the same as the mom was in the film. It doesn't take much out of your day, it doesn't take much of your time and people are really sweet about it.

GS: Since you are close in age to some recent and current first daughters—Chelsea Clinton, Jenna & Barbara Bush—I was wondering if you'd ever met them.

MM: I hadn't. I saw Chelsea Clinton at Bergdorf-Goodman shopping with her boyfriend one day. I almost wanted to walk up to her, but then I thought it's her private personal time and I don't want to invade that. I watched from afar for a little bit.

GS: Did you base any of the character of Anna on Chelsea, Barbara or Jenna?

MM: No, I felt like it would be unfair to say that. Their lives are so guarded, and rightfully so because of the position that they're in. I decide to approach Anna essentially as what she is, which is an average 18-year-old.

GS: Because there is a basis for Chasing Liberty in the Audrey Hepburn movie Roman Holiday, how does it feel to be stepping into … ?

MM: … you can't even say it (laughs), you can't say that. I didn't even think about that at all. Of course, I hadn't even seen Roman Holiday when I read the script, but of course I've seen it since then. It has the vibe of it, a little bit, which is great because it's an amazing film. But it's just weird to think about that sort of stuff. It's cool, but no, no. Too much pressure

GS: How did you like shooting in Europe?

MM: I loved it. I'm not going to lie, it was definitely one of the reasons that I wanted to do the movie. I'd never traveled to Prague or Venice before. I thought it was an interesting element to add to the equation for a romantic comedy. Luckily, I was able to play tourist in the movie and enjoy my surroundings. There wasn't much acting required there.

GS: That kind of wide-eyed 'look at that.'

MM: That's just Mandy being Mandy.

GS: There's the wonderful scene in the movie at The Love Parade, where there are lots of rainbow flags, gays and straights together and everybody is having a good time. What was that scene like for you?

MM: It was nice. I have to say that the partying element was definitely not my cup of tea because I'm not a big partier, but I obviously love what The Love Parade stands for. It was cool to be a part of it. I was really intrigued that my character wanted to be there and that it was something that was so important for her to experience. This whole trip was just for her to end up there with her friends to enjoy that time. I thought that was kind of a cool quality that Anna had.

GS: Let's talk about your co-star Matthew Goode for a moment. Did you get that young Rupert Everett vibe from him?

MM: A Rupert Everett/Hugh Grant sort of thing. Definitely!

GS: How does he compare to other male co-stars such as Elijah Wood, Shane West and Trent Ford?

MM: Matthew's great. He's so super-talented. I feel like we're lucky to have snagged him for this movie before he blows up and becomes some kind of huge heartthrob, British import. He's fantastic and I think he's great in the film.

GS: He is! There is great chemistry between the two of you.

MM: Thank you. Every female friend of mine that has seen the movie is like, 'Oh, my God.' Get used to it Matthew (laughs).

GS: In addition to Chasing Liberty, are there other upcoming film projects to which people can look forward?

MM: I have a film called Saved that is coming out in April. I start filming another one in March. Saved is going to Sundance, so I'm really excited.

GS: Have you done that with any of your other movies?

MM: No, I haven't. I think you might really like Saved. It's a funny little dark independent comedy.

GS: Was your new album Coverage a conscious effort to separate yourself from the pack of young female singers or was it a way to show off your excellent taste in music?

MM: Thank you! It was a conscious effort to be creative and have fun and go against the grain. Because I had been absent from the music scene for two years and I know I hadn't had too much musical success, so there were no expectations. I felt like I had the creative control to make whatever sort of record I wanted. When I started to compile a list of my favorite songs, the more I thought about it, I thought I can be selfish and kind of self-serving and do this music, not only just for me but to introduce people my age to it, who might be unfamiliar with some of these artists and music.

GS: It's a great service to be able to do that.

MM: I'm excited. It's so cool to have parents walk up to me and say that they love the music and they can listen to it with their kids and now their kids want to pick up Tea For The Tillerman or Ladies Of The Canyon.

GS: You covered songs by important female singer/songwriters on Coverage: Joni, Carly, Carole and Joan—was it important to include work by women?

MM: It was funny because while compiling the list, I thought of the guys right off the bat (laughs). Elton John, probably above anyone else on the record, is who I'm the biggest fan of, so that was automatic for me. The Waterboys and XTC, but then Joan Armatrading was as well, and Joni Mitchell. I felt like it was a cool collection of equal male/female ratio. It shows what great music is out there and what people are missing out on.