Leven Rambin: Terminator Rival

Nothing like a love triangle in which your chief rival is a sizzlin'-hot, all-powerful robot! That's what faces Leven Rambin's character Riley in this new season of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles". Show runners aren't confirming that Summer Glau's terminatrix character Cameron will get all up in Riley's face over her new relationship with hot John Connor (Thomas Dekker) but when John meets Riley in high school and sparks fly, there is certainly that juicy possibility.

18-year-old Leven, whom you might have seen as Lily Montgomery and also Ava on the popular soap "All My Children" is excited to join the popular sci-fi series although she's always been more fond of psychological thrillers than hard sci-fi actioners. We cornered the pretty blonde actress on the Santa Monica pier during a Fox TV party and, between munching hot dogs and trying to win stuffed animals, we got the scoop on what it's like to switch from soaps to prime time, Leven's musical plans and the insider info on this new season of "Sarah".

TeenTelevision: First off, you were nominated for a lot of Emmys for your role on "All My Children". How did you make the decision to leave?

Leven: The decision was organic. That was always my plan, from the beginning. I was very young when I began the show, and I just turned 18 when I finished. It just seemed like the natural thing to do. I had done everything I could do with the character, and the new character wasn't really panning out the way that everyone hoped it would. I was really enjoying having the experience of playing Ava, though. I thought it was very fun to watch. It was very out of context and it was more realistic than all the other characters. This show came up right after. I'm very fortunate to have this kind of work right away.

TeenTelevision: Was it challenging to play someone who was autistic?

Leven: I'm very passionate about the cause. One out of every 55 children is autistic. Two years ago, it was one out of 66. It's really alarming. I was really, really lucky to have a role like that on a soap, especially since most soap girls are the standard, bitchy high school girls. I was lucky to have something with a little more depth and integrity. Even though I was 14, I really understood how grateful I should be.

TeenTelevision: How did you find out about the new role of Riley in "Terminator"?

Leven: My agent. I had just auditioned for several movies that week. It was a huge week and I was so tired. I think that Friday, I had three auditions; one for another movie, one for the re-make of "Fame" and then "Terminator". I got the role in the movie and the next one was "Terminator". It was in a casting office in New York. [After I auditioned], they were like 'We've got to call them in L.A. to say we've found you!' I'm like 'Are you serious'?

TeenTelevision: Wow, how exciting! Which scene did you audition with?

Leven: It was several scenes, one with Riley and Sarah. Sarah's driving Riley back to her house and they're talking about how she and John have become close and another one was the first scene that I filmed in the series where Riley is in John's room and she gives him a toy and he says 'oh, what is that?" and she says 'It's a robot. What does it look like?' It was very laid back and they loved it apparently because I got the job the next day.

TeenTelevision: What can you tell us about Riley? What is she like?

Leven: She had a couple of names before -- Becky, and something else -- and now it's Riley. She is just a very punky, Ava-esque character. She doesn't really care what people say. She's her own girl. She's going to get what she wants. She befriends John Connor at school and, she is just very intrigued by his anti-social tendencies, so she tries to bust into his personal space. It's fun to watch.

TeenTelevision: Is this work schedule easier or harder than a soap schedule?

Leven: I don't think it's easier. It's difficult because I'm not used to these hours. I'm not used to standing for that long. At least on soaps, we're done quick. You have to do it right. Here, we have so much time to laboriously tape all these scenes, and every word is perfected.

TeenTelevision: Where are you living now?

Leven: Here in Toluca Lake [a San Fernando Valley area of L.A.]. It's near the studios in the Valley and right off the freeway. My mom's living out here with me now. I have a lot of friends here. I don't have a license, so she's driving me everywhere. I'm getting one.

TeenTelevision: What do you miss the most about New York?

Leven: I miss the fashion, of course. And, I miss just taking the subway. Now, I have to drive. But, I like L.A. a lot. I'm loving the weather. I'm getting a little tanner than I've ever been. And, everyone's being really supportive and welcoming me into L.A. I'm really happy about that.

TeenTelevision: Growing up, did you read any sci-fi or enjoy that genre of movies?

Leven: I did not. I was so not a sci-fi person. When I was a kid I was into psychological thrillers. My favorite movie was 13 when I was 12 [laughs]. I just really liked movies that showed an extreme range in acting and that's what made me want to become an actress.

TeenTelevision: Speaking of 13, have you gotten to meet Nikki Reed?

Leven: No but I've met Evan Rachel Wood.

TeenTelevision: Close enough. Were you familiar at all with the Terminator franchise if you weren't into that style of film?

Leven: Everyone knows the iconic phrases 'I'll be back' and 'hasta la vista, baby' but I'd never actually seen it. I had no idea what the show was about, then I watched the entire season on DVD when I got the role and I watched the "Terminator 2" movie. Now, I'm really passionate about it. I love it.

TeenTelevision: What director or actor would you most like to work with one day?

Leven: [She indicates actor Garret Dillahunt who is standing nearby while we talk. We say 'hi'.] He's worked with my all time favorites the Coen brothers, several times, my friend Garret Dillahunt [who plays Cromartie in the series]. Also, my favorite movie when I was like ten was A Clockwork Orange which is a weird thing. I was just a weird kid so if Kubrick were still alive I'd like to work with him and my favorite actor, probably Christian Bale. He's so brilliant and manages to keep it all under control too.

TeenTelevision: Since you do music as well, are you going to pick Shirley Manson's [from the band Garbage] brain on set since she's also joined the show?

Leven: Oh, yes. I definitely am. Absolutely. That's a sound that I'm really interested in, and that my producers in New York are really interested in. They were like, 'Really? She's on your show? You have to talk to her about it.' I haven't asked her yet, but maybe one time, when we don't have anything to do, we can just kick back and talk about it.

TeenTelevision: Are you in the process of recording now?

Leven: Yes. I actually just recorded a Pink Floyd cover of 'Wish You Were Here.' It's amazing.

TeenTelevision: What other musical influences do you have?

Leven: It's a throwback. We're working with a lot of Parliament Funk people, so we have the original Parliament Funk members and their original tracks, and George Clinton is helping us out with producing. They're very supportive of me, and they really believe in me. We went to Woodstock, New York to their big compound, and they're all old dudes that just want to chill out and rock.

TeenTelevision: Sounds amazing. Did you have any plans for college before all this happened to you?

Leven: Yeah. I was planning on going to college this Fall. That's on hold, but I'll definitely make that a priority. I absolutely want to go back, eventually.

TeenTelevision: Because this is your first experience with sci-fi, are you prepared for the sci-fi fans? Does that make you nervous?

Leven: I actually really compare them to soap fans. I feel like they're both really dedicated and super-interested. Soap fans and sci-fi fans will get into the action. They will come to the events, they will root for you, and they will really be an integral part of your life, your show and your character. They find a way to really be involved, and I think that's really cool because we like to see that gratification of making people happy and entertaining them. It's eerily similar. And, I think some soap fans are sci-fi fans. I've seen some soap fans at sci-fi events, and it's really cool to have them following me and my career.

TeenTelevision: Have you done any physical training and might you get involved in the stunts on the show?

Leven: I've done boxing for the past three years, in New York and I would love to. I would love to be involved with the CGI and wield a rifle or something. My character might get involved.

TeenTelevision: What is your ultimate goal for your career?

Leven: I'd like to take the Katherine Heigl route. One of my mentors was her mentor when she was starting out and I think she's made a graceful transition from prime time shows like "Roswell" and smaller shows when she was younger and then, as she matured she became more recognizable and now she's a leading lady in her films. I think she has great comedic timing and I really admire her.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.