Shailene and Daren Talk Teen

With the DVD of Season Two of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" coming out on June 16th, we wanted to pin down series stars Shailene Woodley (Amy) and Daren Kagasoff (Ricky) to ask about the DVD and new season, their own school experiences, dreams for the future etc. We also got their very good advice to teens still in high school. It was the day of Shailene's Senior Prom and she was going with a good pal.

For our interview in Burbank at the ABC building, the cute duo were in jeans. Shailene had her hair up and was wearing a cute grey cape-like top over a tank. Daren, ever the snappy dresser, was wearing a crisp blue stripe shirt with white collar. We sat down at a table in the network commissary and were off and dishing....

TeenTelevision: Shailene, does having the baby on the show make you more or less interested in some day having a family?

Shailene: I definitely want to have a family but I want to get my life out of the way first. I want to do what I want to do and get my goals and ambitions done and, that way, I'd have time to focus on my kid.

TeenTelevision: Did you get that advice from your mom on the show, former teen queen Molly Ringwald?

Shailene: She started having children later which I never was sure of but now that I see her, it's really cool. She got her life out of the way. She lived in Paris. She traveled the world. She had her boyfriends. So she went through everything she wanted to do for her life and now she's focused solely on the kids, whereas, a lot of parents have kids and then go, 'man, I wish I could have done that but I have kids' so she doesn't have any regrets. She's incredible! She's like an older sister. She's so down to earth and she has so many stories. She's a really inspiring lady and we have very similar outlooks on life as far as vibes and positiveness and living your life with an optimistic view. I really respect her. She has a five-year-old and she's expecting twins. She's the best mom!

TeenTelevision: And, Daren, how about being a dad some day?

Daren: Definitely. I've always had a sensitive heart for young kids and I work real well with them so I'd definitely like to be a dad some day.

TeenTelevision: So do you both have something you simply must do in your lives?

Shailene: Travel the world!

Daren: Yeah, travel. I haven't been very many places so just travel anywhere. Just get me out of L.A.!

Shailene: Same with me. I want to do a lot of road trips and backpacking in different countries; kind of dirty traveling in a sense where you aren't staying at super cool hotels, but roughing it.

TeenTelevision: Where are you in filming this season (as of June 1st)?

Shailene: We are kind of at the beginning of it. We're on episode 10.

Daren: All of them are so fun to shoot. In the first one (airing June 22nd) something tragic happens so it was a lot of fun shooting that. Every episode has it's own little thing and reason why you like it.

TeenTelevision: What I love about the show, and I know a lot of fans do too, is that the parents are just as screwed up as the kids!

Shailene: Exactly! And it's so true to life. No one is ever perfect.

TeenTelevision: Can you relate with your own parents? Are they perfect and up on a pedestal?

Shailene: No, no, no! They aren't perfect. Everyone has their obstacles to overcome. For adults it might be financial obstacles or relationships and if they're single... I know my parents are divorced and I know that was hard for both of them to think like, 'wow, am I ever going to be with someone? Am I going to grow old with anyone'? Luckily they both found amazing people and they're still really good friends and made very healthy decisions. But no matter how old you are, there's always going to be a problem. Whether it's the stupid boy in high school who is teasing you or the old man at the grocery store who is giving you crap because you don't have the right change when you're 15. There's always going to be something.

Daren: I think every situation is different. My parents, luckily for me, have been married a long, long time; I think around thirty years but they definitely have their ups and downs. One day, they're fighting over re-doing the kitchen and my mom wants this and dad says 'no!'. It's an ongoing battle. At the end of the day, they love each other and want the best for each other.

TeenTelevision: What advice do you have for teens to get along in high school and deal with pressure?

Daren: Maybe just try to keep your head out of it. Just focus on school and getting good grades. Don't let the little stuff effect you because so much little stuff happens in high school that you make such a big deal out of when two years later, or even a week later, you're just like 'why was I so caught on that'? So just be more carefree and still focus on yourself more than anything.

Shailene: Exactly. I think stay true to yourself and to what you believe in and don't get effected by peer pressure. There's nothing wrong in high school if kids go to parties, kids do this or that and a lot of people say how bad and wrong that is but if I kid wants to do something like that, they might still be different when they're older. If they went to a lot of parties and got into trouble when they were young, they might be more open with their own child. If they hadn't gone to parties as a kid, they might not have that relationship in their future. I think everything happens for a reason. In high school, just take it as it comes and live day by day.

TeenTelevision: What storylines would you love to see Ricky and Amy get into?

Daren: I'd love to see more on the drama side of my character, a lot of emotional stuff that's real fun. You get to go somewhere (as an actor). It's not just like we are talking right now, it's more in depth. Just stuff that comes from the heart I guess. It's challenging. I just want to become a better actor so if you're got good material, you challenge and push yourself.

Shailene: I wish that Amy had a better outlook on life. She hasn't hit that maturity point. Kudos to Brenda (Hampton the show's creator) for even recognizing that in teenagers because, I think some kids might mature at 13, some at 20. It just depends but I think Amy is at the denial state in her life where everything is out to get her and everything is wrong, nothing's right and everything is negative. So, I'm excited for her to get to that point where she has a positive outlook on life and realizes that the world is not out to get her and she's more positive all around.

TeenTelevision: Have you heard from fans of the show who say they can relate a lot to the characters?

Shailene: Yeah. I mean I haven't heard from a lot of pregnant girls but I know there's a lot of stories for other characters where people come up to (the actors) and say how cool that is. But, I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from parents saying that the show had opened up a lot of avenues for them to talk to their kids and a lot of conversations have come up that wouldn't have come up before about sex or boys or high school peer pressure and stuff like that. So, I think it's really awesome to participate in a show that sets those kinds of conversations off.

TeenTelevision: So, you haven't gotten comments from pregnant teens?

Shailene: I'm sure they go on blogs. I don't go onto a lot of blogs most of the time but I've heard from a lot of adults who were pregnant as a teen and said, 'wow, I wish there was a show like this around when I was going through it'.

TeenTelevision: Daren, isn't there a big blow up between Ricky and Ben coming? There is a lot of unrest and jealousy there.

Daren: They just keep butting heads. I think, when push comes to shove, at the end of the day, they just want to do the right thing, both of them. I think that's one thing this season, hopefully, they can work out their problems and issues and get over jealousy and Ben needs to realize Ricky's feelings. 'Hey, that is my son and I'm going to be over at her house watching him and taking care of him and you've got to be okay with that'. But then Ricky is kind of manipulative so I think he might be going over there for other reasons as well. You just don't know.

TeenTelevision: What were you like in high school? Shailene, aren't you still in school?

Shailene: Yeah. I graduate June 16th and my prom is tonight! I'm going and taking my best friend (we congratulate her). But, I was always a kid to stay away from drama. 'See you later, guys. Call me when you're done'. I loved high school. I was involved in choir and leadership. I think it's one of those stages in someone's life when you find out who you are. Well, you never really find out who you are, but it adds a layer to who you think you are and how you want to present yourself to the world, how you want to see yourself when you become a mature adult.

TeenTelevision: Daren, you've already graduated. What advice do you have for the high school class of 2009?

Daren: Wow! Just have your priorities straight. Like what I said before, try to keep your head out of the bad stuff and be focused on you. I know, in high school, I didn't really know what I wanted to do or be and that's okay. You have to figure out who you are. Don't put so much stress on yourself. Even if you don't know what you want to do by college, try different things to see. Keep your options open. I never thought I would be an actor but tried it and fell in love with it and, lucky for me, I booked a job. So, you never know your fate.

TeenTelevision: Shailene, are you going to college?

Shailene: Sure. I'm going to start in August. I've actually had my diploma for a couple of years but I'm still going to high school so it looks good on the resume. I took the test. I'm going to community college in the Fall and, when the show is over, I'm going to transfer to NYU and study psychology and interior design.

TeenTelevision: Psychology is great for actors because you can more easily get inside your character's head.

Shailene: Yeah. I think it's really important for an actor to be educated because, the more you know, the more circumstances you can immerse yourself in.

TeenTelevision: What did you guys do for the upcoming DVD? Any commentaries?

Shailene: (to Daren) Didn't we do that commentary thing in the warehouse? Yeah. We didn't watch the episodes but commented on several. I don't think there are any bloopers on it. I think our bloopers are too much for ABC Family (Daren laughs). (Note: The DVD for Season Two contains "Cast Secrets" and a behind the scenes feature "Cast Close-Ups" as well as a music video by The Strange Familiar of "Secret Life: You and Me".)

TeenTelevision: What are your fave TV shows?

Shailene: I'd have to say "Prison Break" and I am very bummed that it's over. I loved that show.

Daren: I watch "Californication". That's one of my favorite shows. I'm a big fan of David Duchovney. I just think he's brilliant. I watch "Entourage". I just look at that and I'm like 'God, I want to be like that'! But some of those guys are a little messed up. (we laugh).

TeenTelevision: What music are you into right now?

Shailene: I love indie, alternative stuff. There's a band called Air that's incredible, underground bands. And I love Lady Gaga. I saw her perform at Wango Tango and she's the best performer I've ever seen.

Daren: I'm a big fan of oldies. I love Elvis Presley and this other band called Empire of the Sun. It's sort of electro but you've gotta hear it.

TeenTelevision: Can you tell us something about each other that fans might not expect?

Daren: She eats sooo much (laughter)!

Shailene: Daren is an incredible singer (he dies laughing so we gather she might be joking). Uh, Daren...I feel like I know you so I can't pick you apart... oh, he has an amazing sense of style! He always is the best dresser I've ever seen.

Daren: Thank you!

TeenTelevision: What is the strangest rumor you've ever heard about yourselves?

Daren: I always hear that we're dating.. like in magazines. It's so funny.

Shailene: Then it's Daren and Megan (Park) or Daren and Francia (Rasia). Every time it's different.

TeenTelevision: What guest stars would you love to see on the show?

Daren: Leonardo DiCaprio. I just love him to death. I love his work. I'd love to work with him. I met him. Such a nice, really humble guy.

Shailene: For sure Meryl Streep or Felicity Huffman. I could go on and on. There are so many incredible actors out there who are very down to earth as well.

TeenTelevision: Who would you just Geek out if you met?

Daren: Besides meeting Leo, Kanye West.

Shailene: Obama!