Q'Orianka Kilcher
She's just 15, but she's already starred as a Native American princess in the epic The New World (out nationwide Jan. 20)—and got her first kiss from Colin Farrell. Kilcher shares her secrets for navigating the wilds of Hollywood.
Acing the Big Audition
Be prepared for anything. “They would say, ‘Can you do traditional dance?’ [or] ‘Can you sing for us? Can you learn this scene by tomorrow?’” says Kilcher, who learned some Algonquian—Pocahontas's language—and “a perfect British accent” to land the role.
Attending a Movie Premiere
Make your own dress. “I sketch the designs and my mom and I sew them,” says Kilcher, who walked The New World's red carpet in one of her creations. “I always try to keep my heritage in what I'm wearing,” says the part-Peruvian Indian actress.
Handling Love Scenes
Choose a good partner. “Colin was really sweet,” she says. “I was like, ‘Ahh!’ because it was my first kiss [in real life].”
Avoiding a Career Slump
Have a plan B or C. “I'm working on a CD now with all the songs I wrote that were inspired by this movie,” says Kilcher, a distant cousin of the singer Jewel. “And I really want to go to Alaska and go salmon fishing like my mom did. Oh my, what endurance you have to have!”
—NICHOLAS WHITE
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