Julia in Mona Lisa Smile Credit: Revolution Studios

Young actress Julia Stiles makes everyone's list of talented, independent "serious" younger women in Hollywood who take on characters with backbone; young women with opinions who, if necessary, could go through life very well on their own, thank you very much. Whether as a before-her-time 1950's college coed headed for Med School in Mona Lisa Smile or playing a talented, fish-out-of-water dancer in the hood in Save the Last Dance, Julia is a force to be reckoned with.

Okay, so why is this independent young woman taking on the role of a girl who gets swept away by a prince in the romantic comedy The Prince and Me? At our chat, Julia reminded us that her character Paige, isn't just some wanna-be housefrau sitting on a lily pad waiting for that frog to kiss, she's got life goals; goals that romance can always mess with. Wearing a prim blue patterned jacket, black tank and no jewelry, the actress looked all cute but business-like at our interview in L.A. as she talked about combining her film work with her Columbia college life, about her romantic goals, working with cutie newcomer "Prince" Luke Mably and acting on stage.

TeenHollywood: When you were a little girl, did you think about growing up and marrying a prince, or more like growing up and being a doctor or going to the Amazon?