WARNING: SNOW STORM AHEAD!
Brittany Snow perpetuates a massive movement with Love Is Louder Images by Tyler Shields
Brittany Snow is the picture of innocence today --an attribute she pulls off quite well, she confesses. The soft-spoken actress is wearing a fitted floral dress, tan boots, and has her hair pulled into a loose side braid. It’s not until she removes her sunglasses that I recognize her out front of Aroma Café in Studio City, where she lives. Known from movies like Prom Night, Hairspray and John Tucker Must Die, it’s hard to overlook Brittany with her girl-next-door appeal, blonde hair and piercing cobalt eyes.
Being in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years, the circle seems quite small. The Tampa-born actress began modeling when she was just 3 years old before getting into acting. At the age of 12, she secured a role on soap opera Guiding Light for which she traveled back and forth between New York and Tampa for three years before moving to Los Angeles at 15.
Now 24-years-old (this Pisces turns 25 in March), Brittany continues to fill her schedule with movies, television, and her commendable charity/world-wide movement: Love Is Louder –a touching project that she’s wholly invested in. In high-spirits this merry season, Brittany was pleased to share with MacDirectory what Love is Louder is doing, her upcoming TV / film plans, her dream role, and more.
The week of our interview, Brittany was busy with the imminent holiday plans, work, and film scheduling. She had much to look forward to, like her new TV series Harry’s Law, which debuted on NBC in mid-January. The show, created by Emmy-award winner David E. Kelley, features Brittany (as Jenna Backstrom), Kathy Bates, Nate Corddry, and Aml Ameen. “We are all in a law office that is actually a shoe store. I’m kind of a Legally-Blonde-type-character, a savant in disguise. She’s obsessed with fashion and shoes, but she is also very smart and kind of quirky,” she shares. Additionally, Brittany just wrapped up the movie 96 Minutes (coming out soon), and another movie called Janie Jones (which went to the Toronto Film Festival) with Abigail Breslin and Alessandro Nivola. And, as long as scheduling didn’t interfere with Harry’s Law, Brittany would be joining the cast of new CBS sitcom Mad Love with Jason Biggs, Sarah Chalke and Judy Greer. “It’s hilarious!” (Brittany would guest star as Sarah’s younger sister.)
Her acting roles have varied from prom night scream queen, to shy social outcast turned in-crowder, but the role that she longs to play is one depicting a real person --specifically the elegant Princess Grace Kelly. “She’s my favorite. That’s a coveted role everybody would want, but, if I had to throw it out there I’d love to play her. That’s really a true test to how you study human behavior and how you create your own sort of characteristics. Acting in a way that’s still true to the person, I think that’s really difficult to do...”
The resemblance is there, with their shared refined beauty, fair skin and light hair. She’s ready and up for the challenge. “It’s easy for me to play characters that are innocent and bubbly; it’s just something I can do because I can tap into that part of me. But, I also love playing the characters that people may not have seen me in, where I get to play something a little bit darker, with a little bit more of conflict.”
In between filming, Brittany has been focused on her new charity Love Is Louder that she started four months ago with friend and partner Courtney Knowles. “We just wanted to start a movement of people saying that love is louder than hate. It’s kind of an act against bullying and speaking out against prejudices. Just being nice to each other, basically. It took off with videos and photos --pictures with different celebrities, people who are in school… Actually, Sophia Bush did a picture for us, which was really nice. Whether you’re old, young, gay straight --to show other people you’re not alone in anything that you’re going through.”
Brittany’s movement is quite personal as she has been on the receiving end of bullying in the past. “I started it, in general, because I’ve dealt a lot with my own struggles with bullying and depression. The thing that really helped me was doing something for someone else, reaching out and being among people who were going through the same thing. Also, when I was in high school, a friend of mine committed suicide because of the lack of acceptance of him being gay, so since high school I have always had this want to reach out and bring some sort of awareness,” she somberly expresses. “My experiences have definitely been a catalyst for starting it, but now it’s so much more about other people.”
Brittany has been involved with charities with a focus on mental disorders and depression for about seven years now, and always wanted to start one of her own, but she didn’t think that she was big enough to make an impact. “I didn’t really think that I had a big enough voice for anyone to listen, and I still don’t, really.” Thankfully, she got past that thought and took a stand and is making a world of difference. “I think the point, really, is to just do it. You’re going to make a difference in some way, even if it’s one person.”
The epic movement has been spreading like wildfire with many supporters: celebrities, MTV, Urban Outfitters (who carry their shirts)… linking up with the cause. “We’ve been really, really grateful that so many people have gotten involved. We’ve done a few events, and now we have T-shirts and bracelets. We’re starting a documentary in the next couple weeks. A Love Is Louder curriculum has gotten to the schools. They’ve been doing Love Is Louder days… We’re planning to go on a tour of different schools and talk to them --when I find it in my schedule. But I don’t want it to happen without me, selfishly, because I would like to be a part of that, so we’re kind of trying to work it out, whether after Harry’s Law and before I start a movie.”
It’s about spreading the word, which they’re eager to do. Their latest speaking engagement was at the Active Minds Conference in New Jersey. “That was really, really such a cool thing to be a part of. Getting to share my story was really great.”
It has really affected Brittany emotionally. “The most moving part of it all is getting to meet kids and having them come to me with their story. I saw a girl at Coffee Bean a couple of months ago and she was freaking out because she randomly had Love Is Louder on her hand and she saw me. I was crying and was like, ‘Ohmigod!” That’s so crazy. Little things like that really make it all worth while. Who would’ve thought just a little idea could actually inspire a lot of people to just know that there is hope and there are people who understand and love you, regardless.”
When Brittany’s not wrapped up in work and her charity, she spends her time like any other 24-year-old, reading, hanging out with friends, going to movies. The fit actress revealed that while it’s girly and very Hollywood to admit, she likes to work out – a lot. Another adored hobby of hers is photography, which she’s been studying for three years now.
“I do digital. I’d like to do film --one day, I’d like to learn how to do that. I’m learning. I have a couple of cameras. My favorite is my Rebel XTi, which is really kind of simple, but you can’t really tell when you see the pictures. I do a lot of Photoshop, so even if my picture sucks, I know how to change it, which is a really useful tool,” Brittany reveals. “I’m one of those creepy people who likes to point and shoot random stuff. People think that I’m invading on their privacy, which I am, but it’s always nice to get little candid moments.” She hopes to one day open a gallery or find a way to tie her passion to a charity.
I asked the artistic actress if she uses Apple products, to which she replies with zeal, “Oh yeah, I’m a big Mac-user. I have an iPad, iTouch, iPod -- all that stuff. Who is in her iPod these days? “Right now, I really like The Radio Dept., Local Natives, CAPRA… Actually, Sophia and I both bonded during John Tucker Must Die --one of our things is to look for new indie bands, so we did that a lot when we were filming. I kind of like alternative stuff, but it’s always fun to hear the new stuff that is playing in the clubs.”
Yes, Brittany is just your normal twenty-something. “My Saturday, last night, consisted of my dog and I watching a Celebrity Rehab marathon. If that’s what’s so crazy about my life, that’s what happens,” she laughs. Although, Brittany felt a tad antsy just lounging around. “I was talking to my friend and was like, ‘I feel weird because I’m not doing something.’ And she’s like, ‘Normal people sit at home with their dog and watch TV.’ I was like, ‘I know, it’s just weird. I need to be doing something.’ But it was kind of nice to just hang out. I cried at Celebrity Rehab. I’m like Why am I crying at a VH1 show? ” she laughs.
Nothing too wild, that’s not to say that she doesn’t know how to go out and have a good time. “A lot of people perceive me as this good girl that, ya know, doesn’t do anything bad. And that’s true, I guess, I think it’s weird that people have a certain view of me, never been through anything that crazy, or that I’m always doing something that’s good. And I do, but I get away with a lot of stuff that nobody sees, which is really nice. I kind of like that,” she says with a sly smile. How is this possible in the day-and-age of the ever present paparazzi? “I guess because people aren’t looking. I like to fly under the radar anyway. It’s nice that I’ve been able to have a career for awhile where I don’t have to deal with anything that’s too in my face. I’m able to go to Starbucks in my pajamas and got out partying. I’ve always thought that that’s a really nice thing as oppose to my friends who can’t do that,” she says. What would people be surprised to find out about Brittany? “I think, maybe, people would be surprised to know that I’m really shy and I’m not really as bubbly and perky as people kind of think.”
The actor’s life has been Brittany’s for as long as she remembers, if she hadn’t pursued this profession, what road would she have taken? “I dunno. I’ve been acting since I was 3 and I never wanted to do anything else. I’ve never even thought about it,” she honestly responds. “Let’s hope this acting thing works out because I don’t know what I would do…” she lightheartedly replies. “I really am interested in art history and photography. I’d probably either be a photographer or probably a producer (she’s been dabbling in this lately). Outside the business? Something to do with psychology in some way, maybe heading a charity or an organization because that’s what fuels me everyday. I get sort of excited for that sort of stuff,” she says wistfully.
