Double the Pleasure
Miley Cyrus Has Fun Singing and Acting in 'Hannah Montana'

Thursday, December 28, 2006

On the set of "Hannah Montana," 14-year-old Miley Cyrus is teasing her dad, actor-singer Billy Ray Cyrus, about his unfashionable jeans outfit. A visitor finds herself wondering if this is real life or a plot in the show, since Miley plays seemingly typical teen Miley Stewart on the show, and her real-life dad plays her TV dad.

As if that isn't confusing enough, Miley Stewart (played, of course, by Miley Cyrus) is secretly the famous pop star Hannah Montana. Got all that straight?

Well, even if the show's fans -- of whom there are millions -- sometimes confuse the real Miley with the character she portrays, Miley Cyrus knows just who she is. The easygoing, lively teen took a break from schoolwork and rehearsals to chat with Bridget Byrne.

Your real name is Destiny Hope. How did you get the name Miley?

"My grandma insists on that name [Destiny Hope], but my mom and my dad love the name Miley cuz ever since I was born I was always smiling and giggling. I was always happy, I guess."

Are you more like Miley Stewart or Hannah Montana?

"I'm definitely more like the normal girl. . . . I always want to stress to everyone who watches the show that I'm there to be like a friend and someone to help them through their lives."

What's the best advice your dad has given you?

"His motto is 'If you ain't having fun, it ain't working!' "

Which do you find easier, acting or making music?

"Music is easier for me because I've been writing for a long time, and I've been singing and going on tour with my dad. Acting was harder at the beginning. But once you finish an episode, you never have to think about those lines ever again -- they are out of your mind. That's the easy part about it."

How old were you when you started singing?

"My dad thinks I sang before I could talk. I was always, like, humming. I always loved music. Before I even started singing, I loved just listening to him play the guitar; or when we would pass someone in the mall playing violin or whatever, I would always tell them, 'I want to play, I want to play.' "

Besides your dad, what other performers do you like?

"I'm a big Hilary Duff fan. I bought every CD. We've never met but we've heard a lot about each other, and we are going to go and have coffee and just kind of talk. . . . I also like Kelly Clarkson and a lot of people who can act and sing."