An Interview with: Monique Colman Monique Coleman is a young woman with a bright future. With strong performances in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Boston Public, Hollywood has noticed this African-American actress. But her biggest claim to fame has been her major role in the Disney Channel TV movie High School Musical. Portraying Taylor, Miss Coleman gets to perform a rare role on the screen. She plays a very smart teenager who is the leader of the academic decathlon team. When a bright new girl Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) moves to her school, Taylor wants her for their competition squad. But young Gabriella is more interested in trying her hand and voice on the stage. High School Musical is about the cliques in academic hallways and breaking down barriers between groups.

As a role, Monique Coleman not only acts but she gets to sing and dance throughout the movie. High School Musical calls back to those old musicals of the Golden Age of Hollywood, where the actors were triple threats and movies were full of song and dance.

This small film has taken on a life of it’s own. Since the debut in January, the twelve airings of High School Musical have reached over 35 million total viewers. The soundtrack is a double platinum sensation and has been number one twice on the Billboard charts. Many have referred to High School Musical as Grease for the younger generation.

With the success of High School Musical, Monique has experienced instant recognition on the street and with her peers. The day of the DVD premiere event of the film at the El Capitan on Hollywood Boulevard, we sat down to discuss her career and life as an up and coming thespian.

High School Musical is about being popular and cliques. In high school, were you popular or in a clique?
I was well known but I wouldn’t consider I was very popular, not in a bad way. I was very visible. I participated in a lot of activities. Anything I could be involved in—I was. I was in school musicals. Whither I was popular or not? I consider popularity a social thing to have to do with friends and peer groups. I wasn’t someone necessarily who someone wanted to be like; I was just very involved.

What was the hardest thing about doing High School Musical?
When you do what you love, it’s really not that hard. It was hard work but not a hard process. It wasn’t really hard to bring ourselves to the characters or to work with the director. This is what we do and we have been doing it since we were really small. It was refreshing to have this be a culmination of everything we have worked so hard. It was exciting to apply all that we have learned in our musical theater backgrounds.

Is there any pressure to be a role model for youth?
I think we are pretty good kids anyway. It’s definitely a responsibility and one that we stepped up to the plate. Especially for me and my character -- the smart girl. I love the idea that somebody is going to compare me to my character or think that I am like my character when they see me. I feel like that is a role that I am willing to fulfill. I think it is important for girls to see movies where it is not all just about ‘the boy’ or it’s simply being about ‘the relationship’ or ‘Am I pretty enough?’ or ‘Am I cute enough?’. Here (the focus) is something that has to do with ‘Am I talented enough?’ or ‘Am I smart enough?’. I love that. It is a big responsibility but it’s exciting.

What is it like to be recognized on the street?
When I get recognized, every time feels like the first time.

And lastly, what do you feel about the worldwide success of High School Musical?
I think that this movie has taken a life of it’s own. We are very grateful to the Disney Channel. I think that it was a wonderful platform for it to start but it has now become a national and international phenomenon. When the movie first came out I never got recognized. But when we started doing these press things (I became more noticed). My part didn’t grow in the movie. As long as we stay true to who we are and be honest to these situations we will stay focused. Having the opportunity to really get to speak and do these sorts of things, I think that people are starting to get to know who we are.

When asked about role models herself, Monique Coleman mentioned Angela Basset but then added, “As an African American actress there are people who have been staples in my life that opened a door that I can walk through. I hope that I can have that impact.”

High School Musical is available on DVD May 23