Kirsten Prout both known for her movie and television work can be seen weekly on the television show, Kyle XY, which has already been renewed for a third season.  Prout recently spoke to Media Blvd Magazine about life on and off the show.  Prout plays the part of Amanda Bloom, Kyle’s (Matt Dallas) next door neighbor and girlfriend.

Prout, who is not new to the world of acting, expressed an interest in the art at quite an early age.  “It’s always a funny story to say but, when I was younger, I absolutely adored Disney movies and I’m one hundred percent sure that watching my “Disney Princesses” and wanting to become one of them was what first formed the initial interest in acting.  Then, as I grew older, I realized that I could do that for a career.  I could make believe for a career.  I guess that’s how it progressed.”

Although Kyle XY is considered science fiction, Prout enjoys many different genres.  “I definitely was a huge fan of shows like  Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel,  I definitely watched the follow up, and I have no problem with extending my own personal reality and being able to watch something and believe for an hour that that could actually happen.  I really do enjoy that.  I tend to watch series like Bones, Arrested Development, and The Office and I’m very much either technical or kind of a dark humor.  That’s usually my genre.”

When reading through a script for the first time, Prout can usually tell whether or not she connects with the character.  “Every character that I do play, I try to root in truth and in parts of my personality.  That said, I love to analyze exactly what makes them tick, different habits, different mannerisms, and I honestly do feel that preparing for a part is being able to incorporate yourself and amalgamate it with other personality characteristics.  I just try to keep it rooted in truth and as real as possible.”

Although planning to continue with movie roles, Prout was drawn to the role of Amanda.  “When I first read the pilot script of Kyle XY, it read to me like a feature film, and I had just come off doing a feature film and I said to myself, “I’m going to try to get into film after a movie,” and I wanted to continue on that path because film is definitely a love of mine.  But Kyle XY, the pilot script, read so much like a film to me, and Amanda spoke to me so clearly, that I was absolutely thrilled to be called in to audition for it.  I suppose just going through the process and really being devoted to the character is what got me the part.”

Kirsten enjoys her time on the set of the show.  “Specifically with Kyle XY, it’s having such quality material to work with, as well as such a supportive cast and crew.  I come into work every day and I enjoy seeing the people I work with, and there’s a lot of room to grow on that set and a lot of fun to be had.”

During the past two seasons the casts’ camaraderie has grown.  “It’s always fantastic to work with a bunch of people who make you laugh every day you come on set.  I honestly have never really worked with a crew and cast who are so in love with each other.  Matt frequently throws barbecues on the weekend.  We often get together; rap parties are such a good time with the crew.  It really is a friendship as well as a work relationship.”

The cast has a lot of fun on the set.  “I definitely do have a lot of funny moments, but one from the season I can recall that was absolutely shocking.  It wasn’t exactly funny, but looking back on it, I suppose it was.  There was a scene up on the roof and it was a stunt sequence with Kyle and Jessi.  There were all sorts of safety precautions.  It was a really stormy night so they had harnesses and everything, and I was downstairs in the gym and I was waiting to film another scene so I wasn’t working and I was talking to a crew member and all of a sudden I heard this sound and the whole building shook.  We were inside a school, and it felt like the scaffolding had fallen down or something.  So I run outside and I see a stampede of crew just streaking down.  What had happened is, a lightening bolt had almost struck and it struck right next to where we were filming.  The whole crew had to leave all their cameras up on the roof.  The actors had to be unharnessed in five seconds.  We were just sitting in the gym for two hours, had nothing to film, no equipment, everyone was freaking out and it was so bizarre, I’ve never been through something like that in a movie set.  Just that element of danger and also, it was almost like we were in school or something.  We were all mingling in the middle of a gym and there were prom balloons everywhere.  It was a bit of a bizarre scenario.”

That was Prout’s favorite – the prom episode.  “That was pretty much a Gong Show and it was so much fun.”

Even with the benefits, there are still some things that can make working on the show difficult.  “I would definitely say the time elements [are hard], because everyone is so committed to their characters and making the show absolutely the best it can be.  Sometimes in a short schedule, being able to get all of your intentions across and shoot every single angle and make the show as good as it can be, time definitely does play a factor and I think that’s the one thing that everyone in the industry will tell you.  When it gets to crunch time, that is the hardest atmosphere to work in.”

The relationship between Amanda and Kyle is an important part of the show.  Her character finally returned last week after being away at music school.  Prout’s character is going to be going through some changes now that she is back.  Though it has yet to be revealed whether she came home because of Kyle, as the season progresses the reason will be disclosed.  She soon may find out about Kyle’s abilities.  “It’s obvious that Amanda is going to go through some transitions and learn about how special Kyle is, but the manner in which I believe that she will find out about his abilities will be in a natural way, as Kyle and Amanda usually are.  I think [the relationship] will just strengthen, but there could definitely be some complications…I think viewers should expect to see a definite change in Amanda, because she grew up in New York.  I think there were a lot of emotional experiences that happened with her and she’s really become quite defiant.  I think, because Amanda is back, viewers are going to see a bit more backbone and she’s going to stand up for herself.  She’s stronger.”

The character of Jessi (Jaimie Alexander) will continue to cause some problems for the couple.  “The relationship between Kyle and Jessi is an extremely intense one, and clearly does cause some complications.  As for if Kyle is able to present that she’s a friend, I think Amanda has to be willing to trust him completely and he in the same sense needs to be able to confide in her.  So until he is able to share everything about himself with her, I don’t think that issue of trust will be resolved.”

Prout knows what she would like to have happen to her character.  “I guess I would like to see what I would like myself to become.  I definitely would like to see her grow up and become stronger and really just continue to stand up for what she believes in and become a character that has much more of a presence and an opinion in the show.”

If given the chance to work behind the scenes, Prout would continue to stick with acting.  “I do do a lot of essay writing and analytical writing just for my advance placement courses in school, but I definitely would leave that to the pros.  I’m for being in front of the camera.  I don’t know if behind is my thing.”

Prout may be working on her television career at the moment, but she is still interested in movie work, even with its differences.  “With film, you definitely have a different kind of timeline and there are pros and cons to it.  Some of the pros are you get more time to actually progress your character and it’s really imitating life.  Every week you film this new part of your character, this new segment in her life, whereas in film you figure out that character and you work with what you have and that current idea.  I suppose, in that way, it’s easier to progress, but also in films you have a bit more freedom to actually make decisive changes.  You have a shorter timeline.  It frees you up for more projects.  The two are very different and both are extremely enjoyable.  It’s just a matter of the intensity sometimes and the time elements and just how your character progresses, I suppose.”

One of the movies Prout enjoyed working on the most was Electra.  “In Elektra, I really did enjoy playing Abby.  I played Abby Miller, and that was another role that, again, being on a feature film, I just had so much time beforehand, preproduction, and I collaborated with the director so much that I was able to produce a character and live a character that I really did believe in.  I do feel an element of realism to her.”

Prout’s dream role is all about the character.  “A dream role, well, I suppose sort of depends on the project, but I have read so many projects where you’ve had the quirky, indie character that has a tragic story line and makes the best of her situation, and that is one role, the one character that I would really just love to fall into.  Find a script that I just completely fell in love with and was able to connect like that.  Probably something quirky and from a different perspective.”

Kirsten Prout has continued to look for new and interesting roles even with the writers’ strike.  “I’m totally looking for that little indie movie that I adore.  That’s my kind of story right now…

Because of this writer’s strike, I’ve been reading so many scripts and going through the audition process, but it’s hard to get new roles right now.  I have a few that could potentially go through, but at this point, nothing concrete.”

Until then, you can watch Kirsten Prout on Monday nights on Kyle XY on ABC Family.