By Christina Radish

Shenae Grimes at the CBS, CW and Showtime Press Tour Party held at Boulevard 3 in Hollywood, Calif. on July 18, 2008.

Excited about starting her career in the States, Grimes tells MediaBlvd Magazine that she was a huge fan of the original series.

MediaBlvd Magazine> How did you come to the show? Did they see you on Degrassi and ask you to come in, or did you just have a regular audition for it?

Shenae Grimes> I auditioned. I sent in a tape, just like everybody else. The producers were familiar with Degrassi. They did a lot of shows up in Canada, like Freaks and Geeks, Life As We Know It and Undeclared, so they were familiar with the show. And, it does take a similar tone, so maybe that’s why there were interested in me, but I had to audition, just like the rest of the thousands of girls in L.A.

MediaBlvd> Who are you playing?

Shenae> Annie Wilson is the daughter of a family of Midwesterners, who come over to Hollywood. If you were looking at the old series, it would technically be the Brenda type, but it’s a completely different character.

MediaBlvd> Did you watch the original series?

Shenae> Oh, yes, I did. I was raised on the original show. My mom basically raised me on it. And, I still watch the re-runs today. I’m a dork. My mom thought it was educational, in a way, and so did I. It was our little bonding. 

MediaBlvd> What about the show resonated with you?

Shenae> I was a major fan of the cast. I am very shell-shocked, every time I meet one of the old cast members and see the old high school. It’s been quite a trip. And, I could relate to the things that they touched on. The drama was something that you hadn’t really seen on television before, and the issues were real. You felt like that you could finally relate to people that you were seeing on TV. It had serious issues and it showed the serious consequences, and it wasn’t such a glamorous package put together for everyone’s eyes.

MediaBlvd> Who was your favorite character?

Shenae> Hands down, Dylan McKay. I think every lady out there would agree with me.

MediaBlvd> What did you think when the original series shifted from everyday high school/young adult stories to mob-hit subplots and mafia stories?

Shenae> I loved it! I loved growing up with the characters. It was the same kind of thing with Saved by the Bell, when they started growing up. I loved peering into their lives and being able to see more than just school life because there is so much more that goes on. It got a little dramatic, but it was bringing stuff to television that nobody had ever seen before, so you’ve got to appreciate that.

MediaBlvd> But, it’s nice to see it go back to the original tone, with teens and high school stories, don’t you think?

Shenae> Oh, absolutely! The teen stories that are around nowadays are so much more updated and so much more relevant to the times than they used to be. Kids were very sheltered 10 or 15 years ago, in comparison to where they are now, with the Internet and all of the media and everything.

MediaBlvd> What are you expecting out of your character?

Shenae Grimes at the Teen Choice Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif. on August 3, 2008.

MediaBlvd> So, you’ll be touching on stories of teens today?

Shenae> It’s very true to life. That’s what we want to do with this show. There are a lot of shows on television right now that glamorize the high school years. Let’s be real, they’re not very glamorous. There’s a lot of trials and tribulations. We’re not going to wrap it up in a pretty package, at the end of the day, or give you a moral-of-the-story, like the old show did. It will have more subtle lessons.

MediaBlvd> Degrassi did that too, right?

Shenae> Yes, it did! My character on Degrassi certainly went through some rough times, to say the least, and those things happen. We want to show the true consequences and the effects that that has on your life. You don’t just get raped, and then it’s done in a day, you get over it, you tell your girlfriend and there it is. There are effects that stay with you, sometimes your entire life. You’ll see the layers of these characters peeled away, over time.

MediaBlvd> Do you think the popularity of Degrassi has helped prepare you for the attention that you’ll be getting for this show?

Shenae> No, not at all. In Canada, we have no celebrity system, so I have no idea what I’m walking into right now. I’m just taking it all in stride. But, as far as the message that a show like Degrassi sends to kids and audiences, I certainly think it prepared me, like a boot camp, for where I am today.

MediaBlvd> Can you relate to the culture shock that Annie goes through, going from Canada to Hollywood yourself?

Shenae> I’m riding the wave right along with Annie Wilson. It’s a big culture shock. Hockey players are a big deal in Canada, but not actors. I didn’t get recognized in Canada very often. If I did, nobody would approach me, let alone take my picture when I wasn’t looking. So, this crazy hype, and everything that’s been going on, has been a little overwhelming, to say the least, but I’m just rolling with it. I have amazing support here.

MediaBlvd> What have you noticed are the differences about the way people live their lives here, compared to Toronto?

Shenae> People are people. There hasn’t been anything too crazy. People live a little bit more lavishly here, I guess. There are a lot more luxury goods. But, people are human. It’s the same anywhere you go, really, except that there is more paparazzi here.

MediaBlvd> What is the fashion going to be like on the new series?

Shenae> Oh, my God! I’m a fashion lover! I actually interned at a fashion network in Toronto before I got this job, so I am certainly soaking in all of the brands and learning the west coast style. For my character, Annie is coming from Kansas, so she’s a jeans and t-shirts kind of gal. But, I’m excited for the transition. Her peers are certainly going to influence her style, as time goes on. Naomi Clark (AnnaLynne McCord) is decked out in D&G and Balenciaga, and all the rest. Deb McGuire is the costume designer. She’s quite the legend in her game, so we’re very, very fortunate to have her on board with wardrobe.

MediaBlvd> How long will the transition take, before Annie changes?

Shenae> I just don’t know! I’m very curious to find out myself. Hopefully, sooner rather than later because the clothes are very fun to play with, but it will be a very natural thing. The whole show is very much about reality and what the world is.

MediaBlvd> Will music play a big part on the show?

Shenae> The music is definitely going to be one of the most fun aspects of the series for everybody. We’re bringing out all these cool underground bands and showcasing them. Music is going to be a huge part of the show.

MediaBlvd> The first 90210 came out of nowhere, but now people are expecting a lot. What is that like?

Shenae> They are expecting a lot. We’re trying to just put that in the back of our heads because it is a completely new show and we’re doing something completely different with it. We are bringing things to the table that people don’t necessarily see on network television, which is exactly what the old 90210 did. It’s just an updated version, but the pressure is definitely there. I was a fan, so I’m expecting a lot out of it, too. But, I’m very confident with the show that we’re putting together.