Looking for a DVD for a last minute sleepover before school goes back? Our pick is Monte Carlo. In case you missed it on the big screen, the gist is Selena Gomez stars as Grace who goes on holiday to Paris with her best friend (Katie Cassidy) and kinda uptight sister Meg (Leighton Meester).
Grace is mistaken for Cordelia, a British heiress, and the three get swept off to Monte Carlo for a trip full of romance, paparazzi and couture. And the best bit? Corey Monteith plays Katie’s really hot (and super sweet) boyf!
We talk to Selena and Leighton about friendship, shopping and what Cory’s REALLY like!
Hey Selena. Congrats on the film. How did filming go?
S: It was by far the hardest job I’ve ever taken on. Because I graduated last year, this was the first project I was able to work on as an adult. That means working seventeen hour days, which can be quite intense! It was also one of the most fun projects I’ve ever worked on.
You nailed Cordelia’s British accent. How hard was that?
S: I trained for about a month, and then I had two and a half weeks of dialect coaching for the accent. Apparently there are over twenty different kinds of British accents – I had no idea!
Who were you closest to on set?
S: It’s impossible to pick just one person! The girls are amazing. Leighton and Katie are so sweet and affectionate. You know that they’ll always be there for you. Leighton is romantic and dreamy. She’ll be the one saying “follow your heart” when you need advice.
Who made you laugh the most?
S: Cory. He’s like a one man anecdote. He’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. Cory is really into taking lots of photos and videos and making memories - and he likes to freak us all out. In one scene, we three girls were coming down a staircase and I noticed Cory hiding in some bushes so he could jump out at us! He’s like a ball of sunshine, and even when we’re having a bad day and don’t want to laugh or smile, he somehow brings it out of us.
You, Corey and Leighton are all singers. Did you sing much on set?
S: We all goof around and sing when we’re on set. Sometimes we rap! Cory teases us and tells us to stop singing, but he loves it really. One day it would be great to record a song with Leighton - maybe we can do one for the movie!
Hey Leighton. You play Grace’s big sister, Meg. Could you relate to her?
L: Definitely! I hope I’m able to be a little more adventurous than she is at the start, but at least she’s willing and she has the potential inside her. Meg is a very practical character, and I’m totally impractical, but I admire that about her.
Were there any funny or embarassing moments during filming?
L: There’s a scene where I’m driving a moped, and - this is going to sound so spoiled - but I found it really tough. It was not easy for me to wield that thing. I want to look graceful, but I’m crashing around, terrified I’m going to fall off! Sometimes it’s funny doing scenes when Selena is playing Cordelia. We bring in the special effects guy and do a Grace scene, then do exactly the same scene with Cordelia - it feels like spooky deja vu!
Did you had any time to go shopping?
L: Walking down the street [in Monte Carlo] was like walking through a fashion magazine! It was tricky to make the time, but I went to Gucci. I bought a really cute little purse, and a sweater from Celine as well. I’ve got some great souvenirs from the trip!
Any romantic gossip from the set?
L: There are some very, very cute boys in this movie, but as far as I know there wasn't much gossip. I’m really pleased with how they got cast - cute and talented is a great combination. I like them all.
Are they cuter than the guys in Gossip Girl?
L: Those boys are like my family! I’ve worked with them for years and they’re my best friends - I don’t think I could objectively comment on how cute they are.
Do you guys still keep in touch?
L: I hope we all keep in touch. I see Katie on the show, and I really bonded with Selena. Tom, the director was also great. He’s got a really cool perspective, and working with him has been a pleasure so I hope I get to do that again.
How do Meg’s outfits compare to those of the other characters you’ve played?
L: There’s a fabulous gown I get to wear at the end. It’s beautiful, but it’s couture and really heavy. When we started filming the scene, I was so excited to wear it, but by the end my body was aching so much I would have been happy never to see it again!
Monte Carlo is out on DVD and Blu Ray now.
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Related video: Monte Carlo movie trailer
