Autumn Reeser may have played a high school student on the hit FOX show “The O.C.” back in 2007, but she’s since graduated to more mature roles, including one in the freaky and fun flick, Nature of the Beast (out on DVD now).

Though high school is officially over for this thesp, her memories of being a cheerleader at Carlsbad HS in Carlsbad, CA, sure aren’t. Read on for Autumn’s exclusive AC interview!

AC: Your movie Nature of the Beast just came out DVD. Can you tell us a little about it?

Autumn: My character, Julia, is a fairly proper, East Coast girl who’s engaged to a man she finds out is keeping a big secret from her—he spends two days of the month as a werewolf! It’s a problem he’s been battling since college, and the two of them set out to try to cure him. It’s a light, thriller-comedy.

AC: What drew you to this role?

Autumn: It was my first chance to play the female lead in a film, and I really liked Julia’s feisty side.  Plus, how often does a werewolf movie come along?

AC: So, the movie’s about keeping secrets. Are you good at keeping secrets?

Autumn: I take my friendships very seriously and would never divulge anything that a friend told to me in confidence!

AC: Fair enough. Any of your own secrets you’d like to spill?

Autumn: I try not to have secrets of my own, because they can complicate life and relationships so deeply. I’ve found it’s much better to go through life being honest and upfront with your friends and family. I will tell you a silly secret about me, though. I love “So You Think You Can Dance” so much that I went to one of the tapings last year!

AC: What was your favorite thing about shooting in Toronto?

Autumn: We originally filmed this movie two years ago, and I was staying in a really cute condo right in the center of Yorkville, a part of the city I love. One of my best girlfriends happened to be filming a documentary in Toronto at the same time we were shooting Nature of the Beast. We both had the same three days off and spent them sightseeing at Niagara Falls and the local wine region with our men. It was so much fun!

AC: In the film, your fiancé is a werewolf. Do you believe in that sort of stuff?

Autumn: No, although I enjoy learning about the stories and mythology of it all.

AC: What’s your favorite mythological creature?

Autumn: Probably a sea nymph or a pixie.

AC: Are you a fan of scary movies?

Autumn: Not particularly. I can watch them, but I plug my ears so I can’t hear what’s happening. Oddly, that makes me feel safer.

AC: You recently appeared in a few episodes of “Entourage” on HBO. What was that like?

Autumn: I played an ambitious junior agent at Miller/Gold. I loved working on the show. It was already one of my favorites to begin with, so it was a real treat to play a character on it this season.

AC: Any chance we’ll see you playing a cheerleader in the near future?

Autumn: Maybe—I’ll have to start practicing my toe touch again!

FUN, FAST FACTS ABOUT AUTUMN

* She’s still BFF’s with her four high school girlfriends—whom she cheered with all four years!

* She was a top girl on her squad.

* She was in a National competition that aired on ESPN when she was a freshman.

* She was captain of her varsity squad.

* A number of cheerleaders from her high school were featured in Bring It On.

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