Kelly Osbourne's Dramatic Life
It's tough to come of age on TV, much less to do it on a reality series that follows you and your foulmouthed family 24/7. But that's just what 19-year-old
Kelly Osbourne did on MTV's
The Osbournes. Now, the reformed wild child (so reformed in fact that, prior to our interview, she grimaced and asked for water after mistakenly sipping from a mixed alcoholic drink) takes on scripted television. Once again, she's coming of age — this time playing the sweet, sexy and self-assured Deborah on ABC's new teen soap,
Life as We Know It (debuting Oct. 7).
TV Guide Online: Was it hard to move from reality to scripted drama?
Osbourne: Um, no. It actually was not. I was really shocked at how easy and how natural it came to me, and how much fun I had doing it. So I'm really excited.
TVGO: After your MTV antics, did you have to win over the cast to respect you as an actress?
Osbourne: No. We were instantly friends.
TVGO: It seems that way. And the pilot had heart, almost a sweetness to it, that most teen dramas don't have today.
Osbourne: I think so. And I think it gives [something] for kids, teens and parents to watch, you know? To give parents a better idea of what their kids are thinking. It's really real.
TVGO: It was brave of you to take on the lines about your weight [in the pilot episode].
Osbourne: You know what it is? I think I look fat on TV. I don't know what it is, but oh well.
TVGO: Well, the camera adds 10 pounds, right?
Osbourne: I would say 25. [Laughs]
TVGO: And all those cameras made it worse on The Osbournes, right?
Osbourne: I know, I know. And you know what it is... I [took the part] because there are so many girls out there [who] have sent me letters, saying, "I don't understand. I feel fat. I feel ugly." I did it to make them feel better. You don't have to look like a supermodel to be beautiful.
TVGO: Well, that's true. But you are a great-looking cast...
Osbourne: When we're on set, they don't put any makeup on us. They put, like, lip balm and a bit of powder. It's not like we're getting glammed up.
TVGO: So what's next for your recording career?
Osbourne: I just finished my album. I'm not sure when it's going to come out. I did it with [music producer] Linda Perry. She's the most amazing woman I've ever worked with in my life. And I'm so excited.
