Leelee Sobieski was eating lunch in her school cafeteria when a casting director asked her if she wanted to be an actress. She was 11 years old at the time.

"It's not everyday that you're asked to audition for Interview With the Vampire, so I thought I would go for it," says the lithe actress, now 16. She didn't get the part, but going up for it was the best thing she could have done.

The New York City native has been working steadily ever since. In the last two years, she has costarred with Elijah Wood in Deep Impact (the better asteroid movie of the year) and with Tom Cruise in the upcoming Eyes Wide Shut. Most recently Leelee costarred with Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed, where she played the crowned queen of the nerds.

"It's really funny," she admits. "I got to help pick out my silly outfits and hairstyles." Was she inspired by her own high school experience? "Well, I'm the kind of person who, if I want to hang out with the nerds for a day, they would let me," she explains. "But if I want to pal around with the cool people, that would be OK, too."