If you have seen “Stick It” or have read the Alice Sebold book, “The Lovely Bones” and have heard about the film adaptation, then you may have seen or heard of Nikki SooHoo. Nikki played Wei Wei in “Stick It” and has appeared on “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” “Drake & Josh,” and “Phil of the Future.” I got the chance to talk with the 20 year old California native one week ago about ‘The Lovely Bones” (which is sure to be a hit) and more.

Let’s start off with your latest upcoming film, “The Lovely Bones.” What attracted you to the character of Holly?
What I liked about it was the depth of her character. She comes off as unloving but she still has a really serious side to her and is also really young at heart.

In the book, the main character, Susie Salmon is raped, murdered, and dismembered so it is very much a horror and as it goes on, becomes a drama and thriller. How would you say those genres translate on film?
Peter Jackson (Director) did a really good job taking the scenes from the book that were really graphic and made them so that they implied things in the film but did not really show it. It is not really a blood and guts type of horror film but it is definitely a thriller.

As the setting is very different than most places, that being heaven, I want to know if you believe in heaven and how you envision it if so?
I do believe in heaven. I really like how Peter Jackson envisioned it…a perfect place that becomes anything that you imagine. It is calm, beautiful, and very happy go lucky.

Did you get to meet Alice Sebold, the author of “The Lovely Bones” and talk with her about your character?
I have not gotten to meet her yet. When we start PR for the film, we will most likely get to meet her.

Do you feel that the film has stayed true to the vision of the book?
It stays true to the vision of the book but it is not a lot like the book. The order of the scenes in the book are in a different order in the film, to make more sense out of it. The message still definitely comes through. As far as heaven, I think Peter Jackson took it and went crazy with it (laughs). He created so much for us, so some of our scenes were not written in the book.

The film also includes Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, and Michael Imperioli. What was it like having those actors be part of the film?
Unfortunately for me, I did not get to spend much time with them because our shooting schedules were completely opposite. The last day that they were filming in New Zealand was the first day that I was filming in New Zealand, so I got to meet and greet them. My main shooting was with Saoirse Ronan.

Tell me about being set with Saoirse Ronan who plays the main character, Susie?
Her and I connected like two peas in a pod. We played hand games while we waited on set, we sang songs and danced in our makeup trailer, we went out to dinner on our off days. We even had our on handshake right before we started scenes. What’s funny is that she is only 14 years old and at the time of shooting, I was 19 years old. She is very mature for her age though.

What was the experience like filming “The Lovely Bones” in New Zealand?
It was amazing. To get to go to a country that I did not know much about…once I got there, I really appreciated their culture and they have gorgeous landscape. The people there are amazing. It is a lot different there compared to living in Los Angeles.

The film is based in 1973, so describe what you like best about the fashion on set?
For part of heaven, we got to do a fashion show. The wardrobe department looked through issues from that time period of major fashion magazine. Wardrobe was ridiculous, everything was handmade!

Moving on to what you are currently filming…how would you hope that “Bring it On Cinco” differs from the rest of the “Bring it On” films?
I hope that we get a lot more PR. Having Christina Milian as our lead will help with that since she is established in the industry. Also, there can be good acting in an active film. It is fun to watch the action but all of us actors have been working really hard and rehearsing outside of our rehearsing schedule to put this together well.

Where is “Bring it On Cinco” filming and what is the plot?
The story pretty much takes place in Malibu but we are filming all around Los Angeles, CA and Northridge, CA. I can’t give away the plot just yet.

As for the film, “Stick It,” I know there were tons of professional gymnasts but how much gymnastics did you learn?
We trained for 3 months prior to filming to look like a gymnast and be able to do the finishing act of the routines. We could not do the actual stunts but all of the dancing on the beam for my scene at the end was all me.

For your big routine at the end, did you get to choreograph the dancing?
I did not choreograph it myself, they brought in choreographers. We worked together though and they would take my advice on what I felt would go better on the beam.

Having been a member of the LA Sparks kids when you were younger and studying dance in school, which style of dance best fits you?
After LA Sparks kids I became more of a hip hop dancer. What is great about UCLA is that it is very cultural. I get to learn so many types of dance but I am very much part of the hip hop scene and it really helps with work as well. I also got to see a lot of people from LA Sparks kids when filming “Bring It On Cinco” because a lot of dancers were hired so that was pretty cool.

Are you almost finished studying at UCLA?
Right now I am supposed to be a 3rd year but I am taking time off for the fall quarter to film “Bring It On Cinco.” I am taking an online course right now but I plan to continue studying after filming.

What would you say are the different challenges you face being both a comedic and dramatic actress in both television and film?
That is difficult. One of my hardest challenges is not laughing. You can’t break character and need to stay in your zone. In “Bring It On Cinco” I play a very monotone, sarcastic character that is very different from me. People laugh all the time when I am reading my lines and it is so hard for me not to laugh too!

Who would you love to work with in a film or on television?
Dakota Fanning is my favorite young actress. Everything that she is in I am so attracted to and I would love to work with her.