The Deadbolt Interview - The Secret Life is Good for American Teen Bad Girl Francia Raisa

The Secret Life is Good for American Teen Bad Girl Francia Raisa
by Troy Rogers

Just like the drama that takes place within the halls of high schools all over the world, every social group has a bad girl. At Ulysses S. Grant High School in the fictional world of ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager, young actress Francia Raisa plays the show's bad girl Adrian Lee alongside lead Shailene Woodley's Amy Jeurgens and supporting actress Megan Park's good girl cheerleader Grace Bowman. Is Francia Raisa really a bad girl? Well, as you'll find out, it's the "bad stuff" that Raisa likes most about playing Adrian.

With The Secret Life of the American Teenager now in its second season in ABC Family's 8pm slot on Monday nights, the drama is heating up as Adrian and the rest of the Secret Life characters are forced to confront a variety of issues that many teens will relate with. Even bad girls can't escape the emotional moments of teen life in high school.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager has fast become one of the most popular teen dramas on TV, standing toe-to-toe with Gossip Girl and 90210, and we had the good fortune to catch up with Francia Raisa to learn more about the second season of Secret Life and where Raisa would like to see Adrian go in the future.

THE DEADBOLT: What are your thoughts on what younger viewers might think about teenage pregnancy?

FRANCIA RAISA: There’s been a lot of contradiction. Some people are like, "High school is not like this. It’s so stupid, blah, blah, blah." But other people are like, "This is true." I hope that they look at the teen pregnancy and they really think about their actions before they do anything. I know that sex is going on a lot in high school. I know because my sister is still in high school.

She’s a sophomore and she has told me stories that her classmates have done and it blows my mind, so I really hope that they look at the pregnancy. She only did it once. It lasted two seconds and look what happened. The rest of her life changed. So I really hope that they look at that and they’re like, "Okay, maybe I should cool down a bit."

THE DEADBOLT: What would you like to see happen with Adrian this season?

RAISA: I want her to change her life around a little bit. She’s a very smart girl and I hope that people see more of that in her. She’s really emotional. She’s really a sweet gal. I mean you see a little bit of that when she’s at home and she breaks down to her dad and to Ricky a bit, so I hope she comes out, but I mean she’s fun. I love playing her. I love playing her when she’s bad and she has those moments, but I do want to see her change her life around with her family and stuff.

THE DEADBOLT: What is the best part about playing her?

RAISA: The bad stuff. When I say raunchy stuff or like when I flirted with the counselor in the first season. That was fun. I mean, come on, everyone has a little Adrian in them and we all want to do it at some point.

THE DEADBOLT: You mentioned Megan and Daren. I was wondering, which of the adult cast members do you like playing opposite the most?

RAISA: I love Mark Derwin. He is so funny. I can’t work because he’s hysterical. He’s great. Then I really love working with Paola Turbay, who plays my mother. She’s just really smart and I enjoy talking to her and she gives great advice and stuff. I mean they’re all great, and Philip as well, who plays my father, he is a teenager at heart.

THE DEADBOLT: How does it feel to be just as popular as Gossip Girl and 90210?

RAISA: Amazing. I’m not going to lie; I was a little worried just because all of the advertisement and stuff that Gossip Girl and 90210 have. Gossip Girl was such a popular book. I mean I even read it growing up, so I was really nervous, especially when we got on their time slot and knowing that we’re up there and our ratings are even better than theirs, it’s a great feeling. I really enjoy it.

THE DEADBOLT: I wanted to know about Jason Priestly. What was it like working with him and is he coming back to direct more episodes?

RAISA: I love working with him. I hope he’s coming back for more. I haven’t heard that he wasn’t. I mean we have a different director every episode and we’re almost done, so hopefully for the next season he comes back, but I think the fact that he was an actor helps a lot.

I mean when I had a scene where my dad walked in; I saw my dad for the first time and really I was looking at nothing. I didn’t see any man walking to the door; I didn’t see anything and he narrated the whole thing for me so I could really imagine it. I know some directors would be like, 'Okay. He’s there. Go.' That doesn’t help at all, so the fact that he narrated and he really helped me get into that place and he made sure everyone was quiet. He’s so much fun and amazing. I love working with him.

THE DEADBOLT: What do you think is realistic about the show, in relation to real high school?

RAISA: Everything, believe it or not. I mean it’s just like what Adrian goes through and what Grace goes through and Amy and stuff. I mean, it’s realistic and I think we just deal with it in a realistic way. I’m not saying that everyone deals with it the same after the show or whatever, but we’re just realistic about the stuff. Believe it or not, it happens. I went to school with a couple of girls that got pregnant during high school. I know one that had four abortions by the time we graduated. You have those Adrians and you have those Graces and you have those Amys. I mean it happens.

THE DEADBOLT: How many guys did you know that were like Ricky?

RAISA: Oh, a few. One broke my heart ... I actually went through kind of what Adrian went through. I loved the guy and he didn’t want me. I was like, "Maybe if I have sex with him and I lose my virginity to him he’ll love me." Before that I found out that he was dating someone else at the same time he was dating me, so I didn’t sleep with him and I realized even if I did he would have never wanted me.

-- Troy Rogers