'Lizzie' Star Lives Teen Dream
USA TODAY

Actress Hilary Duff has a hit TV show, two movies in the works, two
hot-selling CDs, a line of books and her own fashion doll. And she's barely
15 years old.

''It's a big shock. I never thought anything like this would happen to me.
It's been crazy,'' Duff says.

She may not be a household name, but to the Disney audience, Duff is a tween
idol. Duff is the star of Lizzie McGuire, the highest-rated show on cable's
Disney Channel. Now in its second season, Lizzie also airs on the
Disney-owned ABC network on Saturday mornings.

''Lizzie McGuire is about a 14-year-old girl from Anywhere, USA, just trying
to find her way through life,'' Duff says by phone from the set of The
Lizzie McGuire Movie, due this spring. ''She has dorky parents she's
embarrassed by, an annoying little brother and two good friends who are kind
of dorky. There's also animated Lizzie, her alter ego, who is more sassy
than regular Lizzie, who says things when Lizzie can't say it.''

Lizzie tackles sweet and mostly innocent teen trials, from her first bra to
her first kiss.

In real life, the Houston native is a high school freshman; she's taught by
a tutor and loves math. ''Because I don't go to a regular school, I don't
deal with the pettiness in middle school and high school that Lizzie
faces.'' She loves shopping and hanging out with friends, and she does not
have a boyfriend. ''I don't have time for boys.''

But she has been hanging out with one guy lately. Aerosmith lead singer
Steven Tyler appears on Friday's episode as a Santa Claus.

''He was soooo cool,'' Duff says. Tyler agreed to be on the show if his
daughter Chelsea could play an extra.

''His kids are so well-behaved,'' Duff says between bites of watermelon.

Other celebrities who have appeared on the show include Erik Estrada, pop
singer Aaron Carter and actor Frankie Muniz. Duff and Muniz co-star in teen
spy thriller film Agent Cody Banks, which opens March 21.

Duff made her stage debut at 6 in a touring ballet production of The
Nutcracker and had some minor TV and movie roles before catching her big
break with Lizzie. Older sis Haylie, 17, is also a singer and actress.

When Duff expressed an interest in singing, Lizzie producers made it happen.
Duff sings one track on the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack, and she has just
released a Christmas album, Santa Claus Lane.

A budding Britney Spears?

''Ha-ha. I don't know about that,'' she says. ''But that would be cool.

''The only thing I care about right now is getting my driver's license in 10
months.''



Love <3
Shannon

"If you have a candle, the light won't glow any dimmer if I light yours off
of mine" - Steven Tyler of Aerosmith




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