Elisha Cuthbert: Northern Exposure (2009 Cover Story)

Does being a child star in Canada come with as much baggage as it does in the States?
Not really. Canada has been really supportive, and I think the main comment that I get is, “We’re really proud that you went to L.A. and you made it,” and it’s just always been really positive. They don’t look at me as this sort of awkward child star. They’ve come along for the ride and been really respectful.

Is there a paparazzi problem there?
Gossip magazines are definitely being sold, and in big numbers, but I think I have more of a private life [in Canada] than I do in L.A., and it’s nice. But I think it’s how you conduct yourself, too. I mean, there are a lot of celebrities in the gossip magazines that draw a lot of attention to themselves. I try to stay busy with work as much as I can and really keep quiet when I’m not.

Typically, relationships between athletes and actresses get a lot of attention. You’ve dated a couple of NHL players [currently Dion Phaneuf, previously Sean Avery], but you don’t get nearly the same attention as Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush. Is that because hockey isn’t huge in the U.S., or is it because you lie low?
I think it’s just because my personal life is my personal life—I stay private about it. There are always people who are going to wonder and be very excited and want to know about what’s going on in your private life; it’s up to you to keep those boundaries.

When you were working for Popular Mechanics for Kids, Hillary Clinton requested to meet you. What was your meeting like?
It was just her, and she was a very gracious and lovely woman who made us feel comfortable. I probably was 15 or 16 years old and extremely nervous. But she was very kind—actually, I still get invitations to her charity events in Los Angeles. Talk about follow-up. [Laughs.]

Were you rooting for her against Obama? Do you think she would make a good president?
I think she’s completely capable, but I was really kind of, “either one.” When you’re not capable of going to the polls and voting, your perspective on the campaign is much different from someone who has to pay attention and make an informed decision. I was just like, As long as we have one of these two [Democrats], I’ll be happy. We’re a very liberal country. For us to understand Bush [was] a little bit more complicated.

You don’t do nudity but instead employ body doubles. What’s the process in selecting someone? I’ve only had to do it twice. To be honest, it was really quick and pretty basic. I saw three girls and chose one out of the three. It wasn’t a long, drawn-out process. It’s not looking for someone [with] the perfect breasts. Nothing to do with that, really. I think it’s trying to find someone that looks natural, someone that looks good.

You mean someone who acts natural in front of a camera or someone, y’know, natural?
You never see their face, right?

You’ve said that you like to take roles that challenge and scare you. What role would do that at this point?
Probably a musical. [Laughs.] I can’t imagine how much work it would be to make that legit. There are very few musicals that I’ve liked, so that would definitely freak me out. I’ve just only recently felt comfortable doing comedy. Tim Allen taught me a lot about timing. Comedy can be a lot scarier to take on than drama.

Really?! It was less difficult playing a victim of incest and a victim of torture?
The only thing difficult about Captivity [her 2007 torture-porn film] was having to reshoot so much and it turning out to be a movie that really wasn’t the original concept. Doing The Quiet, there were difficulties producing, but I had a great time doing it.