Interview

The fact that it’s been nearly a year since Portia Doubleday wrapped production on Miguel Arteta’s new teen romance, Youth in Revolt, hasn’t prevented her from continuing to burrow into the psyche of her character in the film. Based on the beloved C.D. Payne novel of the same title, Youth in Revolt tells the story of naïve young high school freshman Nick Twisp (played by Michael Cera), who is encouraged by his friend Sheeni Saunders (Doubleday) to perform a series of rebellious, marginally illicit acts in return for the prospect of maybe, possibly, one day losing his virginity to her. Doubleday describes Sheeni as a “bad good girl” of sorts—albeit one with a brain and a manipulative streak a mile long. “[Sheeni] tells boys that she likes them, but she’s the you-have-to-cause-a-$5 million-fire-for-us-to-be-together kind of girl,” explains the 21-year-old Los Angeles native, who grew up in a household filled with actors—her mother, father, and older sister are all card-carrying Screen Actors Guild members—and adds that she routinely gets called in to read for parts involving “really mature 16-year-olds.” “I’m still trying to figure out Sheeni,” Doubleday says. “She has a dry sense of humor, knows what she wants, and is very calm and collected, whereas I’m the total opposite—a real scatterbrain.”

Watch Youth in Revolt trailer:

Photo caption: Portia Doubleday in Los Angeles. August 2009. Dress: Missoni. Jewelry: Artist's own. Cosmetics: Shu Uemura, including Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation. Hair products: Leonor Greyl, incluing Mousee Au Lotus Volumatrice. Fragrance: Missoni Acqua by Missoni. Styling: Moses/Margaret Maldonado Agency. Hair: Terry Millet/Photogenics Beauty at Smashbox. Makeup: John McKay/Frank Reps. Special Thanks: The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.