You know the negative stuff; caught lip synching, trying to live in big sis Jessica’s limelight, etc. Singer, now actress, 20-year-old Ashlee Simpson has been through a lot of tough press and put downs lately but the once dark, now light-haired younger Simpson sibling, refuses to let it get her down. Ashlee takes a turn on the big screen as Clea, an aspiring musician/songwriter and actress who joins others like her in the ensemble “gotta make it” film Undiscovered in which she performs several songs including the title track that is on her latest album. With hot newcomer Steve Strait (Sky High) who stars in the film, Ashlee sings “Smart in a Stupid Way” and performs a solo on “That’s Why I Love You”.

Ashlee had been on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” the night before our interview and said she had a lot of fun. “Did you hear my burp”? We pretend we didn’t notice. Answers are short and to the point. This girl isn’t going to blab you to sleep. Tune in.

TeenHollywood: Okay who has more fun, blonde’s or brunettes? Do people treat you differently?

Ashlee: I like being blonde. It’s my natural hair color. I don’t really see that people treat me differently. it’s more like how I feel and what I wear and that kind of stuff. With black hair I feel like a feisty rock star (laughs) and with blonde hair it feels a little bit lighter which is fun.

TeenHollywood: Did you take Clea’s grunge look too far and not shower?

Ashlee: I don’t feel like the character Cleo really cared about her outer appearance and I just wanted to be dirty. It was a good opportunity to be dirty (laughs).

TeenHollywood: Have you hung out with musician wannabes in LA?

Ashlee: I have, for sure. I think definitely there are a lot of people like Clea out here in LA and I definitely took those experiences.

TeenHollywood: You’ve had your share of ups and downs lately. How has that been for you? What has it taught you?

Ashlee: It’s been great for me. If there has ever been a moment like SNL (“Saturday Night Live”), I think that only makes you stronger as an artist. Everybody falls on their face at some point or another.

TeenHollywood: Will you do SNL again?

Ashlee: I would love to. It’s not been confirmed or anything like that but I would love to do it.

TeenHollywood: What have you learned from Jessica about the ups and downs of fame?

Ashlee: She’s definitely had her ups and downs as well and I think that as long as you work on your craft, and I’ve watched Jessica do this, and not worry about what people are saying [you’ll be okay]. Just be better for yourself and not buy into what people are saying about you.

TeenHollywood: This movie is about career versus true love. Would you give up everything for love?

Ashlee: It’s a tough question (laughs). Not right now (laughs).

TeenHollywood: Clea isn’t the main lead part. Why did you take a secondary role when you could have taken a lead?

Ashlee: I wanted to do a movie where I could work with a great cast and where I could learn. Eventually I will do a movie where I take on the lead but now I’m interested in roles where I can just learn.

TeenHollywood: You just got off a national tour. Are you working on a lead role now?

Ashlee: No, not yet. I have my album coming out in October and I will hopefully go on tour again but it’s not that I have to take the lead in a movie. I just want to do movies that help me grow.

TeenHollywood: Are you a movie fan?

Ashlee: I love True Romance, that is one of my favorites. That would be my ideal role, Alabama. I like La Femme Nikitta – the original.

TeenHollywood: Why True Romance… for inspiration?

Ashlee: Oh, I watch True Romance all the time (laughs). And I told Quentin and he was like, Yes! And every time I have a new date movie, it’s always True Romance and he was like, that’s what it’s meant to be!

TeenHollywood: So if a guy you like doesn’t like True Romance….they’re off the list?

Ashlee: No, but it’s the best date movie because it’s got action and there’s a cute love story. It’s a good one.

TeenHollywood: Have you talked to Jessica about doing a movie with her?

Ashlee: No, we haven’t talked about doing a movie together but that would be something cool.

TeenHollywood: Your 21st birthday is coming up in October. Are you celebrating in Vegas and having a big party?

Ashlee: Yeah. October 3rd! Absolutely, I’m going to have a big party in Vegas.

TeenHollywood: How do you feel about turning 21?

Ashlee: I’m so excited and the reason I want to go to Vegas is because I’ve gotten into clubs since I was 15 and Vegas is the one place where they always ask for your ID so I will be there gambling (laughs).

TeenHollywood: What’s on your iPod?

Ashlee: I love Bjork. What else do I love? Right now I’m excited about seeing The White Stripes. I love their new record, it’s really good. And then I’m going to see Coldplay this weekend.

TeenHollywood: How’s your album coming along?

Ashlee: It’s good, it’s done now. It’s called “I Am Me”. It’s coming out in October and I’m so excited. It was so nice going in to make this sophomore record – it was a sense of relief because making my first record, you don’t know everything that you’re doing, but this time I never ever left the studio and I was tweaking everything – it was a lot of fun.

TeenHollywood: How different is it? New sound?

Ashlee: A little bit of a different sound but not too different. I went back to the same producer and we have really good chemistry together and have a lot of fun in the studio. I’m really excited about it.

TeenHollywood: Singing in a studio or on stage is different than on film. Were you nervous singing for Undiscovered?

Ashlee: I actually did feel nervous just because Clea is a little insecure and I really felt that. Whenever I was up there you could see it. My body was hunched over and I think I felt nervous because it’s a feeling of everybody’s watching you and I guess because when I started performing I automatically had bigger venues and when it’s that intimate it can be nerve wracking.

TeenHollywood: Is there one misconception you’d like to clear up?

Ashlee: There’s a lot (laughs) but the one thing; I don’t really mind what people say about my love life but the one thing is yes I do sing and write my own music. That is something I hold really dear. Yeah, I made a fool of myself in front of the world (SNL) but it was also great to pick myself up and go on.

TeenHollywood: Is there anyone you’d like to change places with for a day?

Ashlee: Brad Pitt. I would love every hot woman to love me! I know that sounds really weird but even guys are like, man, if I could be like Brad Pitt!

TeenHollywood: Wouldn’t you rather be Angelina Jolie – then you’d get to BE with Brad Pitt?

Ashlee: Well, that would be great. I would love to be Angelina Jolie, too. I’ll take either one of them (laughs).