from The N:
Cassie Steele plays Manny. Here's her latest IMterview with The-Mary...
The-Mary: hi cassie!
-Cassie-: hey! how r ya?
The-Mary: i'm good... how are you? how is it on the set today?
-Cassie-: fun...kinda sad cuz it's our last day shooting this episode.
-Cassie-: then we get a pretty big break
The-Mary: oh awesome... was this one a good manny episode?
-Cassie-: more so a great emma ep. but manny is definitely in there.
The-Mary: awesome. so i saw that your CD is called "How much for happy" which is the best title ever... what's the story behind that phrase?
-Cassie-: well, anything u want to interpret it as i guess
-Cassie-: how society/ media tells us and advertises what things can make us feel what
-Cassie-: if u buy this bag it makes u happy...if u buy this brand it makes u better then someone else
-Cassie-: but most of all i think its just a cry for help... when you're in that time where u feel happiness is so far and u'll give anything to have it
The-Mary: wow. for real. what makes you happy for real in your real life?
-Cassie-: self satisfaction. at the end of the day to know i did a good job, to see peoples faces in the audience when i'm preforming. to surprise people and do the unexpected. to be unique...friends.
-Cassie-: my social life. i'm such a people pleaser, i guess that's why i'm in the entertainment business.
The-Mary: right, that's a good set-up for you. what are your friends like... have you known them since before degrassi?
-Cassie-: no. i'm the youngest, so i started filming and tutoring on set when i was in grade 7. it was really hard for me and my friends in elementary to adjust to the time that i was away and when i came back. i went to 2 high schools and now i'm home-schooled. i have a really hard time keeping friends. it's hard to find people that won't desert you when ur away for that long
-Cassie-: it's unfair to me and them. i can't expect people to come whenever i call when i'm away for 2 months
-Cassie-: but every summer break i always end up finding someone along the grapevine to party with
The-Mary: yeah... so who do you end up staying closest to?
-Cassie-: not really anyone..
-Cassie-: a lot of my friends i hung out with this summer just went to university
-Cassie-: so i guess i'll see them next summer if they're here
The-Mary: are you close with your family? i met your dad that one time in LA, he seemed SO rad
-Cassie-: yeah i'm really close with my dad
-Cassie-: but sometimes i don't see them
-Cassie-: because me and my mom work during the day and my sister's at school and after a day of work my mom comes home and i go out with friends
-Cassie-: but we always hang out on weekends
The-Mary: so it seems like you could really identify with that period manny went through, which i wanted to talk about anyway... i thought it was SO powerful to see Manny who was so bubbly and had clearly felt so powerful and kind of in control... when she kind of gets smacked down by life...
The-Mary: i thought she seemed so much wiser for it all, like she can See Through people now... do you feel that way about her?
The-Mary: Like she gives DEVASTATING withering looks these days... like that one she gave Spinner after everyone found out about what he'd done..
-Cassie-: yeah like she's kind of jaded
-Cassie-: they haven't really looked into that with other scripts, but i sooo agree. they should show the more serious, cynical real side of her that i know, and everyone knows is there (i have to go in a sec)
The-Mary: i hope we get to dig in to it... ok, i probably should let you go but: any quick music recommendations?
-Cassie-: hm...i'm into 80s stuff mostly
-Cassie-: and indie bands
-Cassie-: jack johnson just had a concert
-Cassie-: that was pretty chylln
The-Mary: cool, yeah, he's very chill
-Cassie-: so 0o0o0o its been really fun talking with u and i hope u enjoi the new season
The-Mary: yes, thanks for talking! i know it's hectic over there.
-Cassie-: stay foxy(K)
The-Mary: you TOO hot stuff
-Cassie-: bu-bye!