Frankie Muniz is best known as the eponymous star of Malcolm in the Middle. The 16-year-old gets his biggest movie role to date in kids' pic "Big Fat Liar".
How did you get into acting without ever taking an acting lesson?
I started acting when I was about eight-years-old, and I got into it after seeing my sister in a school play. It looked so much fun that, when I saw auditions for a local production of "A Christmas Carol", I decided to go for it and to my surprise I landed the role of Tiny Tim. After that I started going for TV movies and commercials. And then an audition for Malcolm in the Middle came up and, unbelievably, I got it. It still amazes me how all this has worked out so well. I'm very lucky.
What do you prefer doing, TV or movies?
If I had to choose one over the other, I'd choose doing movies only, because of the variety of characters you get to play and the fact that you start a movie, you play your character, and then it's finished with and you look around for the next one. You get to be different people, which is what I like about acting. That doesn't mean I want to stop TV, though. I still really enjoy being Malcolm, I'm going on my fourth year now, and it's still a lot of fun. But it is nice to play other characters.
Because of your height and still looking younger than you are, did you relate to the bullying issue in the movie?
Yes, totally, but I wouldn't let them get to me. I wouldn't retaliate and get mad at them, because I knew that that was what they wanted. I was always getting teased about my height, but hey, I'm short, nothing I can do about it. It hasn't stunted my career, which is what I care about.
Do you worry about missing out on what 'normal' kids your age do?
No way! I'd much rather be going to big award ceremonies, meeting Britney Spears, playing basketball with N'Sync, and travelling all over the world rather than go to the high school prom. I enjoy working and having a hectic schedule. I'd be so bored if I had the life of a normal kid my age.
