Mandy Moore going against the grain

Moore's clothing is not as revealing as that of her young pop star counterparts, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

By Alesia Stanford
Special to CNN

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- In an effort to stand out from those other young, blonde popstars -- you know, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson -- Mandy Moore is trying something a little bit different.

To begin with, she's wearing more clothes than her slinky peers. The native Floridian showed up at a recent Seventeen magazine party here wearing a pair of jeans, a studded belt and a rather modest black top with cut-outs in the sleeves, nary a navel in sight.

She's also entered the movie business while Britney & Co. are still cutting songs. Her first film, "The Princess Diaries," opened August 3. Moore plays a supporting role, portraying a snotty cheerleader in the film about a nerdy American teen (Anne Hathaway) who discovers she's royalty.

VIDEO Correspondent Alesia Stanford talks with the singer about her new acting career (August 6) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES Garry Marshall finds a new 'Princess'

And, in another contrary move, the 17-year-old singer is taking out of her act the back-up dancers that are such a prominent part of the pop world. Instead, she's decided to rely on the music and her voice.

Is Mandy Moore becoming a grown-up?

"I guess you could say that," she says with a smile. "... I mean, I am 17 and I recorded the first album when I was 14. ... I think it's really representative of me this go-round. I still think people are expecting 'Candy' part 2 on this album and they're not going to get it, so I'm excited about their reactions."

Departures

Reactions, though, have been mixed to this latest effort, self-titled "Mandy Moore." It hit store shelves June 19, but hasn't made its mark on the charts, nor received the same airplay as the singer's first two CDs, which were full of more typical pop songs.

Mandy Moore relies on the music and her voice on stage.

Still, Moore, whose fresh-faced looks landed her a gig as a spokesmodel for Neutrogena cosmetics, apparently thinks the musical departure is worth the risk.

The first single, "In My Pocket," was produced in Miami, Florida, by Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan's husband. Moore calls it "a great rockin' pop song with a Middle Eastern twang edge to it." All 13 cuts have a bit of an edge, including the final track, "When I Talk to You." Moore co-wrote the acoustic song, which describes the demise of some of her friendships since she's become famous.

'Not too shabby'

Moore also is ahead of her peers when it comes to making the jump from music videos to movies.

In her big-screen debut, Disney's "The Princess Diaries," she worked with Julie Andrews and director Garry Marshall (he helmed "Pretty Woman"), as well as shared screen time with star Hathaway.

She played against type as the cheerleader, the quintessential popular girl who looks down her nose at star Hathaway's geeky character. Moore loved it.

"It's not too shabby to work on your first film with Garry Marshall and Julie Andrews, and a bunch of other talented young actors," she says.

Moore plays a snobby cheerleader in "The Princess Diaries."

There is some irony Moore debuting in a Disney production. She isn't a "Mickey Mouse Club" alum like Spears or Aguilera, even though she grew up in Orlando, in the shadow of the Mouse. Her start did not begin on a Disney set.

After "begging" her parents for voice lessons, Moore hit the road, singing the national anthem at ballgames and entering talent competitions.

Now that she's hit the screen, Moore wants more. Her next film, "A Walk to Remember," casts her as the daughter of a small-town North Carolina minister. In the film, set in the 1950s, she falls in love with the son of one of the wealthiest families in town.

Doesn't seem like a "Mandy Moore-type role"? Perhaps being different is the way to go.