I actually got started at a community center where I live in Kitchener, Ontario. It was maybe a group of 10 kids just doing drama and stuff. I was 7 or 8. I went into modeling, then I went to a convention where there was whole bunch of agents.

Oh yeah. I was performing since I seriously can't even remember, for my parents, doing shows for them and that kind of thing. As far back as I can remember I just loved it, right from the beginning.

No. I was auditioning sometimes with people my size, sometimes with people really small. I did everything. It wasn't hard.

My agent got me the audition. I went and then I didn't hear anything for like six months. Usually, you hear the next day so I didn't really think I got it. I went to another audition, got a screen test, and then, got it! But that was after lots and lots of auditioning for other things. Before that I did a movie and a commercial. When I got Degrassi, it was like a hundred times bigger than anything I'd ever done before.

I really, really was. Most of the time in auditions you kind of have a feeling if you did good or not, and I really, really thought I blew it for some reason. Everybody else was coming out saying "Oh, my audition went so good." And I was like, "Yeahhhhh, so did mine." But then they called me and my agent was like, "You got it!"

Getting to be behind the camera. Meeting all the different people on set. And, she was so different than I am. It was really cool to play a completely different person.

It's weird when I'm just flipping through the channels and I'll see myself on the French channel, speaking French! Or when I see myself on a talk show reviewing Degrassi or something. But when I'm sitting down and I'm ready to watch a show it's not that weird.

I did a lot of research before I did the filming for the episodes. I looked at different cases and researched abusive relationships. It was really awesome to have that acting experience, and just to learn about that whole perspective of relationships. You just realize that so many people actually go through that.

They always say, "You never know." And you do never know. Maybe one day.

I knew it was a powerful scene, but after the episode went on the air I went to school and everyone was like, "Nice. You told him!" All the time I hear, "Oh, that scene was wicked." "That scene was so cool." "Good for you." Everybody on the show, right after I filmed the scene, they said, "That was amazing."

I do workshops and speak at acting classes for kids in my city. I did a lot of traveling this year. No acting projects right now because I'm going to college in September.

Humber College in Toronto. I'm not going to take acting! I'm still going to take acting classes on the side, but I'm taking Travel and Tourism, because acting and traveling are my two favorite things.

Yep. It was in LA. It was one of the best times I've ever had in my life. So many amazing young actors were there, from movies like Finding Neverland to ER… so many shows. It was so fun.

It was so amazing. When I saw who I was against I was like, "Oh my gosh!" Until I came down to LA I didn't even realize how big Degrassi was, I didn't realize how famous it was in the States. Going against all those other shows -- being with all those other actors -- was so shocking.

This low cut red dress and black strappy high heels. I got my hair and nails done, and I wore my bright red lipstick and nail polish.

(The photographer who had been snapping candid shots during our conversation leaves.)

No. On set they would be filming with two cameras with somebody else taking pictures when I'm trying to do a scene, so I guess I'm used to it. I do press conferences and interviews. At the Young Artists Awards there were rows and rows of photographers taking pictures.

My mom. She's been there for everything I've done. She helps me so much. She's the first person I'd ever bring -- her and my dad.

Yeah. I was telling myself, "You're not going to get nervous." And then I was like, "Oh my God, I'm so nervous!" When they said my name and I started walking up, they said the other girl's name. It confused me and I thought they had the wrong person. I was like (sucks in her breath, surprised) and my heart just went like this (motions dropping to the floor) and they said, "No, no, no, it's Christina Schmidt." I went up then, and the lights were so bright that I couldn't see anything, and I don't even remember what I said up there.

It's so weird to call myself famous. Sometimes when I see people staring at the mall I'm like, "Why are they staring at me?" And then I think, "Oh yeah, I'm on a TV show." Or I'll be with my friends and say, "Those people are really staring. Do I have something on my face?" They'll be like, "Christina, you're on Degrassi." It's so weird to think I'm famous. But the fame that comes out of it -- it's fun. I like it.

I don't know! When I see girls bringing themselves down… it's just… it's not really worth it. I'm happy with who I am. Life's too short to be sad about yourself. You're so much happier when you have confidence. Especially in the acting business, if you don't have confidence it's just so hard. You go to so many auditions, and you can go without working for a long time. Without confidence so many people want to quit, but you just have to keep going and that's when you get things. When I hear people saying, "Oh I'm so fat, I'm so fat," it makes me so upset, because every single person has something beautiful about them, whether they're skinny or plus size.

Just be happy with who you are. You have to be happy with yourself or you'll never be happy. Be yourself. If you try to be something else, you won't get to where you want to be.

Being happy makes me feel beautiful. If I'm not happy, I don't feel beautiful. If I had everything perfect but I wasn't happy inside, I wouldn't be beautiful to myself. Being happy makes me feel like the most beautiful person. Being in a good mood makes me feel like a beautiful person. When people look up to me and I hear "Oh you're such a positive role model," those are the moments that seriously make me feel the best.

Everything from LA comes to Canada a little later. When I come to LA I look for fashion. Remember UGG boots? I wore them in Canada and everyone was like "What are you WEARING?" I said, "You just wait. A year from now, you'll see." The hippy skirts that are in right now are just coming to Canada. I try to get the fashion a little bit earlier.

Probably Rome. The big cities in Germany have a lot of fashion to them. Spain has a really beautiful style. LA has a wicked, wicked fashion industry, but fashion is amazing in Europe.

For sure! The way I'm doing my hair right now is something I picked up in Europe.

There are so many. The flowy skirts are really nice, the belts over the long shirts -- long shirts are my favorite. Flat shoes. Stilettos. They've been in for a while but I love stilettos.

Magazines, seeing other girls my age. When they look good, I want to wear what they're wearing. TV. The typical stuff. I like having my own style, too.

Puma. Whoever designs Puma, I think they have the coolest clothes. The other side would be Versace and Gucci. Those designers have such an amazing point of view on design. I have a lot of respect for the big time designers. They have such amazing minds and they've made a career out of designing.

When I first heard about Torrid I thought, "Wow." You go to a lot of plus size stores and they're for older women. Torrid has cool clothes that are still in and stuff that you can't even find in regular stores. Going in and seeing all the beautiful girls shopping there -- it's so amazing. I was so happy to come all the way from Toronto to do stuff for Torrid because it's such an amazing store, and hopefully one day they'll have them in Canada!

There is so much more that I want to do. My dream is to travel the world. Hopefully, one day. I'm having fun and happy where I'm at, but there's so much more that I'd like to accomplish.

Nope.

Travel, obviously. I'd like to live in LA, acting. Graduate from College. I want a big family -- future, future plans.

I'm about to move to Toronto 2 days after we get back. I'm moving right into the city.

I love Mexico. I really want to go to Brazil; I think I'd love it there so much. LA… I love it here. Spain was really nice.

18.

Just going out with my friends. Inviting a couple people over my house. We'll probably go somewhere in Toronto, to a club or something.

Yeah. For sure.

Nothing specific. Just that I'm with all my friends and my family on my birthday. That would be perfect. Having fun.

Go for it! If that's what you want to do, or anything else you want to do, just go for it. If you don't, you'll regret it. If you really want it and just keep going, you'll get somewhere with it. It's such a fun business to be in. You get to do so many cool things with so many cool people. Whatever your goal is, just go for it. Don't let anything hold you back.