Kidsday interviews Sarah Hyland

We interviewed actress Sarah Hyland, who stars as Haley Dunphy on the ABC-TV show "Modern Family," at ABC offices in Manhattan recently.

On some other projects you've done some dancing and singing. Do you prefer to sing and dance or to act?

I will always be an actor first, but if the role requires me to dance and sing, I love to dance and sing on the side. I was a big dancer like ballet and point when I was younger and I sing in the car every single day. So I love to sing and dance, but acting is my job.

How did you get cast for the TV show "Modern Family"? Was the role you got the one you auditioned for?

It was the one I auditioned for. Actually they didn't want to see me for "Modern Family" just because they heard I was 18 and the character was 15 and they were like, well she's 18. She's too old. And the people who are sending me out for it were like, trust me she does not look 18. So they saw me and they were like, 'Wow, she really does look like she's 15.' Then I went through the whole auditioning process and they hired me.

Did you ever not get a role that you really wanted?

Have I ever not gotten a role that I really wanted? That's happened more times than I've gotten a role that I really wanted. Actually a role that I really, really wanted was the role of Tiara in "High School Musical Three" where I met Matt [boyfriend Matt Prokop] at the screen test.

What actor or actress would you like to work in a movie with?

That's a good question. I would love to work with maybe someone like Russell Brand. I think he's really funny. He's hilarious. I'd love to work with him.

What inspired you to be an actor? If you weren't an actor, what would you be doing?

Well, my dad is an actor so I saw the actor's life from a very young age. So that's when I decided I wanted to become an actor, and I was like 5 years old and I set my mind to it. And I did it and I had a lot of support from my parents. That's when I decided to be it. . . . When I was little I wanted to be a doctor, but now that I'm older I realize that I wouldn't want to do that because there's a lot of blood involved.

How do you memorize your lines for a show or a movie?

Memorizing lines, it's kind of, I feel like it's a muscle in your brain that if you do it all the time it gets easier as long as you do it and definitely on a daily basis when you have to memorize lines. It's hard sometimes, but you kind of get used to it and it just kind of happens naturally.

What was the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on set?

Probably when I can't say a word right. That happens to me a lot. I just can't say it. It doesn't come out right and then I mess up.

What advice do you have for kids who want to be an actor?

Get use to the word "No." The word no is not always a bad thing. Just because you learn and you grow and you're going to hear it no matter what. I've heard the word no to a job so many times, so you just have to move on from it, but if you really, really want to be an actor, then just set your mind to it and don't give up.

How do you prepare for auditions?

I try to memorize the sights as much as possible. But anything can help -- from like what you're wearing to if you're dressed like the character or something. But try to memorize your lines just so you're not looking at the page the entire time because they can't see you act with your eyes.

Since you and Matt Prokop were dating, was it hard to work with each other on the the movie "Geek Charming"?

No it wasn't hard at all. It was actually easier just because you have your best friend with you at all times and if you're sad or tired and you don't want to seem unprofessional on set you could just go to your best friend and say like, 'I'm frustrated,' and you get that out of your system and then you're good.

Did having a family of actors help you in becoming an actor?

Yeah, it did because if they weren't already in the business then I wouldn't have even known how to get an agent and help me get auditions and stuff. So I was so young that I don't even remember the process.