gt.com: tell our readers about your latest music venture, "Coverage."

MANDY: "Coverage" is something I wanted to do for a while. I wanted to try my hand at remaking the classics. It's just a collection, probably, of twelve songs from the likes of Joe Jackson, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, XTC, and others. I started hearing the songs in the past year, and I wanted to translate them to people my age. I'm excited about presenting it to people my age, all these great artists!

gt.com: was there a particular track that you've recorded thus far that really stood out from the pack?

MANDY: My favorite song to record was The Waterboys song, "Whole of the Moon." I was in the studio and I could imagine myself, and I know this sounds cheesy but...like in that scene in "The Lion King" when Simba is born and they are holding him over the edge of the cliff and all the animals are down below. I felt like I was standing on the cliff, and I was kind of singing but singing to no one. It was kinda like singing all by myself far away in a fairy tale, cartoony land. It felt so epic, so grrrr! It was so emotional, weird, and congested -- a hodgepodge of instruments on the original that I kinda wanted to break it down and make it not so linear. Give it some depth and some ups and downs and stuff like that. That's why it was such a fun experience recording it, going back and adding all these harmonies and saying "No, I want the horns here" or "I want to break part of the horns section right here." It was so fun to be so involved!

gt.com: we can imagine! we heard through the grapevine  that you financed "Coverage." why did you decide to go that route?

MANDY: Well, I initially went into the studio without the record company. I wanted to record songs that I wanted to record and do things that I wanted to do. It's at the point where the record company comes in and picks up the tab and reimburses me. But, it was my idea to go off on my own and I told myself that I would pay for it if I had to pay for it. I wanted to make it happen!

gt.com: that's dedication! you've made a flawless transition into the movies. tell us about this new film you're working on.

MANDY: I just finished -- I've been in London, Venice, and Prague all summer filming a movie about the President's daughter. There's kind of a little bit of parallels in our lives. It was really fun, because I'd never been to some of these place before, so along with the character, I was kind of experiencing everything for the first time, too. I couldn't ask for better locations to spend my summer vacation!

gt.com: haha, absolutely! how did it feel to be PUNK'D by Ashton Kutcher?

MANDY: I felt like such a loser! Why couldn't I have seen the signs? Why couldn't I have put all the puzzle pieces together? I walked in, and initially I was like, poor guy! And, with Dax, there was something about him that was a little bit off...he didn't have water and electricity, there was a crack in his roof! But, I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to be judgmental. It wasn't bad, but then watching the show when it started airing, it was like, "Wow!" I wasn't really wronged personally -- Justin Timberlake, they really got him! They screwed that guy -- he was almost in tears!

gt.com: you were a great sport! who would you like to see PUNK'D next?

MANDY: I'd like to see my boyfriend [Andy Roddick] get PUNK'D next, because no one can play a practical joke on him! He sees it coming from ten miles away! I could never get him...maybe I should enlist Ashton to help!

gt.com: speaking of Andy...is it hard to have such a high-profiled relationship?

MANDY: :: laughs:: It's not a high-profiled relationship! No one really cares! I'll speak on the behalf of us, no one really cares! It is what it is! It's funny that people are so interested in it -- it's just kinda caught on!

gt.com: you've mentioned that Andy tried to teach you to play tennis. how is he at singing?

MANDY: ::laughs:: He's actually not bad at rapping! I always joke with him, that on the next record, I'll sing and he can rap and he can be a guest in the video. He can wear all the bling-bling, but no women sipping champagne around the pool. That's where I'd have to draw the line!

gt.com: it's no secret you're a big fan of American Idol.

MANDY: I really got into it, and I can't wait until the next season! It's kind of floated out of my mind right now, but when it was on and when it was hot, I'm into every second of it! Going in, rewatching it, calling Andy to talk about it, and watching the performances -- I love it!

gt.com: same! if you didn't have a record contract, would you have tried out?

MANDY: I definitely would have tried out, but I probably wouldn't have made it...

gt.com: no way, you would've! you're too modest :)

MANDY: I don't know, you have to have it all -- that showmanship, those sexy outfits, and all of that stuff!

gt.com: we really respect your decision to remain classy despite the pressures of Hollywood. how do you handle that in your career?

MANDY: I don't know if there is a real way to handle it -- I just be myself, and I allow the opportunity for me to be myself, whether it's choosing what I wear, how I present, how I perform, what I sing about, etc. I'd much rather be comfortable and wear something that I can look back on in ten years from now and say, "Oh, maybe that's not in fashion anymore, but it was nice at the time!"

gt.com: you were recently featured under Swank Style for your trendsetting, by the way! we love your style!

MANDY: Thank you, but you should thank my stylist! I think it's one of the fun parts of the job, playing dressup, getting your hair and makeup done, choosing your outfits. So, I think it's so fun to be girly and dress up like that!

gt.com: absolutely! as busy as you are, do you still find time to visit your hometown?

MANDY: I do! We still have a house out [in Orlando], and my brothers and my three dogs and three cats are there right now! My parents are back in LA, but we kinda spend time at both houses!

gt.com: awesome! so, what do you want people to know about Mandy, the average girl, rather than Mandy, the superstar?

MANDY: I'm the biggest geek -- I know people say that all the time, but honestly, it's true! I'm just lazy -- a big couch potato! I like being comfortable if I don't have anything to do that day -- at home, in my pajamas, eating every meal in bed...! That's not so glamorous! ::laughs::

gt.com: nothing wrong with that! "Coverage" will be a hit, no doubt, and thank you Mandy for taking time from your hectic schedule!