We caught up with Sofia’s Diary Stars James and Rachel…

It’s the new teen drama that’s storming the Internet, Sofia’s Diary hit our computer screens only a month ago and we’re already completely hooked!
Since it launched the Bebo born show has got thousands of teenagers tuning in every day to watch the feisty Sofia as she struggles with her new life in London.

When we caught up with Bebo stars Rachel and James, we couldn’t wait to get in all the goss and ask the questions that everyone is dying to know the answers to…will Sofia and Sean ever hook up, is James a bit of a ladies man in real life and why it’s best not to blow up your chemistry lab.
Read on to find out more…

So we really need to know…are Sofia and Sean gonna get together?
Rachel: That remains to be seen. I can’t give too much away. I think they’re fairly keen on each other but we’ll have to see!

Oh go on you can tell us?
Rachel: Well there might be some interesting things coming up in the next few episodes but at the moment they’re just good friends.

James, are you a bit of a ladies man in real life?
James: Umm (long pause) I don’t know I’ve had a girlfriend for the last two and a half years. But before then…yeah sometimes (laughs cheekily).

Do you have a diary? Have you ever kept one?
Rachel: It’s one of those things, I always get a diary given to me at Christmas or birthdays and then you write it for the first few days and then you just toss it aside. I’m too disorganised to keep a diary.
James: When I was about 14-15 I started writing a diary and then I just gave up, I couldn’t be bothered.

Rachel, you also sing…have you got any plans to release a single?
I’m actually working with producers at the moment; it’s still in the production stages at the moment. But yeah I play piano and guitar so I’m working on my own stuff at the moment.

          We wonder if  Sean and Sofia will hook up?

If you had to choose between acting or singing…what would it be?
Rachel: Someone once told me that I would have to make a choice at some point in my life but I love acting and music equally – so I don’t think I’m ever going to make that choice.

What’s the difference between filming for online and TV?
Rachel: The time scale I reckon because we’re filming 250 pages worth of script in a month and that’s equivalent of two feature films. So we’re basically doing Lord of the Rings I and II in a month, which is unheard of. You only have a few takes for each scene, so you’ve really got to get it on the head.

Have you ever had to work under that sort of pressure before?
Rachel: No, (laughs nervously) it’s great I love working under pressure but it is quite difficult at times.

How long does it take to film an episode?
Rachel: We aim for about two episodes a day. Obviously the episodes are quite short being two and four minutes long each.

Have you got any favourite story lines so far?
James: I liked the bit with the dress, when we had to search for the dress – I think that looked really good.
Rachel: I love all the themes at the ‘Wicked’ offices with the lovely Heidi who plays the boss. There’s lot of comedy moments with Pretty Boy and some of the other characters in it. There are also really nice moments between Sophia and her Dad.

Sofia was suspended for blowing up the chemistry lab and then sent off to live with her Dad, do Sofia and her Dad grow closer as the story goes on?
Rachel: I think so, because he’s been in and out of her life for a long time. I think that was a great story line because something that a lot of young people can relate to is having a family member who is not a big part of their life. The story line develops there and it’s quite nice how she develops a bond with her Dad eventually.

Do you think Sofia learnt her lesson after blowing up the lab?
Rachel: If you blow up a chemistry lab, there’s got to be consequences somewhere along the line. So yeah I think she has learnt her lesson.

Is there a message for teenagers there?
Rachel: Yeah, don’t blow up your chemistry labs - that’s not good! (laughs).

Did you ever get up to mischief like Sofia when you were at school?
Rachel: I was a total geek actually! I was a geek who had friends, but I was always very good.

Do you have any spoilers for us?
Rachel: There’s some interesting things to come with Sean and also some interesting things to come possibly with Josh. Yeah lots of exciting stuff. The relationship between Sofia and Rebecca is an interesting one because they are archenemies they’re like Luke Skywalker and Darf Vader. But I think they might eventually come to understand each other because they are both from similar backgrounds.

Is Rebecca a witch in real life?
Rachel: In real life! No she is the sweetest girl ever (laughs). Poor girl and the abuse she takes as well. She’s the kind of character that everyone loves to hate because she’s the pretty girl and she’s mean. But in real life Georgie who plays her is such a lovely girl.

Who’s more your type of guy in real life Josh or Sean?
Rachel: Oh I’d go for Josh, definitely Josh (laughs). Oh I don’t know, in real life I’d say someone like Johnny Depp is more what I would go for. I like the rougher looking guys, but yeah definitely Josh!

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
Rachel: Ooh I’ll have to delve into the memory bank there - I’ve had so many. I’ve had some horrible bar jobs before. I did work in a bookshop once and that was the most boring job ever, I don’t care about labelling books. I don’t have time to read really, so working in a bookshop just wasn’t for me.
James: Probably being a waiter, everyone treats you with disrespect. It’s not fun!

Have you ever had a nightmare boss?
Rachel: I couldn’t say on record!
Rachel and James are both in fits of giggles. We wonder what they’re hiding?
Rachel: I have had a boss who hasn’t been very understanding of the fact that I’m an actress. Most places if they find out that they have an actor working for them, will try and encourage you to do something good with your life. But one of my previous jobs - when I had auditions even if I gave them notice - would be very mean about it which I didn’t appreciate. Most actors find that you’re treading a thin line when you’ve got to be off for auditions all the time.

                                        The sly Rebecca

Have you ever sent any text messages or emails that you shouldn’t have?
Rachel: Umm…have you?
James: Yeah I think I have actually in the early hours of the morning when I’ve had a night out. Which I’ve kind of regretted in the morning when I’ve looked at my outbox. How about you Rachel?
Rachel: I think there was one actually I did send to a boss. It was a boss that I liked actually and I felt bad. I pulled a sickie and I sent a message to another colleague about it, but I sent it to my boss instead! It was one of those moments when your heart freezes and your stomach drops and you say, ‘no there must be a way I can un-send that’ but you can’t.
We know that feeling all too well!

Do you get recognised in the street yet?
James: I actually went to T.G.I. Friday’s the other day and there were these two teenage girls sitting opposite and they kept on looking over all the time and whispering.
Rachel: You probably had loo roll stuck to your shoe! They both roar with laughter.
I was saying this the other day actually; I haven’t been out enough because I’ve been working such long hours. We start at seven in the morning and then we don’t get back sometimes till 10 or 11pm. So I don’t see normal people (Laughs).

Sofia’s Diary features some fab music, New Young Pony Club, Cold War Kids and The Tings Tings to name but a few. Have you got any favourite bands?
Rachel: We met The Script and they were really lovely guys. We saw The Tings Tings play as well and they were really good.

To watch Sofia's Diary for yourself simply click here