I recently had the opportunity to talk to Christina, who is typically quite media shy. I'll admit I was a big fan of her growing up and still am, "Casper" was and still is among my favorite movies, and she was absolutely brilliant in "Monster" opposite Charlize Theron. Much like "Monster" in which Christina had to undergo a drastic makeover to look the part of a lesbian prostitute's girlfriend, in her latest film "Penelope" Ricci once again undergoes a makeover this time sporting a pig's nose. "It took about an hour and a half to put the prosthetic on," Christina explained. When I asked what she did during that hour and a half she told me, "Generally the hair and makeup trailer in the morning is kind of fun. The only thing that got old was I had to not talk at all while the nose was being put on my face. Because you can't move your mouth when there's something being glued to it. Sometimes being silent for that long - I had a problem with - because I am a compulsive talker."

In the movie, Penelope is born cursed with the nose of a pig. Growing up her family keeps her isolated from the outside world, but when she gets older she rebels and wants to have a life of her own. She sets out on a journey to figure out who she is and to break the curse she must find true love. The journey isn't always a fun one. Once in the big city people treat as a freak and photographers chase her around to get pictures of her odd nose. Along the journey Penelope befriends an outcast, Annie, played by Reese Witherspoon, and later Penelope finds true love with a guy named Max (James McAvoy), but he has a dirty secret, he's actually a tabloid reporter. Do these two make their true love last or does Penelope live a life forever cursed by her pig nose?

While watching the movie you can't help but feel bad for the way Penelope is treated. Some of us may not admit to it, but we all occasionally stare or make comments about those that are different. Penelope is just the same as you and me, she just happens to have the nose of a pig. I asked Christina if the movie changed the way she viewed people and her answer might surprise you. "I think in a way it has. I don't think it was the movie itself, but I think it was more people's reaction to the movie that has changed my opinion about the world in general. And actually what people are hungry to see. You always fear when you're making a movie that has a moral to the story that people are going to reject the idea of being taught a lesson. Or you worry that people are going to somehow feel that they're being talked down to, or that it's cheesy to make a movie that's about self-acceptance. But I've found that everyone seems to be sort of grateful in a way for a movie that has this theme in it. It's a movie that celebrates being an individual, being different. You know it kind of made me feel like 'wow, people are hungry to not have to live up to standards that don't apply to them.' I was really happy about that. I am so thrilled to know that the world is ready to celebrate the individual."

Also much like Penelope, Christina can relate to having hoards of paparazzi following her every move. It's certain that if Penelope were a real person that she would definitely be in the tabloids and Perez Hilton would be drawing all over her pig nose. So, I couldn't help but ask what Christina thought of the tabloids and gossip sites. "Well, I think it's a little bit sick in a way. I am definitely guilty of picking up those magazines; I read them on planes. But at the same time I think they can be really cruel. I think that one thing that people don't really understand about gossip about actors is that it can actually have an effect on their careers. I think people tend to take an actor's career as - it doesn't seem as real as somebody's job at a big company, or their career as a CEO. But the fact is when these people are really mean or they're really slanderous [they] are really hurting somebody in the way they support themselves and their families. In a way it's kind of a little bit irresponsible I think, culturally."

After speaking with Christina one thing was abundantly clear to me, she is not some 'on the rise' actress as some might look at her as, this 28-year-old actress is among the Hollywood elite. Her movies are hits, she is beautiful and best of all she's still completely normal and level-headed. It's good to see such a wonderful talent not wasting it away like so many other young starlets today.

Check out Penelope starring Christina Ricci, Reese Witherspoon, and James McAvoy in theaters now! And, catch Christina starring in the much anticipated "Speed Racer" coming to theaters in May.

Enter to win a scarf like Christina wears as Penelope!

- Chad Kennedy, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief