Succeeded......

by Charlie Huisking @ charlie.huisking@heraldtribune.com

About six years ago, Hewitt auditioned for the female lead in the romantic drama "If Only," but was rejected because she looked too young.

"I was so bummed. I cried for a week," Hewitt said in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "I'd never responded to anything so passionately before."

Fortunately for Hewitt, that production was shelved. Eventually, her production company bought the rights to the script. Last year, the 23-year-old actress went to London, England to shoot it.

In the opening scenes, the film appears to be a light romance. But then, the tone turns darker.

"That's one of the things I loved about it," Hewitt said. "We jokingly called it 'the romantic comedy that goes wrong.' But love is that way, I think. You can be having the greatest, most romantic day of your life, and then things can suddenly turn. Romance is unpredictable.

"At first, you think this film is going to be about this cute relationship, and then it's as if a hand reaches out from the screen and grabs you for the next hour and a half. I think it's great when audiences can't just sit there and be passive."

Hewitt's career took off in the '90s with the popular television series "Party of Five." She went on to make the hit horror film "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and its less-successful sequel, as well as "Heartbreakers" with Sigourney Weaver and "Tuxedo" with Jackie Chan.

Gil Junger, the director of "If Only," thinks the film could alter the industry's perception of Hewitt.

"She's viewed by some as this cute, funny girl, which she is," Junger said. "But this will show she's a dramatic leading lady. She's a very talented woman, so charismatic, and wickedly smart. I think she's just riveting in this movie. I'm so proud of her."

Junger, whose credits include "10 Things I Hate About You," had set up a lunch meeting with Hewitt a couple of years ago, before he was attached to the "If Only" project.

"I thought then that she had a gift we hadn't seen yet," said Junger, who will also attend tonight's screening. "I told her if she ever wanted to do a dramatic film that didn't focus on how her clothes fit or how sexy she was, to keep me in mind. I'm so glad it worked out."

In a concert scene, Hewitt's character sings a song she has written. In real life, Hewitt is also a singer/songwriter with four recordings behind her and another on the way.

Hewitt has just completed another film, "Garfield," based on the popular comic strip. It's a blend of animation and live action. She plays the cat's veterinarian, and Bill Murray is the voice of Garfield.

"It was so much fun," she said. "It's an adorable script."

A few years ago, Hewitt played Audrey Hepburn in a TV movie about the legendary actress. Although she received some good reviews, her casting was initially criticized in the press and on Hepburn Internet sites. "She's bubbly, not classy," said one chat- room correspondent.

"The first day after it was announced, I almost backed out, because such harsh things were written: 'She's not pretty enough, blah, blah blah,'" Hewitt said. "No matter how tough you are, it doesn't feel good to be criticized.

"But it was a dream role. And I thought, 'If the worst happens and they take my career away because of it, at least I got to play Audrey Hepburn.'"

Story: © 2004 Sarasota Herald Tribune. All rights reserved.
Image: © 2004 If Only Production Services Limited. All rights reserved.
"Love Spell" and Love Spell logo: ™ ® & © Love Spell Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.