Post by Galleria on Sept 9, 2006 14:22:46 GMT -5
In her hit show "That's So Raven," Disney diva Raven-Symone's character has the power to see into the future.
In real life, though, the actress, singer and tween idol wishes she had the Midas touch.
"It's a shallow reason," she explained of her super-power dream. "First, because I like shiny things. But also, because whoever has the gold, has the power."
Fans would probably say the 20-year-old show-biz veteran already has the natural ability to make things glisten.
It started at age 4 when she portrayed the lovable step-grandchild, Olivia, on "The Cosby Show" and continued into her Disney series, which has lasted four seasons. "That's So Raven" ends this year after 100 episodes, making it Disney's longest-running live-action show.
That kind of success would be enough for anyone. But Raven, a native of Atlanta, has also starred in both "Dr. Doolittle" movies, "The Cheetah Girls" and "Cheetah Girls 2" movies on the Disney Channel, has performed on several movie soundtracks and has recorded her own albums.
Utahns will get a chance to see Raven sparkle Friday when she performs at the 2006 Utah State Fair, one of a string of state fair performances she has given throughout the country this summer.
Raven is the first of eight acts that will perform on the Grandstand stage during the fair, which runs ThursdaySept.7 through Sept. 17 at the Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West, Salt Lake City. The concerts are free with paid admission, but seating passes will be required to see the show. (See details below.)
Acting or singing? Raven can't pick a favorite.
"I like acting, putting a character into motion and creating them," she said during a recent telephone interview from her home in Los Angeles. "But I like singing because I can be myself."
She also likes cooking and dreams of one day attending culinary school in Paris. Until then she settles on making her Southern favorites, like gumbo and catfish.
"I like to make it very flavorful and really buttery," she said of anything she cooks.
During her Utah concert, Utahns can expect to hear hits from Raven's 2004 album "This is My Time" as well as recordings off the movie soundtracks for the "Haunted Mansion," "The Lion King" and the "That's So Raven" series.
Listen for the song "Alice," which Raven says is her favorite to sing, because it encourages listeners to be satisfied with themselves and not change to fit the perceptions of perceptions.
"I describes my life," said Raven, who admits to being headstrong and not letting others dictate how she runs her life or career.
And she wants her fans to do the same.
"You need to be happy with yourself and do what makes you feel good, not what you think someone else wants you to do," she said.
The message has endeared Raven to girls and their parents, who appreciate her conservative fashion style, eschewing the low-cut shirts and mini skirts worn by many other of her star peers.
"I don't feel comfortable wearing those," said Raven, and it has nothing to do with having "realistic" proportions.
"I have low-cut shirts in my closet, but when I put them on I think, 'Do I really want people to see that? Or do I want them to hear what I'm saying,' " she said.
Now, that's so Raven.