College student by day, actor by the next. Eric Christian Olsen is one busy boy! He began acting to help pay his tuition at Pepperdine University. One role led to another and now he's starring in Columbia's new hit comedy, Not Another Teen Movie.

Lindzi.com: What was it like working with the cast of Not Another Teen Movie?

Eric Olsen: We all became super tight. I do about 2 - 3 films a year and pilots and guest spots and hardly get to see those people again after we finish working. The cast still hangs out. We usually just chill. We'll watch movies. Of course we went to the premiere together and after we went to some friends' houses and kicked it there.

Lindzi.com: How did you stay true to your character, considering it was a parody of so many?

Eric Olsen: I watched all of the teen genre films and studied the cocky blonde guy. I did whatever they did, but took it to a whole other level. Like Paul Walker in Varsity Blues or in She's All That, I did a parody based on those characters.

Lindzi.com: What do your parents think of all of this?

Eric Olsen: They've always been unbelievably supportive. If I was a mailman in Alaska and I was happy, they'd be happy. They'd be happy as long as we're good people. It is fun for them to go to the movies and see me, though. They get a kick out of it.

Lindzi.com: What's your favorite childhood memory?

Eric Olsen: Every summer, my parents would take me on these trips. We would go to Minnesota to this big lake up there or to Holen Villege in Washington. It's this huge camp 26 miles away from civilization and about 13 away from a road. We'd backpack and hike and fly fish. I was really young. No body else was there other than me, my dad, and my brother. You learn a lot about yourself when you're taken away from traditional surroundings. A lot of people define themselves by their surroundings. When you're at school, you're a student. You are what you are based on whatever circumstances you're living under. When you're out in nature, there are no circumstances. It's just you being yourself.

Lindzi.com: What exactly did you learn about yourself through those experiences?

Eric Olsen: I learned to believe in myself. As simplistic as that sounds. When you go out by yourself, there's nobody there to take care of you. You find the confidence to say, "If anything goes wrong, I can handle it." My brother is a Navy Seal. It doesn't get more badass then that and I really believe that we found the strength to believe in ourselves through those childhood experiences.

Lindzi.com: I understand you're a senior at Pepperdine University. Between acting and school, how often do you get to see friends?

Eric Olsen: Once in a while. A lot of my friends will come visit me on the set. My Friday's and Saturday's are taken going to events. I don't see my friends as much as I'd like to. Yesterday, I had a bunch of stuff I was supposed to do, but I canceled it all and hung out with my buddies. We went golfing. Sometimes I'll bring friends to events as well. It makes it more enjoyable.

Lindzi.com: Do you ever sense jealousy?

Eric Olsen: No, that's why they're so great. We don't even talk about it. They didn't even know my film was coming out. None of them are actors; they're all friends from school. They don't care. Once in a while, a mom might want an autograph, but - for the most part - it's not even a factor.

Lindzi.com: What's the dating scene like for you?

Eric Olsen: I had a girlfriend for about a year. She went to Pepperdine. I didn't take her to premieres because that's weird. It's tough. I'd be gone for long periods and I thought it was unfair to do that to her so I broke up with her. It's impossible to maintain a legitimate relationship when you're everywhere. She deserves better.

Lindzi.com: What do you look for in a girlfriend?

Eric Olsen: Looks only get you so far. You can't just sit there and be pretty for hours of dinner. I know it sounds cheesy, but I need an intellect. I like to know, "What books have you read lately? What are you passionate about? What do you care about?" She should have values, morality and should be funny, charming.

Photos courtesy of: Steve Granitz (top), Columbia Pictures (bottom)