When Harlow Wilcox pushes open the big front door of the local Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and pulls her oversized sunglasses up off the bridge of her nose to take a look around we know we're in for an interesting interview. Wearing something from Marc Jacobs to an informal interview may seem like something out of the ordinary for someone like you and I, but in Harlow's world, putting on Marc Jacobs is like putting on a second skin. Her feet show off a pair of five-inch Christian Louboutin heels and on the heel of her heels are a few flashing cameras. It's easy for her to shrug it off and join us on a big, overstuffed couch, crossing her bare legs and settling in for the questions she knows are coming.
"You can't concentrate on the cameras following you, or think about how many people might be watching you..." she states with a bright smile. "You just have to focus on yourself and ignore that part of the outside. It's just shame that it's become so mainstream and that everyone focuses on that instead of the art, no matter what that art might be." We try and keep that smile bright and decide to start in with the questions.

Question: You practically grew up on the set of Lizzie McGuire. What was that like?
I wouldn't say I grew up on the set, but I was definitely at a very awkward phase in my life. I was 14 when the show started, but I was playing someone a little younger than that. It wasn't hard for me to relive that even though my junior high experience wasn't all that pleasant. Lizzie had something that a lot of girls could relate to; she was goofy and quirky and tons of fun to get to portray.

Question: That was probably something you're asked a lot, sorry. We hear you're working your third studio album. Can you tell what anything about it?
It's okay! I don't mind talking about Lizzie McGuire I used to shy away from those questions because I was at a stage in my life where I was finding myself, but I think I've got a good hold on myself now. The new album is going to be fun. I'm working on a new sound, something I haven't really done before and I'm working with different people. I've got a bunch of stuff written, but I haven't really laid anything solid down yet. That's honestly my favorite part...being in the studio. It's where you get to be creative. Going out on tour and meeting fans, it's all great, but being in the studio and getting to bring these personal things to paper and sharing them with the world? It's one of the most honest things you can do.

Question: So which one do you enjoy more? Acting or music?
There's no way that I could answer that. I've struggled with it since I first started working on my first album. These kinds of questions keep coming up and I have no idea how to answer them. I feel stupid just sitting here trying to come up with something new for that one, but every time I try I keep coming up blank. It'd be like having twins and then having to decide between them. They're both pieces of you, huge pieces of you and it'd be like having to decide who your favorite child is. It's like trying to ask me which of my albums is my favorite. I'd never be able to pick because I was in two such different places in my life that when I perform those songs or just talk about them I can remember what made me write each song.

Question: Do you like to watch yourself on screen?
I absolutely hate it. I can't stand seeing myself on a huge screen. I don't mind watching anything on TV, that's a safer size to see your butt or see yourself pretending to wake up next to someone. I think it's more weird for actors to see themselves because we're our own biggest critics. Plus, we know what went into making those scenes, how awkward it was to lay underneath someone wearing pasties or how many times someone flubbed that specific line and it ended up bringing you to tears. There's so many inside jokes that go into each scene, it's almost too hard explain them to everyone.

Question: Who's the biggest influence on your right now professionally?
I'm all over the place. It depends on if we're talking acting wise, musically or in the fashion sense? In my personal life it always remains the same; my mother and my friends inspire me every single day. I wish I had the time to do something in the fashion world, but I'm really satisfied with what I'm doing now and putting too much on my plate could be a complete disaster, plus I'm good with sitting front row at Bryant Park.

Question: While we're on the subject of designers, who are your favorites?
My favorites really depend on my mood. Today I'm wearing Marc Jacobs and Christian Louboutin. I think him and Manolo Blanik are my favorite shoe designers. Going to so many events over the years my feet feel funny in something that doesn't come with at least a four inch heel, but I'm getting better about wearing flip flops and sneakers even when I normally wouldn't. As far as clothes? I'm all over the place. Marc Jacobs, like I said before, Betsey Johnson is always really fun. I feel like I'm going to be name dropping, but clothes are just as important to me as music and acting because it's yet another way for me to express myself, but this time I don't even have to open my mouth to do it. Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino, Versace, YSL, Max Azaria, Heatherette, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Zac Posen, Santino Rice, Christian Siriano, Daniel Vosovic, Cynthia Rowley, Stella McCartney, Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, ucci, Missoni, Prada, Pucci... The greatest part is, I've met a good number of those people and while some are exactly how you'd expect them to be a lot of them are just as down to earth and humble as you'd hope they'd be.

Question: You've been playing Clare Bennet on Heroes for almost 3 years now. How's that going? What other projects do you have coming up?
Playing Clare is great. Obviously I'm not a high school student anymore, but playing a cheerleader when I never was one in high school is interesting. It's like going back and doing things over again, but this time I get a special power. The cast is great and it's like a family and I don't feel like I'm going into work everyday. Next year I'm concentrating on some movies and I'm really excited, some of them are larger roles than the others, but every once in a while it's nice to be able to sit back and not have to be in every scene. Plus, with filming Heroes it'll be easier to work around that.