Katharine McPhee - JustJared.com Exclusive Interview!

Katharine McPhee poses with the Just Jared coaster at the Shark Night 3D press preview night during Comic-Con 2011 on Wednesday (July 20) in San Diego, Calif.

The 27-year-old singer and actress, who wore a “Tink” Smocked Cuffed Blouse and the “Bernadette” Lace Skirt by alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet, stars in the film about a group of college friends that vacation at a lake house that becomes the location for a series of shark attacks.

JustJared.com caught up with Katharine at the event to chat about the film as well as her new musical series Smash!

Katharine even revealed that she originally auditioned for Sara Paxton‘s role before getting the role of Beth.

Click inside for JustJared.com‘s complete interview with Katharine McPhee…

Just Jared: What attracted you to do a horror/suspense film with Shark Night 3D?

Katharine McPhee: Well to be honest, my manager sent me the script over a year ago obviously and was like “you know you are going to think this is weird but just trust me on it, there’s a really great producer that I really respect that’s working on this project and I think you should just take a look at it”, and I was just like “alright, okay”… I read the script and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it was written and how well the characters were developed. I originally went in for a different role and then they made a decision to cast Sara Paxton and then several weeks later they had me come in and audition for a different role, and I didn’t even remember what role it was. I actually thought it was even cooler, because it was even further away from me as a person, the party girl, the one that wants to get into trouble and say things that are inappropriate so I kind of like that about her. I guess I have a side of me that is like that, but not on a daily basis.

JJ: From all the characters you have played, what character have you related to the most?

KM: Probably Karen, for this upcoming series [Smash] that I’m working on, I mean I can relate with just sort of the frustration of breaking into the business and also I have such a love of theater, I studied theater in college for three semesters before I dropped out… I just get to play a dream role, it’s everything that I love to do so I am really looking forward to getting back to work and starting the show. We shot the pilot but that’s really it.

JJ: It’s already picked up for a full season…

KM: 15 episodes, which is unusual for a first season. We’re all really excited. It’s been really exciting but to be honest I have been stressed because I’m moving my whole life to New York and I’m a valley girl! I was born and raised in the valley. I spent a lot of time in New York but I never thought I could possibly live there for as long as I might have to live there. What a better way to be introduced to living there for a great job that I am doing.

JJ: What’s the chemistry like with the cast of Smash?

KM: So far the chemistry is great. I think after the first table read we all gathered around and we got a little phone call from Steven Spielberg and he said he was watching the video back in LA of the table read and he gave us his good luck and it was a really great way to get the cast excited about the show being an actual series. I think after that table read we were all like “wow, I think this is really going to be something special”. Anjelica Houston, she’s everyone’s favorite so far, it was my birthday shooting one really long night and she wasn’t even there on set and she had a birthday gift there for me, she’s just a really thoughtful amazing woman.