E!'s STARBOARD: JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT (1997)

Always wanting to perform for others, Jennifer Love Hewitt left her native Texas on her 10th birthday. With Mom in tow, she arrived in Los Angeles for a one-month stay to test the waters. That was eight years ago almost to the date.

Within her first minutes in Hollywood, Love--as she's known to friends and family--landed a role on the preteenybopper variety show KIDS Incorporated. From there, she went on to more grown-up roles both in TV dramas (Byrds of Paradise) and feature films (House Arrest and Sister Act 2).

Along the way, she recorded three CDs--the latest a self-titled mix of slow jam. But it wasn't until she landed one of the most envied roles on TV--Scott Wolf's girlfriend on Fox's Little Engine That Could, Party of Five--that everyone fell in love with Love.

Now, she's not only a favorite with the overly devoted Party fans, she's one busy actress. She's currently filming I Know What You Did Last Summer, the new thriller from Kevin Williamson, who scribed Scream (starring PO5 pal Neve Campbell).

But even with her nonstop schedule, Love found time to answer your questions. So, here she is on working with Scott, wanting to work with Aretha and lots more...

From joco: How have you adapted to fame?

Love: It's so shocking and still so overwhelming when people recognize me. It's crazy, because I look up to people like that. I mean, if I were to meet Winona Ryder, I would probably pee in my pants! I would literally be speechless. So when people look at me that way, it's so weird!

From arjs: I've heard that people call you Love. Where did you get this name?

Love: I was named after my mom's best friend in college, who was like five-eleven, long blond hair past her butt, big blue eyes, freckles and an hourglass figure. She was the most beautiful woman my mom had ever seen, and they were so close. My mom said if she ever had a little girl, she would name her Love, so when I was born she of course named me Love--even though I came out, like, 5'3", brown hair, half an hourglass figure and completely different looking.

From spookypig: How are the actors on Party of Five different in real life from their characters?

Love: The biggest difference is that in real life, none of us have quite as depressing a life as our character does.

From jube: How in the world do you cry so quickly and easily on cue?

Love: I think of something that makes me really sad. A lot of the situations Sarah goes through are so upsetting, though, that I don't have to think about anything but her predicament.

From sequoia: How do you feel about the problem of alcoholism being used in a Party of Five storyline?

Love: I thought the way the show handled it was very graceful and strong. I hope in some small way that we were able to either stop people from becoming addicted or show those who already have a problem that they should get help.

From forgiveness: So, how is it working with Scott Wolf?

Love: It's great. We have become very close.

From poffanatic: Will you be on next season? Can you give us any insight into future storylines?

Love: Sarah will definitely be back as strong as ever. But actually, right now, I have no idea what will be happening in future episodes.

From charismacb: Will Sarah and Bailey get back together?

Love: Bailey and Sarah, as far as I know, are in for a season of very exciting events. But it wouldn't be any fun to watch if we all knew what was going to happen.

From jibriyl: Is Callie off the show?

Love: Yes.

From jweb: What would be the ultimate role or character you would like to play in a feature film?

Love: I would love to play Princess Leia in the new Star Wars prequel.

From thting: What is your all-time favorite movie and why?

Love: Don Juan de Marco, because I'm a hopeless romantic.

From royalcrown_lover: How do you like to relax?

Love: I like listening to music and writing poetry.

From dgiovanni: If you could be anywhere in the world RIGHT NOW, where would it be, and what would you be doing?

Love: I would want to be in bed asleep, because I've had a long day at work--Party of Five is on hiatus, so I'm on location in South Carolina filming I Know What You Did Last Summer.

From jazzyg: Where do you see yourself in five to eight years?

Love: Hopefully, as happy as I am now and hopefully still acting and singing. I'd love to be doing a feature that's a period piece--maybe a Jane Austen film, like an Emma. I think that would be really cool.

From nlfer: Why did you take on a sexy image when you recorded your last album? Was it to get away from the nice-girl "Sarah" image?

Love: When I did the album, I tried to be 100 percent me at all times. I have no problem being nice-girl Sarah, seeing as how she and I are so much alike. As far as the sexy clothing on the cover, it probably appeared more so because on the show, I'm so played down--hair, makeup and wardrobe-wise.

From _marcy_: Are you planning on recording another album?

Love: Yes, but I don't know when.

From escapade: Of all the famous people you have met, who has been your favorite?

Love: Jamie Lee Curtis, because she is one of the classiest, sweetest and prettiest people I know.

From tekky: If you could get onstage and sing with any artist past or present, who would it be?

Love: Aretha Franklin.

From lakers25: If you had a chance to sit down and talk with anyone in history, who would it be?

Love: William Shakespeare, because he's my favorite poet.

From partyofone: Do you hang out on the Internet?

Love: No. I don't have time to learn how to use a computer.

From baileylvr: What's your advice for staying in shape?

Love: If you can't afford a trainer, the first step is getting motivated. Then find fun and easy things that won't hurt your body that are workout oriented. Set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it until you see the results you want.