Oleynik appears in '10 Things'

"Anything that can get high school kids interested in Shakespeare is good," proclaims Larisa Oleynik.

And she would know, being both high school kid and star of "10 Things I Hate About You," a modern retelling of the Bard's "The Taming of the Shrew."

"Our interpretation of 'Shrew' is ... well, let's say it's extremely loose," said Oleynik in a recent interview with The Michigan Daily. "But it'll make teenagers understand that the basic plot is universal."

If not exactly universal, the "Shrew"-inspired set-up of "10 Things" certainly is engaging: Bianca Stratford (Oleynik), the über-sophomore at Padua High can't date until her sister Kat (Julia Stiles) does, but Kat is described as "tempestuous" on a good day and as "a heinous bitch" otherwise, meaning Bianca has her manicured hands full.

Courtesy of Richard Cartwright Larisa Oleynik stars as Bianca Stratford.

Though she expertly portrays the Prada-loving, superficial, ultimately misunderstood Bianca, Oleynik confesses that she was initially attracted to the more showy role now occupied by fellow screen newcomer Stiles, who Oleynik describes as "perfect and amazing" as Kat.

"When I read the script I really fell in love with Kat," said Oleynik. "I was in denial, too, they kept calling me back for Bianca but I was like, 'No no no no. You don't understand.' Bianca used to be incredibly annoying and now, thanks to several rewrites, she's turned down to a lower level of annoying."

Oleynik's kinder, gentler, if still mildly irritating Bianca "goes through a transformation," said her portrayer.

"I think it's just that she's been so used to her entire life - being cute and that's all she really needed, which is true for a lot of girls. They just smile and giggle and they're set."

Oleynik herself hasn't had to rely on such smiley, giggly behavior to get to where she is now, appearing on both the big screen in "10 Things" and the small on NBC's "3rd Rock From the Sun."

Oleynik's almost incessant work since childhood and her attendance of a school for professional children has prevented her from the cutthroat popularity and politics of high school, exaggerated for comedic effect at the Padua High of "10 Things," for better or worse.

"I never had to deal too much with the popularity, the cliques, the kind of backstabbing that goes on. I go to a really small school and I've gone there since kindergarten. There really is no room for cliques - there's only about 50 people in the class. So, it's like, if you're not friends with everyone, you're screwed."

Out of school and on the set of "10 Things," Oleynik found a fast friend in her on-screen love interest Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who now finds himself opposite Oleynik on a weekly basis on "3rd Rock."

"Joe and I have a great relationship but believe you me, it's strictly platonic. I love him so much as a friend. Like, right now, I haven't seen him in three weeks and I just miss him. I guess that's what comes across, more than a boyfriend-type relationship."

"Then again, you kiss someone and you know you're acting," said Oleynik, reconsidering her previous statement, "but still, a kiss is a kiss - it means something."

Oleynik has less trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality as far as "10 Things" itself is concerned.

Pushing its PG-13 rating, the film is decidedly ribald, filled with obscene amounts of sexual innuendo and underage drinking. But Oleynik, citing her film and the similarly oversexed "Cruel Intentions," believes teen films shouldn't necessarily be looked to for role models.

"Our job is to tell stories and make it as entertaining as possible. But in terms of the actions of the characters, the main story line, there's nothing offensive. And plus, it's fantasy."

04-02-99