Miranda Cosgrove: just a regular teen

iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove may be one of the most popular — and powerful — teenagers on TV, but like many kids her age, she still gets star struck in Hollywood.

Take for example, the 17-year-old's recent work voicing one of the roles in new, 3D animated movie Despicable Me.

Cosgrove ran into the film's co-star Julie Andrews in the parking lot of a studio and gushed over the A-list actress.

"My mum and I have watched all her movies, like Sound of Music and Victor/Victoria," Cosgrove said. "I was really nervous because she's kind of like, the queen. But she turned out to be the sweetest person."

Despicable Me has Cosgrove voicing the role of one of three orphaned sisters who get adopted by the villain Gru (Steve Carrell) as part of a master plan to steal the moon with his army of minions.

Cosgrove's show on Nickelodeon, now in its third season, is the network's top-rated programme for kids.

Only just the beginning

While 17-year old Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus is retiring her Hannah Montana character after the current fourth season ends, Cosgrove has no such plans.

"I love making iCarly and I love it when kids come up to me and say they love watching the show," she says. "So as long as people are enjoying it, I'd be willing to do it."

This year, she released her first solo pop rock album, titled Sparks Fly, from Columbia Records.

She said the album's first and current single, Kissin' U, was written about a boy she liked. She confessed it was "awkward" telling him, but ultimately he was flattered.

Still, she said he's not her boyfriend, although she did go out on a few dates with him and liked him. She blushed. "It's very complicated in these teen relationships!"

Outside of her "complicated" love life and high-profile job, Cosgrove seems very much a regular teen. She wants to get her driver's licence, but fell behind in maths this past year. Now in lieu of driver's education, she's spending the summer being tutored in pre-calculus.

Even with her high-paying salary, she has yet to splurge on any big-ticket items. She'd like to buy a car when she learns to drive but is engaged in the age-old debate with her parents about what type of car that should be.

"My mum wants me to get a Prius, but I want a Range Rover Sport," said the actress.

Then she adds with a laugh: "My mum will probably win."