Kate Bosworth: going with the flow. Finding your own way. Shirtless, jobless and happy as a clam. Surfing is bigger than ever

Due in theaters next month, Blue Crush, the first surf movie of the new century, couldn't have better timing. Across America, from coast to coast and the heartland in between, surfing's enjoying a new wave of popularity, embraced as much for its spirit as for its speed. Freedom, independence, individuality, community, passion, persistence, style, communion with nature and momentary control of an uncontrollable force are what surfing is all about. This month, as we celebrate Independence Day, and in light of what's happening in the world right now, those principles seem ever more important, regardless of our ability to rip, cut-back or ride the tube.

If surfing is the sport for the summer of 2002, Kate Bosworth, Blue Crush's 19-year-old star, is its poster child. Five years ago she rode in on her horse and piqued the interest of movie insiders with a small role in Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer [1998]. After taking nearly two years off and then working only part-time in order to graduate with, as she puts it, "a 'normal' high school experience" in suburban Boston, she deferred admission at Princeton University (writing to the dean of admissions and explaining that in life, timing is everything) and headed out to Hollywood in the summer of 2001. There she made little more than a pit stop, finding herself on the North Shore of Oahu the following winter, filming Blue Crush for director John Stockwell (Crazy/Beautiful) and producer Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind). Now, the tsunami: In her first lead, she's graceful, athletic and inspiring, an all American actress in the guise of the girl next door. Here she talks to Michelle Rodriguez, her fellow wave-r ider in this summer's splashy new movie. Plus, two experts take a look back at some of the greatest surf music and movies of all time.

Scott Lyle Cohen

MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ: What's up, Kate?

KATE BOSWORTH: Hi, Michelle!

MR: How you livin', woman?

KB: Good. Are we being recorded?

MR: Yeah.

KB: OK. So we have to be good. [both laugh]

MR: Are you in Hawaii?

KB: No, I'm in L.A. Where are you?

MR: I'm in [New] Jersey. Actually, I'm in the process of buying a house here.

KB: That's awesome. Good for you. I just deferred from Princeton for another year, you know. I was supposed to go this fall.

MR: Why? What happened?

KB: It's been kind of crazy for me recently--this was not the best time to go to school.

MR: Because you want to make moves, right?

KB: Yeah. You know how it is when you're doing well and are happy with your life; you don't want to change it. They were nice enough to grant me another postponement.

MR: Gosh, you're going to come to school here in Jersey--that'll be awesome!

KB: I'll get to see your new house!

MR: Totally! And spring break will be off the hook--we'll go to Miami and party. [laughs] So, were you always interested in acting or did it fall into your lap?

KB: I think it was 1995--I was about 13--and I heard about an open casting call for this movie The Horse Whisperer that required horseback riding. I was an equestrian and my main love was horses, so I was like, Oh, that'd be fun." So I auditioned for the casting director and she showed my tape to Mr. [Robert] Redford. Then I had to audition about four or five times, but eventually, I got it. And that, as a result, spurred my love for acting.

Oh, and this is a funny story, you know when you go in to audition how they tell you to bring a head shot?

MR: Yeah.

KB: They told me to bring one in and I'm like, "OK, whatever."

MR: So you brought a graduation picture or something? [laughs]

KB: I was 13; I didn't have a graduation picture. I brought in a Christmas card. And I'm an only child, so it's just me sitting there, like Duh! [Rodriguez laughs] And I heard that he [Redford] saw it and was like, What is this?" [both laugh]

MR: I want to know how the hell it feels to go from being a 13-year-old horseback rider to the lead in one of Hollywood's hottest new movies.

KB: [laughs] Those are definitely not your words.

MR: I'm acting like a journalist. I am an actress, you know.

KB: [laughs] OK. I feel very lucky. When something falls into your lap at the right time, it's amazing. Every day I'm like, "I'm so lucky to do something I love."

MR: Can I tell you, Kate, you kick ass, and I really think you're going to be America's next sweetheart. [Bosworth laughs) You're one of those human chicks, and they are the ones that hit it big. Me, I'm in a different category.

KB: What, you're the badass one and I'm the sweetheart one?

MR: Exactly. [both laugh) I'm sure you're bound to hit the bad girl sooner or later. What do you do

KB: I work, that's all I do. I'm a Capricorn [laughs] and the Hollywood scene can be so superficial to me sometimes.

MR: So what are you taking up at Princeton--when you go?

KB: I love to write, so I'll take some writing courses, and I love psychology--I took a course in high school and found it really interesting--so I'll probably do that, too. I'm not really the math or science type, so I'll try to steer clear of that.