Camilla Belle is not only one of the most beautiful actresses working in film today, she is also one of the most talented and most accomplished. Her latest is “From Prada to Nada.”

At the tender age of 23 she has already worked with Steven Spielberg, Alfonso Cuaron and Roland Emmerich. Her sophisticated style has landed her on Vogue’s best dressed list and her beauty made her the face of Vera Wang’s Princess campaign, and Miu Miu’s Spring collection. 

The young actress stars in “From Prada to Nada,” a new romantic comedy alongside Alexa Vega, Wilmer Valderrama, Kuno Becker and Academy Award nominee Adriana Barraza.  The whimsical story tells the tale of spoiled sisters Nora (Camilla Belle), a law student, and Mary (Alexa Vega). As they embrace the culture that for so long they refused to accept, they both discover romance, the true meaning of family, and they learn that the life of PRADA actually means NADA without love, family and community.

We spoke to Belle on the eve of the film’s release.

H: Tell us about your role in “From Prada To Nada.”
CB: I play Nora Dominguez and she is the older sister to Mary Dominguez and they are raised by a Mexican father but raised very much American. He doesn’t even want them to learn Spanish. He ends up passing away and after living in a very rich household they have to go live with their aunt in East LA and face this culture and this world they don’t know and they have to survive in very different ways and they handle it in different ways. Nora has decided to put off the idea of love, relationships and men for another time in her life. Then Edward comes along and really throws her for a loop. What attracted me to the role of Nora is that she’s emotionally rich. I also got to explore her comedic side. She starts off totally studious, but the more that love comes into the picture, the more she becomes aware of her emotional side.

H: Are there similarities with your personal experiences?
CB: Nora is very focused on her work and in her future. She wants to be a lawyer and doesn’t want anything to get in her way.  At the same time she is a very caring person and really cares about her sister, almost being like a mother to her.  I really identify with her. When she moves to East LA she embraces the culture quickly. She wants to learn Spanish as soon as possible and is open to what this world is presenting to her and in that sense I do identify with her. 

H: What is your heritage?
CB: I was born and raised in LA but my mom is Brazilian. I go to Brazil once or twice a year and I was raised in a very Brazilian household. Always speaking Portuguese, with the music, the food… 

H: How was your experience of working in the film?
CB: Fantastic!
It was really a special experience working with the cast.  A lot of times you go, make a movie and you get along with the people but then you lose touch and you don’t form strong relationships. But this time working with the producer Angel, and the whole cast, we really became quite a family.  We’re still super close friends to this day. We talk all the time, we get together all the time.  It’s very rare that that happens. We were very lucky. 

H: How important is staying in touch with your roots?
CB: It’s very important. Vital actually. Growing up in LA I didn’t think so. I struggled with being half Brazilian, and also being raised in Los Angeles and having American friends and feeling very different. I had a hard time embracing that growing up. My mom always talking to me in Portuguese and I rebelled by answering in English.Then when I got older, in my late teens, I realized how lucky I was. I realized it made me a more interesting person. I embraced that I have this culture and spoke this language and I knew so much about it and it made me a more unique human being.  If people embrace that it makes you a more interesting person, more cultured, more well-rounded. 

H: Tell us about your upcoming films.
CB: I just finished a project in Toronto called “Breakaway” coming out this year and have other projects lined up for 2011. 

H: You started working as a child, how was that experience?
CB: Ever since I started I always loved it. I started out as a baby. My first feature film was with Alfonso Cuaron, that was very special.  It is something I always loved and as a kid I had so much fun, travelled, met different people, the wardrobe; it was a really fun time for me.  As I got older I wanted to continue with it as a profession and have continued ever since. 

H: What advice would you give someone interested in becoming an actor?
CB: To be prepared for a lot of letdowns and to be prepared to hear no.  But to be strong and if it’s something you’re passionate about, then go for it.  Work very hard and try to get better. People will say no but it’s not the end of the world. Keep going for it. 

H: What is your idea of the ideal man?
CB: It’s hard to find the right person no matter what, whether it’s a friend or a relationship. Honesty is key in any relationship.  You need someone you can trust.And with men, someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously in life, that’s boring. Someone who is cultured and open to the world and wants to travel and experience things and is open minded. 

H: What is your idea of a good date?
CB: Eating really good food! Food for me is very important. If food is involved I’m happy. I like eating a really good dinner. And if he can cook that’s even better, but that’s hard to find. Maybe something outdoors but definitely a good meal has to be involved. 

H: And finally, what does a man need to do to conquer a woman like you?
CB: A lot! (laughs)
Just talking to me just me, getting to know each other; that’s the simplest thing. Not pretending to be something they’re not, that I hate. Just being themselves and having a conversation, there’s nothing simpler than that.