Debby Ryan

So you’re starring on the new series, The Suite Life on Deck, can you tell us a bit about the show?
Zack and Cody go to a cruise ship sea school with London Tipton and Mr. Moseby. London has a new roommate, Bailey. I play her room mate and they are extreme opposites so they don’t always get along, but I know at the end they are there for each other. London is good deep down inside and Bailey is a very loyal person.

So what’s Bailey like? You said she’s completely opposite to London, does that mean she’s very intellectual?
She’s intellectual, very focused on her schoolwork. She’s from Kettle Corn, Kansas, so she’s this really small town girl. She went to SS High is to get out of this small place where everyone knows everything about everyone. She wanted to expand her horizons and see the world. What better way then going to school on a cruise ship where you go to different ports and stuff? So she loves learning, she’s a small town girl and she’s loyal, sweet, and kind of afraid to hurt people’s feelings. But when she needs to be, she’s bold and rough. She comes through.

So are you anything like Bailey?
I am a little like Bailey. We’re both loyal, friends are really important to us and just always being there for people. That’s really important to both of us. I also study and really focus on my school. Bailey is from a small town, so she and I definitely have that.

Sounds good. So getting involved with Disney must’ve been a big step for you. What was your reaction when you got the role?
I didn’t believe it at first; you think it and you want it to be but you’re not quite sure if that’s just your mind playing tricks on you. So I really wanted it and I was at home and I got a phone call. And I screamed and screamed and screamed once it sunk in. It’s all been kind of a dream since then I’ve gotten here. I get out on the road and I walk red carpets and people are screaming my name. It’s a dream. It’s very bizarre but it’s actually happening.

Well, that’s brilliant. Are there any negative sides to it?
Yeah. It doesn’t sound like a negative side but I can’t go anywhere without doing my makeup and things just because people will be taking pictures. There’s a lot of positive sides and it just overshadows the negative sides. I moved out here and my brother and my dad are still back in Texas. That’s really hard because, I mean, they’ll be moving in with me but of course it’s not soon enough because I love them They’re my men, ya know.

Yeah, of course it’s like you’re missing a part of yourself.
Yeah, exactly.

But do you go visit them often?
As often as I can but it’s always like, okay, we’ll all go out in three weeks and then you know, I get a call saying I have a premiere and two interviews or something in three weeks. It’s always kind of tentative but I’ve been out three times back to Texas and I’m about to go out again within the next month. Hopefully I’ll be able to stay a few weeks this time.

Debby with Cole, Dylan and Brenda in an episode of The Suite Life on Deck

Oh well at least you have two homes. You have two places that you can go to and call your home.
Exactly. I did kind of feel like I was betraying [Texas],. I just felt like I was far from home living in a hotel. Now it’s starting to feel more homey for me and I get California sick when I go home. I’m kind of in that in-between stage where your heart belongs to both places. It’ll even out soon enough.

Yeah, I know how you feel. I have exactly the same problems.
Oh yeah, you live in Greece right?

Yeah, I live in Greece but I lived in London for ten years so my heart is sort of divided in two.
Aw, I lived in Germany when I was seven to ten. That’s really how it was. I wanted to come back to Texas so much and then when I did, I miss [Germany].

Do you still go visit Germany?
No, we don’t have family there but I really want to upon graduation. I wanna go around Europe type thing.

You should come to Greece!
I want to!

Well, maybe in a few years you will.
We traveled all around Europe, when we lived in Germany, and Greece and Egypt, [were places] we didn’t go that I really wanted to go to.

On The Suite Life On Deck, which episode has been your favorite to film and why?
Well, there was the Italy episode. It’s called ‘When In Rome’ and it was one of the most fun to shoot. Brenda, Phill Lewis and I all had a lot of scenes together which was awesome. We hit off each other and work really well together. There was this scene where we had to go in disguise for something and it was just the most fun thing I’ve ever shot. It was so hysterical. Me and Phill, a lot of it was improve, especially on Phill’s part and on my part actually a lot. It was awesome.

So you don’t actually get to visit the countries? It’s actually in a studio.
No, they build the set. Although the sets look amazing. I walked into the Italy set and I stopped breathing for a second. Cause I’ve been to Italy and that’s what it looks like.

That’s pretty cool.
Yeah. They do awesome things.

Nice. Have you done your Greece episode yet?
Yes we have.

Oh, oh see you went there ‘mentally.’
Yes, we went to Greece ‘mentally.’ It was awesome. We had the guy who played Arwin, Brian Stepanek and he guest stared in that episode. He’s the most hysterical improve guy I’ve ever worked with. It was so hard to keep a straight face during filming. His Greek character was just so funny. That’s definitely a close second favorite for me.

Can’t wait to see it.
It’s gonna be exciting.

So there have been rumors that you are romantically linked to one of the twins. Would you like to clear that up?
(Laughs) I’m not dating a Sprouse or involved with a Sprouse or anything. I’m actually single right now and focusing on my acting.

Single girls have all the fun. Enjoy it, it’s the best.
There you go. Single girls have all the fun.

What are your hobbies apart from acting?
Back when I was in Texas, it was really dance, a lot. Now that I’m here, I horse back ride and I love yo-yoing. It’s a random thing for me to be doing but I love yo-yoing. It’s awesome. It’s kind of one of those things you’re either really bad at it or you’re really good at it. And I am the first one. I’m getting better and I’m getting to learn some tricks and stuff.

That’s so cool. I haven’t touched a yo-yo in so many years.
I keep two or three in my purse at all times.

The cast of "The Suite Life on Deck"

Nice. Instead of fidgeting with your fingers or playing with your hair, you play with a yo-yo.
Exactly. I can be walking into a room or grocery shopping with my mom and I’ll be yo-yoing.

You’re gonna start a new trend. Seriously. I can so imagine that happening. Everyone starts yo-yoing.
That could happen. I’m gonna call you and be like, ‘you called it.’

So tell me a completely random fact about yourself.
I lived in Germany from seven to ten. I have a brother. I really wanna adopt a puppy from the shelter but I already have one. I want a half Maltese, half Yorkie Terrier. So cute. But I already have one from Texas. I miss her like crazy.

Aw, so you’re an animal person?
Yes. Especially sheltered animals. That breaks my heart because I know what it’s like to be in a place you really can’t call home. You feel stranded. They look so hopeless. I wish I could adopt all of them.

Aw! You’re so sweet. I wanna hug you!
(Laughs) Well, I love puppies. Cats don’t like me as much but I’m okay with getting one.

If you’re an animal person, you have to love every animal.
Exactly. Llamas are actually my only kind of irk. They scare me so badly. My best friend and I drove down to San Diego and we went to the zoo. There was a llama there and I was like, ‘Cool! Look at the llama.’ And I walked up and one charged in my general direction and made all these faces at me and hissed at me. Llamas can hiss. I’m over llamas.

Oh, wow. A llama spit at you.
Yes, yes. And overpasses. Those are my two fears. I really don’t like overpasses and foot bridges. They’re not my favorites.

What about under-passes?
I don’t like going under overpasses because I feel like the overpass is gonna fall. That’s my big fear. That the underpass is just going to crumble at any second. I don’t like any of that stuff. Those are some random things about me.

So who is your celebrity crush?
My celebrity crush…it was William Moseley. He’s amazing. But now, it’s kind of Chace Crawford. I saw him in a magazine and I was like, ‘Whoa.’ He’s got that kind of, really pretty look but you can tell he can be edgy.

He has a sort of bad boy look.
Yeah.

You like bad boys huh?
Typically, no. I’m so safe, like in L.A. literally all I’m doing is hanging around the house and a pumpkin carving family event. I’m really safe about everything but yeah, it can’t hurt to look at a bad boy.

Which brings me to my next question, what do you look for in a guy?
He has to be intelligent and they can’t talk incessantly because I’m okay with quiet. We can sit together and be watching a movie and he doesn’t have to be giving a commentary during the entire movie? I’m okay with silence and he has to be too. Someone who respects girls, who has old school chivalry, that actually still opens doors for people.

Aw, so it sounds romantic-ish?
I don’t really like romantic. Guys can not expect girls to open the door for them. So yeah, he has to be chivalrous.

Do you like reading?
I do like reading.

You sound like the kind of person who reads.
I’m actually in the middle of this book called ‘Princess of Gossip.’ It’s Sabrina Bryan of the Cheetah Girls’ book and it is so good. I read like twenty pages in a sitting. I’ll be like, ‘oh, it’ll only take a second.’ I’m literally going through more than twenty pages. It’s crazy.

What kind of books do you like reading then?
I like reading anything that is thought provoking. It can be so far away, it can be a book that is so far from reality but I like the bits of reality in things and then finding how that relates to my life. I’m reading this one right now called, ‘Midnight Sun’ and it’s really good. I actually really love old school books. Like Shakespeare, Hamlet is my favorite. If I’m bored I’ll pick up ‘La Pain Lear’ and go to any page and just start reading. It’s the same thing with Hamlet because I already know the stories. I love Shakespeare. He’s brilliant.

Debby Ryan

Which is your favorite clothes store?
It depends. I’ll randomly be walking on Melrose and be like, ‘oh my gosh, that’s so cute.’ I like Aeropostale and American Eagle, just cause they’re using laid back, all American looks. But I also like funky stuff like Urban Outfitters. I’ll randomly wear one thing from American Eagle, one thing from Hot Topic, one thing from Urban Outfitters and then a scarf from Melrose. I’m really experimental.

That’s cool. So who’s currently your favorite band or singer?
That’s a good question. I usually listen to like two or three things by each artist. I’m really liking Maroon 5, I like The Maine, and I love the Hush Sound. I like HelloGoodbye. Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy, like Coldplay. I listen to The Beatles, Boys Like Girls, Cheap Trick, stuff like that.

What’s your best piece of advice?
My best piece of advice is honestly, it’s over said but it’s not listened to, is just to be yourself. People will try to come against you and tell you you’re an idiot for being who you are, and try to take things that make you individual and you can’t listen to them because they are so insecure that you’ve got your own thing going on. Don’t listen to them and do whatever makes you feel comfortable, don’t be one of those people who are like, ‘I’m gonna be totally different than anyone you’ve ever met before’ and then go dress crazy and do things that aren’t you. Find who you are and be comfortable in that.

Very very sound advice, I agree completely.
Thank you. I’ve been definitely experiencing how helpful it is here.

Trying to keep a grip on yourself and not lose yourself in the Hollywood thing?
It’s hard at times but anytime I go back home, my brother is willing to give a good lecture.

Is your brother older or younger?
My brother is seventeen so he’s about two and a half years older. He’s my best friend and I know I can always go to him for things. If I’m busy, I can have a thirty second conversation with him and I’m very chatty and everything and he’ll text me and ask ‘okay, what’s wrong?’ He knows me really well and we’re a lot alike. He’s like the dude version of me.

It’s very important to have strong family bonds. Final question, do you have a myspace or how can fans contact you?
I have a myspace. It’s myspace.com/debbyryan. I also have a Youtube account and I post videos on it. It’s youtube.com/thedebbyryanofficial. And I have my website and its debbyryan.com. I definitely check my Youtube. My manager goes through it first and deletes all the profane things or the inappropriate things so I can just go through it. I can go through questions and answer them and reply to people. So Youtube is a really good way to contact me, my myspace is or you can send a letter.

Nice and do you reply to the letters?
Yes, so far. I have been kind of overwhelmed lately. But I do read them.