How many sharks did you actually swim with?
We were down there a couple times when there were probably twenty or twenty-five eight-foot reef sharks swarming all around us.

And you were okay with this?
I was scared to death. I'm a Jaws baby, you know. I think we all are. I'm twenty-eight and that's about the same age as everybody else on the film. Watching Jaws just scared the living daylights out of me when I was young. I know a lot of people my age who are still petrified of sharks because of that film.

I didn't even swim in lakes for about ten years.
Nobody did. And I knew it was going to be an issue for me. I knew I was going to be scared. When they wanted us all to get into the water, I was game with it. I wasn't going to not do it. I finally just reached over to [director] John Stockwell and I said, "Can I please just do this a little slower?" So I started with my mask on just looking down. It's kind of an eerie feeling just to see them there swimming around the bottom. And then I held onto the side of the boat and eased my way in. It was really frightening the first couple times. They're huge. And they're sharks.

You had a minor role on Dark Angel back when Jessica Alba was the star of the show. Now, in Into the Blue, you two are practically getting equal billing. Did you get into all sorts of catfights on the set like the Desperate Housewives cast does? Alba looks like a bit of a bruiser.
Yeah, every day. In our bikinis. [Big laugh] No, not at all. It was totally mellow. We both certainly want the best for each other. And it was nice to work with somebody that I was familiar with.

What's the role you're dying to get?
I'd like to do something where I'm a little more likeable as a character, for women. I haven't done a whole lot, so there's tons in front of me that I'd like to do. I love doing action. I like it all. It's like playing dress-up every day.

You got cut from Joey just before it went to air. What did you learn from that experience?
I learned that you should never buy a house until the cheque is in the mail. [Laughs]

You recently married Anthony Rhulen, the guy who executive produced The Real Cancun and produced The Butterfly Effect. Aren't you a little young to be getting hitched?
You think? I'm from South Carolina. I should have been married at fifteen.

When you went out with Ashton Kutcher did you ever catch him checking out your mom? After all, he is into the older ladies.
Everyone checks out my mom. My mom's hot.