Spencer Grammer goes Greek

Greek airs Monday evenings at 8 pm on ABC Family, and Grammer says it's about time entertainment got back to focusing on the fraternity and sorority world. Grammer plays Casey, a sorority woman who's very much 21st century.

The actress can relate. Grammer herself left her parents' comfortable confines to pursue a career in the business that thrives on rejection. After a 96-episode run on As the World Turns in 2006, she had made it. In 2007, Grammer exploded on the pop culture radar and rocketed miles beyond her legendary father's shadow.

SheKnows: So, how is New York City?Spencer Grammer: It's really thrilling because I never thought that I'd get to be doing all this publicity. It's a great surprise.SheKnows: It's refreshing to hear you say that it is so fun because it sounds like it would be fun.Spencer Grammer: It is! I always thought, ‘I'm going to be a star one day on a show.' I kind of am right now [laughs]. It's kind of crazy. I'm just trying to embrace everything. I feel so lucky to have these opportunities.

Greek and gold

SheKnows: What is it like being a part of Greek?Spencer Grammer: Oh, my God it's so much fun. I think our season right now is our best so far. We've all as actors gotten involved in our characters, taken some risks and gotten a lot better at it. We've grown together as a group because we all started off in the same place.

SheKnows: Did you have to do any research for this role? Was there any visiting of UCLA keg parties for the sake of career and honing your art?

Spencer Grammer: [Laughs] I didn't, really. I read a little bit in a book called Pledge which is about sorority. I always approach Casey as not your typical sorority girl. She's just a normal girl who's in a sorority. I think she's multifaceted. I like who she was, who she is and who she is trying to be. I think that's what all of us deal with as people.SheKnows: Television shows and films about Greek life seem to go through phases. Are you launching a new era with Greek?Spencer Grammer: You mean all the movies about sororities that are coming out? I have no idea if that is directly influenced by our show or not. But sure, it's cool. I'm like, ‘Why aren't I in them?'

Sorority sister

Spencer Grammer: I think [Greek has] definitely been a success because there hasn't been a show about college on TV that has been successful. I think it's because of our show's character development. It's such a great balance between comedy and drama that there isn't any other show like it on television.

SheKnows: You have millions who are in college and millions who have been to college. Talk about a niche market ready to play…Spencer Grammer: Yes! It's definitely a big part of our culture. It's part of our national legacy.

Early Grammer grumblings

SheKnows: There are any number of avenues you could have gone down. Why acting?
Spencer Grammer: I really like it. I love it. I've always been performing. I tried to do other things. I thought maybe I'd work in a gallery. I did that for a little bit. I was an intern at the LA Times before college. I've always had other jobs, and I've experienced the working world other than just acting. But I've always had a passion for acting. I work really hard at it. It continues to keep my interest, and I could do it forever. It's my favorite thing to do.SheKnows: If you have a natural gift, you are going to be drawn to a career that you are good at…Spencer Grammer: I don't think I could keep doing it if I were not working. At some point, you have to start taking care of yourself. Ultimately, I like having a career in anything. I like being successful. I don't like not being successful.SheKnows: In what aspects of art were you interested?Spencer Grammer: If you're an actor or a dancer — and I have been for most of my life — you're kind of generally artistic. You express yourself in all kinds of ways. Writing — I've always had journals. I've always painted or drawn. You kind of fill yourself with all these ways to express yourself. When I was an intern at the art gallery, I loved putting the shows up. I did everything! But you get to see and be in a world through other people's perspective, which I really love about art.

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