ATWT newcomer Davida Williams (Jade) arrived in Oakdale last month, taking over the role vacated by Elena Goode in 2007. Within that time, Jade has been jailed, held hostage and busted up Lucinda's marriage. Soap Opera Digest chatted with the 22-year-old diminutive dynamo (she's 5-feet-2), who is already a TV veteran, with some serious Tinseltown ties.

Soap Opera Digest: Hi Davida! How's it going for you at ATWT? Are you enjoying yourself?
Davida Williams: I am! Everyone gets along really well and everyone has been really welcoming and forthcoming.

Digest: Tell us about yourself, where are you from?
Williams: I am from Los Angeles.


Digest: How did you get involved in show business? Williams: I always wanted to entertain. My dad's in the entertainment industry — he's a musician, a guitarist. So, from a young age I would go on tour with him and see him perform. He was with Madonna for eight years and I went on her Blond Ambition tour with him. He's played with Michael [Jackson] since the '70s up until now. Obviously, Michael's not doing much in terms of music right now, but he's been with him for like 30 years.

Digest: That's pretty wild! You must have some amazing stories and interesting anecdotes.
Williams: I do, actually. It was a lot of fun. I was so young when we used to go on tour with Madonna. But I still vaguely remember things, I would go backstage and hang with her and the dancers and take naps in between sets with them. I thought I was an adult and they kind of toted me around.

Digest: When did you begin acting?
Williams: My mom helped me get into it at a young age. I was about 6 or 7 and it all went from there. I started doing commercials and guest starring on different shows. I think I was about 7 when I did my first [guest spot], it was on HANGING WITH MR. COOPER, a sitcom that was on a long time ago. I also used to do a lot of modeling.

Digest: You were on THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE SHOW with Hilary Duff for two and a half years, that must have been exciting!
Williams: I did that all through high school. That was actually a lot of fun. I was Hilary's enemy in school. It was a fun role to play and she's a really sweet girl.

Digest: Did you attend a "normal" high school?
Williams: I did. I went to a regular high school in LA. It was an all-girls Catholic high school. They were helpful with me when I had to miss school. My mom always wanted me to have kind of a normal life and stay in regular school.

Digest: You have a long resume. Do you think any of your previous projects helped propel you to where you are today?
Williams: I would have to say LIZZIE MCGUIRE really helped me get to where I am today. That was a great experience, I was in high school and I was making friends with the cast members and everyone got a long we were all the same age, pretty much. That was a great credit to have and a great experience.

Digest: I hear you've fulfilled nearly every tweens' dream and worked with the Jonas Brothers.
Williams: They have a new show for Disney coming out and when I was in LA about a year ago, we filmed the pilot together. [In the show] they are secret agents and I am their enemy. That was a lot of fun. They are so nice and so humble.

Digest: What are your thoughts on Jade?
Williams: I love her because you never know what she's gonna do next or what she's gonna get into. It's always a surprise. I don't get the scripts that far in advance so it's always kind of interesting to see what she does next when I get the next script.

Digest: What do hope is in store for Jade?
Williams: I hope she gets into a real relationship.

Digest: How about you? Anything you're wishing and hoping for in 2009?
Williams: I am really excited about the new year. I think it's gonna be a really great year and I am just gonna keep focusing on what I am doing.