5Qs on Friday: Alex Frnka

Alex Frnka is the Hot Girl with Heart on MTV's The Inbetweeners
TVFirstLook

It's probably a good thing that Alex Frnka didn't know a legion of The Inbetweeners fans were foaming at the mouth when they heard MTV was remaking the Brit sitcom. Many of us (um, them) were out for blood.

But, as it turns out, with exec producer Brad Copeland (Arrested Development) at the helm, MTV's The Inbetweeners (Monday, 10:30pm) is very funny. Like the original, it perfectly captures the drama and awkwardness of being a regular teenager - not super popular, not a social reject.

Alex plays Carly, the hot girl who Simon (Bubba Lewis) lusts after.

Carly is hot. But she's sweet, too. Kinda like Alex, who spoke with TVFirstLook about The Inbetweeners, the British version's die-hard fans and walking the Red Carpet.

TVFirstLook: OK, so when you started working on The Inbetweeners, did you feel the pressure to live up to the British version?

Alex Frnka: I totally understand why people love the original. It's an extremely funny show.

But, when I first got the part of Carly, I didn't grasp how popular the British version was or how protective the show's fans are. Once I did a little research, I definitely felt a lot of pressure to not only measure up to the original, but to have our show surpass it in its own way.

It's important to all of us on MTV's version to pay homage to that show, but also to break away from it and create a show that will be appreciated by fans of the original and new fans, too.

TVFirstLook: So, as it turns out, a lot of TV critics love the new The Inbetweeners. Were you surprised by that?

Alex: It's so amazing. To be told the show is smart and relatable is exactly what we were hoping for. And the show gets funnier as the season goes on.

As an actor, it's my goal to reach as many people as possible with the stories I tell - to make them think, laugh and maybe feel differently than they did before.

Our show has the ability to make high schoolers realize that they aren't alone during that time in their lives. Other people are going through humiliating situations, too. So, if we can make them feel like they're not alone, and maybe make them laugh, we've done our job.

TVFirstLook: Your character, Carly, is the pretty, popular girl. But she's more than, too, right?

Alex: It was so important to me that Carly was more than just the popular girl who seemed way out of Simon's league. I knew mean girls in high school. I never understood why people were friends with them.

I want America to root for these two to get together, not for Simon to realize he is too good for her. Simon is a sweet, cute, caring guy. Those are the qualities that girls are searching for.

Carly gets caught up in being liked by a popular hot guy. But there's a big part of her that wonders if Simon is truly the superior guy.

TVFirstLook: So, without spilling the beans, does Carly figure out if Simon is the guy for her?

Alex: Carly is dating Bobby (Michael Aaron Carico) throughout season one. But she's also trying to figure out if he's right for her.

TVFirstLook: OK, last thing. Suddenly, you're walking red carpets and having your picture taken and microphones stuck in your face. How does it feel to be a celebrity?

Alex: It's definitely fun walking the red carpet. I love picking out an outfit and putting the whole look together.

And I love talking about the show. I am so proud of it. But when questions get personal, I shrink back a little bit. I just want to be a good role model to my sisters. They are 14 and 5. So, I am always trying to make a good impression.