Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

The Feb. 6 release "Push" sci-fi thriller has sparked predictions that ingénue of the hour Camilla Belle is about to break into full-fledged grownup movie stardom. As for her reaction to that, the ever-more-gorgeous 22-year-old actress tells us such comments are "very sweet" — and she feels ready for whatever is coming her way.

"I think I'm able to handle things pretty well," says Camilla, who is already a prime paparazzi target — what with her relationships with Joe Jonas and "Twilight's" Robert Pattinson — as well as being the subject of fan websites and adoration videos on YouTube.

"I went to a regular school," notes the young star, who spends much time in her mother's native Brazil. She describes herself as "pretty sensible. … I'm comfortable with myself. I have a great family and friends I can check in with, and that keeps me grounded."

"Push," directed by Paul McGuigan, has Camilla starring along with Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans as people gifted — cursed — with psychic powers a clandestine government agency wants to control. Her character is famously the only such person who has escaped the agency and the clutches of Djimon Hounsou's scary character.

"It was quite challenging — the physical aspect," she says of the film, set in Hong Kong. "It was down and dirty every day." She had fight scenes, shooting scenes, running scenes, plus playing a character who is sick through much of the film. "She has a huge arc. At the same time Paul and I did our best to make the audience guess for as long as possible whether she's good or bad. That really required being in the moment in every scene."

Having seen McGuigan's "Gangster No. 1," she says, "I thought he'd make this film quite interesting, with his great visual style. He gives things a really cool edge."

BIG WHEELS: Producer Thom Beers says despite the current economy, his shows must go on, and that's exactly what he's focused on doing. "We're in the middle of the second season of 'Deadliest Catch.' There's tragedy and storms and all the usual stuff. My crew leaves to film 'Ice Road Truckers' tomorrow for a new season. We just wrapped a new season of 'Ax Men.' We're wrapping a new season of 'Verminators.' We've got three new series in production, and I'm going to a casting session for a fourth," Beers tells us of his busy schedule.

"We haven't really been hit that hard yet," he notes, though it's certainly an understatement.

"There's been a little bit of crunch in the budgets. I'm sure networks are going to have to cut back on shows. All in all, I was happy making four shows a year. I'm happy making 18. I'm fine with whatever," he claims. "It's just dollars. I never got into this business to get rich anyway. I wanted to experience the world and seek out new adventures."

Beers' latest show, "1,000 Ways to Die," premieres with a special one-hour debut Feb. 8 on Spike TV. The shocking series explores the many different and bizarre ways one can meet their maker. "It's all about stupid deaths. It's where people have done something terribly stupid to get killed, or they've found themselves in a terrible set of circumstances that got them killed or probably a little bit of both," explains Beers. "It points out the frailty of the human body. The spirit is indomitable, but the actual body is pretty fragile. Every day you face a battle against antibodies, germs — just everything around you can kill you. You should celebrate that you're alive."

MEANWHILE: Judging by the scarcity of films and scripted TV shows — make that TV shows with real actors in them — found in the current crop of casting notices, reality shows like Beers' are about the only booming area in Hollywood right now. They include items such as the second season of Paris Hilton's BFF reality show, casting for prospects to become the heiress' new best friend forever (or next season, whichever comes first). They're after candidates between ages 21 and 30 — the "hottest bitches and fabulous fierce guys," meaning gay guys, since Paris herself told us that having heterosexual men with romantic inclinations toward her doesn't fit the concept of the show.

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: "New Adventures of Old Christine" costar Hamish Linklater notes that he never knows what's ahead on the series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as his sister. "Michaela Watkins was supposed to come on for a couple of episodes, then I suddenly found myself with a long-term relationship." He adds, "I want to marry her, absolutely." As they say, stay tuned.

With reports by Emily Feimster.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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