Monique Coleman

High School Musical’s Monique Coleman sits down with CosmoGirl to reveal why her castmates have nicknamed her Mrs. Sentimental, share her fears for the future, and give the inside scoop on her literary aspirations!

WHAT IS TAYLOR McKESSIE LIKE IN THIS MOVIE?

Taylor gets to fully be who she was always destined to be in high school — and I’m totally thrilled! I love Taylor. She’s my favorite character, and I feel so excited to portray her on the big screen in a way that I believe is the most authentic, truest version of her. I think that’s really what this movie is — instead of it trying to be bigger or better or different, we find the opportunity to have everything that makes it as big as it was always intended to be. It feels like all the characters are deeper, the story makes more sense, the costumes are distinguishing us from one another — it feels more honest than the movies that were on the Disney Channel.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE KNOWING THIS IS THE LAST FILM?

I’m definitely the mushy one of the cast, as I’m sure anyone will tell you. I’m Mrs. Sentimental. We hear the song and I cry the first time, I cry the third time, and the fifth time. And then I’m like, “Okay, I can do it.” It’s just wonderful how this whole project and the whole phenomenon translates on the screen and also in our personal lives. The lyrics are very poignant and they all have meaning. This time is the last time that we’re going to do that. It feels like, for the six of us, that we are graduating not only in the movie but also in our own personal lives. We’re graduating from High School Musical and what that feels like — the fear of the future and the excitement of it all. It feels very unknown — what’s beyond High School Musical? Throughout the year I keep up with everyone and support their movies and what they’re doing and stuff, but High School Musical is definitely home for all of us.

WHAT’S BEEN THE COOLEST EXPERIENCE HSM HAS ALLOWED YOU?

I think meeting Michael Jackson. He came to our concert in Vegas because he’s friends with Kenny Ortega. Michael Jackson — with Paris, Prince, and Blanket — sat in the back under this camera. He watched the whole show. We watched him watch the show and we were like, “What is he doing? Is he smiling? Does he love this?” He said he loved our music and his kids love it, and thanked us for what we’ve been doing.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING WITH THE BOOK YOU’RE WRITING?

I’ve taken a break because it’s hard to do it all. I think that all of life is about timing, so it’s about the fact that when everything is supposed to turn over into something else, it will. I’m still working on the concept and making sure that what I want to do gets across as opposed to what people would want from me. So if I don’t get to say what I want to say, then I don’t want to do it until I can.

WHAT SONGS HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO LATELY?

That Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks song, “No Air.” Also, “Shawty Get Loose!” by Lil Mama. It’s funny, my music taste changes based on what I’m doing, and right now, because I’m on High School Musical, I’m into more poppy music. And when I was on Dancing with the Stars, I was listening to music for different things, trying to see if it could be the cha-cha or mambo.