How Embarrassing Was That Scene to Film?
"That scene is why I wanted to do the movie. It kind of justifies Darcy for me. When you're in high school, sometimes you don't think things through. You just dive into your first thought. We shot that scene on my first night of shooting, but in a sick way, it was my favorite scene to do."

Has Ali Ever Done Anything Quite That Bold While Trying to Get a Guy?
"I moved out to Los Angeles for a guy, not knowing one person--and he's long, long gone."

Has Someone Since Filled the Void?
"I have no man right now, no desire, no time."

How Could She Resist All Those Cute Football Players in Varsity Blues? Don't All Girls Go Gaga for Boys and Their Pigskins?
"I don't know. All my girlfriends go for rock stars."

Who Does She Go For?
"When I was younger, I loved Rob Lowe. I loved Jake Ryan [Michael Schoeffling] from Sixteen Candles, and I was in love with New Kids on the Block. I thought they were the bomb. It's funny, because I keep seeing the Backstreet Boys on TV and all their fans and I'm thinking, I was one of those girls. Ohmigod."

Those Same Girls Are Also Hot for the Dawson's Creek Boys, Both of Whom She's Played Opposite. So Who'd She Rather...Josh Jackson or James Van Der Beek?
"I'm a little partial to Josh because he's a friend of mine. He's just so unbelievably charming. He is so far beyond his years, and he just makes you feel so special."

Famous Friends. Kissing Scenes with Teenage Royalty. Hollywood Has Done Right by This Girl.
"L.A. has been really good to me and the business has been great, but my whole life revolves around show business when I'm here. Everyone I know is in the business, so I'm actually ready to move back to New York later this year. I'm definitely an East Coast girl. I understand people from the East better. [With them] it doesn't take two hours to get to the point like it does in L.A."

What Does She Think of the "It Girl/Dream Girl" Label?
"It's a stupid thing. There's a huge influx of young actors right now, so someone is gonna be It each time a movie comes out. I personally want to be doing this for 50 years, so if they want me to be It now, I just hope they still want me in 50 years."

When's the Next Time We Can See Her?
She's just made Next to You with Melissa Joan Hart. "It's another teen movie about two people who live next door to each other and how high school affects them. I play this girl who is a completely alternative grunge chick. She was fun to play. I liked her."