Emma Roberts got hooked on 'Funny Story' book first, then the script

Emma Roberts comes from an acting family. Her father is the incredibly busy character actor Eric Roberts ("Pope of Greenwich Village," "The Expendables"), who's worked steadily for 30 years playing an assortment of edgy oddballs. Her aunt is Julia Roberts, who's, well, Julia Roberts.

So it's no surprise that Emma is an interesting combination of movie-star looks and character-actor instincts.

She started on screen as a 10-year-old playing the daughter of Penélope Cruz and Johnny Depp in "Blow" and she's since worked art house fare like "Lymelife" and mainstream movies like "Aquamarine," "Hotel for Dogs" and "Nancy Drew."

In the past year alone, she's appeared in the British thriller "4.3.2.1," the Joel Shumacher thriller "Twelve" and the ensemble romance "Valentine's Day." Awaiting release is the romantic comedy "Homework," with Freddie Highmore, and the drama "What's Wrong with Virginia?"

There's also the quirky, psych-ward romantic comedy/drama "It's Kind of a Funny Story," directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck ("Half Nelson") and starring Keir Gilchrist ("United States of Tara") and Zach Galifianakis ("The Hangover") opening today.

The Daily News spoke with the 19-year-old Roberts a month ago at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Q: So, what brought you to "It's Kind of a Funny Story"?

A: I read the book years ago and just fell in love with it and when the script came along I was really excited about it. I met with Anna and Ryan and they had the same vision for Noelle, which was really exciting for me.

After I got the part, I reread the book and I did a lot of Internet research on mental illnesses and just kind of became the character in terms of the wardrobe and the hair and the look.

Q: Your psych-ward character is a "cutter," but the movie doesn't really say why . . .

A: I liked that it wasn't explained in the movie because then the illness did not define her.

Q: You've been so busy, how do you decide what to do?

A: I just want to do projects that I love, things that I'm passionate about. I love to read and when I read a book that is getting made into a movie I always get real excited about that. And I want to keep doing different things. I don't want to get to typecast.

Q: What kind of advice have you gotten from your father and aunt?

A: I don't really talk to them about the business. When we're together it's like family time. I've just been learning as I go along.

Q: What can you tell us about the movie you're shooting now, "Scream 4"?