Person of Interest

Age: 19

Hometown girl: A Barron Collier High alumna, Bennett grew up in Naples and lived here until she left for Los Angeles last summer to pursue an acting career.

Quite a character: Bennett makes her film debut as pop star Cora Corman in Music and Lyrics, a romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant, which opens on Valentine’s Day.

Previous experience: "I really never got the big roles in plays or anything," she says. "I did the Music Man, and I was the teenage girl."

Her real passion: Singing. "I’ve been singing since I was a little tot."

Getting the part: The audition process was a grueling two weeks of readings and call-backs, culminating in one nerve-wracking, final read-through. "I walked in the room and as soon as I saw [Barrymore and Grant], I couldn’t hold it back anymore, my eyes were welling up," says Bennett. "But Hugh Grant was like, ‘Cry, cry more, I have this effect on people.’" Not only did she land the part; she also signed a three-picture deal with Warner Bros. Pictures.

Respected colleagues: Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman. "I certainly don’t want to be a tabloid bunny. I want to have a respectful career."

What’s next: Recording an album. "I co-write with a girl, Shaley Scott, in L.A. We have 17 songs written and ready to record," says Bennett, who compares her sound to Jewel, Fiona Apple and Avril Lavigne. "I’m shopping record labels right now."