Q'Orianka Kilcher: in a new colonial epic about big discoveries, she may very well be the biggest of them all

But for one unfortunate event, Q'Orianka Kilcher would never have had the chance to star as Pocahontas opposite Colin Farrell in Terrence Malick's new colonial epic, The New World. "1 used to sing down at the Third Street Promenade [in Santa Monica]," says the 15-year-old German-born, Hawaiian-raised actress, who wanted to become a musician like her third cousin, Jewel. "But one day all my sound equipment got stolen." The theft led to a front-page photograph in the Los Angeles Times, a call from an agent at William Morris, and her first film role in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).

Kilcher's casting in The New World, however, came by no accident. After an international search, producers handpicked her for the plum role of the native girl, whose romance with British invader John Smith (Farrell) has attracted filmmakers for decades. The 17th-century lifestyle in the film came naturally to the surfing, snowboarding, martial arts-practicing Kilcher. "I was running around freely in the woods in the rain, swimming in the water," says Kilcher, who is one-half Native American. "It was amazing."

Karen Wilson is an editorial assistant at Interview, Left: Q'Orianka Kilcher wears a coat by BABY PHAT BY KIMORA LEE SIMMONS, Above: Sweater and jeans by MISS SIXTY, Shoes by KEDS. Cosmetics by NARS. Hair products by REDKEN. Styling: ARIANNE TUNNEY/artistsbytimothypriano. com. Hair: DAVID GARDNER/soloartists.com. Makeup: SABRINA B, PAUL/ Avant Groupe, Fashion details page 159. Photos: DAN CHAVKIN.

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