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STV • MOVIES • MUSIC • AND MORE!

Demi Gets Animated!

To truly feel blue, DemiLovato had to push herself.As the voice of courageousSmurfette in Smurfs: TheLost Village, “I was stepping

out of my comfort zone,” the popstar, 24, tells Us. “When I’m singing,I’m in my element. This was so differ-ent. I was really focused.” In thecartoon flick (out April 7), her charac-ter leads her pals on a dangerousjourney through a magical forest inhopes of finding a mysterious town.For her part, Lovato can get behindsuch a daring move: “Smurfette and Iare both serious about an adventure!”

The L.A.-based star, dating MMAfighter Guilherme “Bomba”Vasconcelos, 31, shares more with Us.Q: Did you want to portraySmurfette a certain way?Well, we’re both confident.So I wanted her to be seen asa confident young woman. She’svery independent. She wanted togo on this journey by herself.Q: Past Smurf cartoons have beenmale-centric. Was it important toyou that this film have a strongfemale presence?Times are changing and I think that’swhat people want to see. I love that

this generation is going to growup knowing you can be a strong,independent woman. I also think sto-rywise, this is something that hasn’tbeen done, so now we’re doing it.Q: What would your real-life Smurfname be?It would be Singing Smurf, as sillyand lame as that is!Q: These days, are you focusingmore on acting than music?Music is my top priority, but I wouldlove to continue acting at some point.Right now, I’m working on my nextalbum. Hopefully you’ll see an albumby the end of this year. JAMIE BLYNN

“Blue isn’ttypically my

favorite,”jokes Lovato.

“But I’membracing it!”

While her character Smurfette seeks out adventure,Lovato tackles a new experience of her own

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