The Suite Life of Brenda Song

MANILA, Philippines - Brenda Song, the charming black-belter actress who plays London Tipton in Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zach and Cody and now, Suite Life on Deck, talks about her character, how her life has changed since being a celebrity and thoughts on visiting the Philippines.

How different are you from London Tipton?

It’s really tough. I think it’s easier to say what we do have in common than what we don’t because we’re so different. The only thing is I’d like to have her closet because she has a major wardrobe. A couple of differences: London lives her own world. I have two brothers who constantly drive me insane, but they also keep me very sane. I can’t imagine London with little brothers.

How do you prepare yourself for your character and keep it fresh all the time?

London is like my fantasy character. It’s like an energy that every girl has in her and I can totally bring that out. Reading the script makes me laugh. London always says things that you’re thinking in your head but you don’t have the guts to say. So for London, I’d be that crazy girl to make it real. As for keeping the character fresh, London’s a real person and I keep that in mind all the time. That’s what we’ve worked out a lot this year — to overcome different obstacles. She’s no longer in a hotel where she can fly off anywhere she wants to. She’s stuck on the boat where she has to go to school. And now, she has to share room with another girl and London would never even imagine that.

In real life, do you like going on cruises?

I’ve only been on one cruise and that’s the Disney Cruise and had so much fun. We went to the Bahamas. I think it would be a lot of fun to travel around the world on a boat.

What can viewers expect from the new series?

It’s really like a kitchen on wheels, a moving hotel. It’s a different context and blend in the horizon. Now we’re able to go to different ports, meet different people, see different cultures and hear different languages. So we’re really getting to experience more things story and character-wise. And as for London, she’s really happy becoming a real person facing different obstacles. Like her cabin right now is the size of her bed in the Tipton hotel. She’s happy to realize that and it’s been really, really fun for me to portray. I get to be much more involved with the twins, too, so it’s been great!

How has being a part of Suite Life On Deck changed you as a person?

Honestly, I really think it’s the public giving me a second family, which is the cast and crew of The Suite Life. It has helped me gain a lot of responsibility. I have to walk every single day. I have a boss that I need to respond to so it’s being responsible at a young age and that in itself has helped me in more ways than one.

Any plans to visit the Philippines?

I’ve only been to Shanghai and I’d love to come to the Philippines. I’d like to set it up. Maybe we’ll work something out with Disney Channel.

Catch The Suite Life with Zach and Cody which airs weekdays at 4:30 p.m. and Suite Life on Deck on Fridays at 5 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m.