TORONTO - She's vindictive, manipulative and proud of it. For 15-year-old Lauren Collins, it means she's doing her job. Collins plays the conniving character of eighth grader Paige Michalchuk on CTV's Degrassi: The Next Generation, which debuted this season. Just as the original Degrassi, which stopped production 12 years ago, the new Degrassi is taking a new generation of teens by storm, and Collins is glad to be part of it - even though she's the meanest of 11 starlets in the 15-part series. "I'm really proud to be part of the show," says Collins, who has been dazzling casting agents and producers with her maturity, confidence, good nature and passion for the industry since before the age of 10. These characteristics have landed her parts in a variety of commercials and television shows, such as In a Heartbeat, which hit it big in the United States.

"My first reaction when I learned I got the part was that this could be really big, like the original. It was scary but I was really happy," she says, adding that the role helps her teach teen audiences about the issues they will face in the coming years.

"It's a show for teens that deals with the issues everyday teens have to deal with in a realistic way," Collins says. "They don't blow it out of proportion. Sometimes they deal with the bigger issues, like in one episode, one of the characters finds out that her father is gay.

"That's obviously not something that happens to every kid, but they'll make up for it in the sense that they'll deal with other issues that everyone has to deal with, such as rumours. I think that they've found a healthy median," she says of the show's behind-the-scenes team.

One of the major issues dealt with in the new series that kids in the 1980s didn't have to confront was technology.

"The Internet is a big theme," says Collins. "The one-hour reunion special dealt with Internet stalkers and relationships over the Internet and the dangers it can get you into.

"I think that was a really important thing that had to be dealt with right away. It set the tone for the episodes to come. There's a good moral that comes out of every show and it's important for kids to learn them."

Collins's character is a major conduit of some other important issues, such as underage drinking and being a good friend. "In one episode, Paige gets one of her best friends drunk and steals her boyfriend. She's so mean. I couldn't imagine doing that to one of my friends."

In addition to helping teach her television audiences, Collins also works with children by directing a group of kids between grades 3 and 5 in a community theatre production of Grease. "I used to be in the plays and now I'm directing some of the younger kids, which is so much fun - they're so cute," she gushes.

She thinks the most important thing she can teach her young actors is discipline, something she's developed over the years. "I work in an adult world so I can't always act like a kid - I have to be prepared when I come to set and know my lines. I can't be goofing around."

And while she has to be responsible and mature, going downtown by herself to auditions and learning to balance academics and acting, she says she definitely likes being a teen.

"My friends are really important to me. When I'm on set, it's hard to give them all the time I want to, so when I'm not working I try to spend as much time with them as I can. We like going to the mall, seeing movies and hanging out at each others' houses."

And sometimes, Collins just likes to "veg out." "That's what I really like about the show," she says. "They like real kids. I don't feel pressure to stay super skinny and perfectÅ  I'd never stop [eating foods like pizza]. If I was ever pressured to stop that then I'd know it would be a sign for me to not act anymore. I want to stay myself. It's really important to me."

At times, it can be difficult to stay grounded, but she's learned to cope. "I don't want to be one of those kids with a big head and a huge ego. It doesn't appeal to me. My friends know that I hate talking about [acting]. I get so embarrassed when I'm asked about my job and I try to quickly change the subject."

But working in television does have its perks. "I definitely want to save my money. My parents are telling me to save it and I know that's what I want to do - for school, but I really want to get a car."

Though the cast has not yet heard whether CTV will bring the show back for a second season, Collins says she's excited about the prospect of returning as Paige and about the chance to pass on advice and morals to audiences as characters deal with the issues.