LOS ANGELES—According to Miley Cyrus, “If I would just hang out all day in the middle of the farm and ‘watch turkeys,’” her father, singer-actor Billy Ray Cyrus, would be happy. “If I were to just go home and sit on the hill with my dad for the rest of my life, that would be his dream.”

“But that doesn’t really sound fun to me,” Miley said in a recent interview. So for now, some turkeys in her native Tennessee will have to make do without an audience. Instead, audiences around the world are the ones watching Miley as her popularity continues to skyrocket, especially with the release of “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” The film version of Miley’s phenomenally popular TV series stars her and her dad, of course, plus Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Mitchell Musso, Moises Arias and Vanessa Williams plus guest stars Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Tyra Banks.

“I love what I do,” declared the singer-actress who is based in LA but goes back every now and then to the family ranch in Tennessee. “There are times, of course, that I’d like to take a break. But I’m definitely a busy body. If I’m sitting alone for an hour, I definitely start getting a little antsy.”

Articulate

Only 16 but very confident and articulate, Miley would put to shame some of the older stars we’ve interviewed who stammer and say “uh” a lot. “I’ve never really been a shy person, as you can imagine,” said the singer-actress with a laugh. “I like talking a lot.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m intimidating,” she answered when asked if she finds it hard to find boys who are not daunted by her star status. Laughing once more, Miley quipped: “They don’t have to talk much. They can just be on mute the whole time. That’s good—as long as they’re sitting there listening.”

With an impish grin, she added, “That’s what I’d put up on a dating site—‘Don’t talk to me so I can talk.’” Turning just a bit serious, she continued: “It’s about finding someone who understands you and gets where you’re coming from. Someone does not necessarily have the same dream or be in the same business, but he must have goals. I’m very much a person who likes to set a new goal and does it.”

Hounded by paparazzi

On her dad’s attitude toward her boyfriends, Miley said, “He’s chill with the people I pick because I haven’t picked up a rebel … Usually I pick the quiet ones. My dad likes that …”

“It’s definitely strange,” she commented about going out and being hounded by the paparazzi. “I don’t like going on dates with the paparazzi, with them following me like they are my chaperones … I like being in the public eye most of the time. But you have to find the line where you have a private life as well. I’ve learned how to do that. Basically, it’s about finding the right person who gets that as well. It’s also about finding places where you can go and you know people will be chill. There are restaurants that call and tell people that you’re there.”

Would she, like Hannah Montana does in the movie, fight with someone like Tyra Banks for the last remaining pair of coveted stilettos in a store? “I’m not going to lie,” she replied. “I love fashion. I’m a human being. I’m allowed to be obsessed with some material things. But I don’t know if I would fight Tyra Banks for shoes. I didn’t know she was like 5’11”. I’m 5’ 4”.”

Told that director Peter Chelsom was that rare person who had never heard of the “Hannah Montana” TV series, Miley joked, “Peter was totally lying to you. He watched ‘Hannah’ every night. He had the wig and everything.”

“No, he really didn’t know too much about the show,” Miley admitted. “I think it’s good to have someone with a fresh mind … That’s why even on the TV show, we always have new directors coming in. Because you don’t want people to get so comfortable and say, ‘All right, that’s working.’ Peter wanted to start something new.”

‘Dad is weird’

Shot on location in Los Angeles and her native Tennessee, the movie gave the popular father-daughter team a lot of time to get to know each other more. Miley recounted, “One time, we saw a lot of these bugs called cicadas. They make this horrible noise. They drop their shells off. My dad is so weird. He gets these shells, puts them all over himself, and hangs some of them like his earrings. He walks up and wants to see how long it’s going to take me to notice. He still thinks I’m like 7. I pretend that I don’t notice.

“I’m just looking at him thinking, ‘Why is he doing this? Why is he chasing me like a monster covered in bugs?’ That drives me a little nuts. I’m not a big bug fan. And he knows that. But you gotta love him. I guess it’s a dad thing.”

Miley may be one of the highest paid teenagers in entertainment, but she claimed that she still gets disciplined by her parents. “When dad gives me the silent treatment, I know I’m in trouble,” she confessed. “My mom (Leticia Cyrus) is not strict but she’s definitely not easy on me.”

Leticia, who was in the back of the room during the interview, was addressed by her daughter at one point. “When I had my 16th birthday, my mom got me a Porsche SUV,” Miley shared. “Thank you mom, I love you so much. Who doesn’t want a Porsche? But I just didn’t like it at all. So now I drive my little Prius.” Miley, who has a song about the environment called “Wake Up America,” volunteered that she’s happier driving the environmentally friendly hybrid car.

Conceding defeat in her attempt to be a vegetarian, Miley chuckled as she explained, “I’m from Tennessee and we like country fried steak a lot. I like fried food. I wasn’t able to give up the meat. I want a steak or a burger from McDonald’s every once in a while. A double-double is just way too good. I’ve still got to eat. I’ve got the rest of my life to stay healthy.”

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.