Megan Park, pictured here with Shailene Woodley and Francia Raisa to her right.

In London, Megan Park can walk through the malls, visit Richmond Street restaurants and just hang out unnoticed.

In Los Angeles, it’s a different story for the 22-year-old rising star, who has a leading role in the hit television show, the Secret Life of the American Teenager.

“I remember the first time I went to the mall after the show came out. Everywhere I went people were coming up to me and asking for pictures. It was total insanity,” says Park, who is at her parents’ London home for a vacation this month before heading back to L.A. in early September to resume filming.

“Now I can’t go anywhere in the States without someone recognizing me.”

Her profile in London and Ontario may change soon with Citytv picking up the first season of Secret Life, beginning Sept. 3.

Park and co-stars, such as Molly Ringwald and Mark Derwin (One Life to Live), have 13 more episodes to film of the hour-long drama, which is broadcast in the U.S. on ABC Family.

Park has committed to more filming if the Secret Life is renewed and she believes it will be.

“The numbers are just going crazy every week. It’s the highest rated show ABC Family has ever had,” she says.

“After the pilot we had 4.6 million viewers and it keeps going up every week. It’s crazy.”

The Secret Life is centred on character Amy Juergens (Shailene Woodley), who is pregnant, and her high school life.

Park plays Grace Bowman, a Christian who is also the head cheerleader at the school.

In the pilot episode, Grace’s boyfriend, also a Christian, cheats on her.

“She struggles with being upset with him and trying to forgive him,” Park says.

Park, an Oakridge graduate who started her acting career with Original Kids Theatre, calls the show “raw and real.”

“There are so many different characters that there is someone that everyone can relate to.”

Park has been busy since she made her feature film debut in 2004 in Some Things That Stay.

She has worked with Robert Downey Jr. and Hope Davis in the teen movie Charlie Bartlett, which premiered in theatres earlier this year, and she was cast opposite Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey in the 2006 TV movie the Road to Christmas.

She has also landed parts in numerous other projects.

“I’ve just been really lucky with the opportunities that have come along. I really try to work hard to push myself.

“(The Secret Life) came at the perfect time as I was ready to move to L.A. and make that leap.”

Park has received offers for other projects and says she would like to try comedy at some point.

“I’m so lucky to be in the position now to be a little bit more selective. I’m looking at a lot of scripts for films starting next year.”

Park says she enjoys coming back to London whenever she can.

A highlight for her recently was simply going to the Covent Garden Market with her mother Debbie and purchasing fresh fruit and flowers.

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Don’t invite Brenda Hampton, creator and exec producer of the hit ABC Family series “Secret Life of The American Teenager,” to the same party with officials of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancy.

Hampton isn’t happy that ABC Family ends each episode of “Secret Life” with the same public-service message from the org urging parents to communicate with their teenagers about sex.

Disney, which owns ABC Family, decided to tack on the PSA because it was worried about the show’s content: The lead character on “Secret Life” is a 15-year-old (played by Shailene Woodley) who gets pregnant and is trying to figure out what to do. ABC Family has also slapped a TV-14 warning on each episode.

“I understand where the network is coming from,” Hampton says. But the PSA makes it look as if Hampton is collaborating with the group on the scripts, which she says isn’t the case. “I don’t rely on any outside organization,” she says. “I make this stuff up myself.”

Hampton’s main objection: “The PSA sounds like an apology for the fact that we’re dealing with teenage sex. I don’t think we should apologize for that.”

Michael Rosst, a spokesman for the org, says he’s surprised at Hampton’s reaction. “I respect Brenda and her vision,” he says. “The show is pretty realistic, and doesn’t glorify teenage pregnancy.”

“Secret Life” is even kind to the teenager who proclaims that she will not have sex before marriage, Rosst says. “The writers don’t make fun of abstinence,” he says, “which is great for a show that is resonating with both teens and their parents.”

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Interview from MediaBlvd

Were you surprised that the show took off like it did?  I mean, 100% retention of it’s audience.  I’ve been following TV for years and that’s unheard of in television.

Daren> Yeah, it was pretty crazy.  I haven’t been in this business long enough to know what a good series is, and what isn’t.  But Brenda Hampton is very well renowned as a producer and has been in th

e business for awhile.  She had that hit show, 7^TH Heaven.  So I had faith in her.  But once the show finally took off, I’m like, “This is insane!  I’m living a dream.”

It’s incredible.  Have you had any fan encounters?  Do you get more recognized now because of the show?

Daren> Yeah, it’s pretty crazy.  Walking down the street and you have people staring and whispering.  You don’t know if they’re whispering because they think you’re cute or they know you’re f

rom the show.  It’s like, “What’s going on here?”  But it’s crazy.

Probably once the season is over, you’re going to walk into a store and somebody is going to smack you with a purse because they think you’re sleeping around with all these chicks.

Daren> I know, it’s so funny because I’m not like that at all in my real life.  I’m not a jerk, I don’t think.

Yeah, but a lot of people can’t separate the character from the actor.  So it’ll be interesting to see what happens when the season’s over.

Daren> Yeah, I’ve read some things.  I love reading when people say, “I hate Ricky, he’s this, he’s that.”  That means I’m doing a good job.  I want people to kind of dislike me, but like me at the same time.

What did you think when you first got this role?  You’re playing this guy who sleeps with all these girls, but he was sexually abused.  It’s a huge undertaking, but you’re playing the role very well.

Daren> Thank you so much!  Honestly, when I got the sides and read the first couple of episodes, you really start to see where they’re going to take this character and what he’s about.  The character, Ricky, has got so many different sides to him.  He’s a Don Juan with the ladies, he’s a jerk to the guys, he thinks he’s something.  Then when he gets into his therapist’s office, that’s the only time he’s true.  That’s the only time you see a person and a person’s feelings.  My therapist knows Ricky; he knows what he’s about.  He gets to him, and that’s the only time you see the true Ricky.

Has it become harder to balance your personal life with your rising popularity?

Daren>Not really.  I got into this business to be an actor, to be an artist, to tell a story through someone else’s eyes.  I’m just thankful for it all to be happening, to have fans, and for people to love the show.  So it hasn’t really interfered or anything.  I’m hoping it doesn’t, but I’m just thankful for all the buzz it’s gotten.

Do you ever have a hard time separating yourself from Ricky?

Daren> No, not at all.  What’s on set is on set, and what’s off set is off.  When I step on there and put on the gear and the clothes, then I’m Ricky.  But once I’m off, it’s just Daren; the real guy reading scripts and trying to get another job out there.  I think I’d find that more difficult if I were shooting a movie, but with the TV series, it’s very easy to just be me.  Then once it’s action, it’s Ricky time.  My personality to his personality is so different.

So you’re not bed hopping then?

Daren> No, I don’t think so, I’m not

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The Secret Life of the American Teenager can not be stopped – for the fourth week in a row it hit a series high for total audience – 4.1 million viewers tuned in for this past weeks episode!

This is absolutely amazing and even critics that weren’t so sure of this show when it debuted are coming around finally realizing everything The Secret life has to offer.

Seriously, I didn’t know they gave awards to brand new shows, but hey what else can’t this show do.

The Secret life of the American Teenager picked up an award for Teen Choice Summer TV Show!

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I know some of you love to read about how well the show is doing so here is an excerpt about it:

The Secret Life of the American Teenager jumped 16% to hit a series high of 3.6 million. To put that in context, despite airing in the summer on a basic cable network, last Tuesday’s episode had a larger audience than any episode of The CW’s Gossip Girl this past season…

This is an amazing accomplishment for this show!!