Posted July 16, 2007 – Even if you don’t watch TBS' “My Boys” – and you should – you can’t help but know the only sister on the show. Kellee Stewart (pronounced Kel-lay, thank you very much) is the sophisticated, got-it-all-together female friend – the only one – to PJ, the tomboy, poker-playin’, baseball-lovin’ star of the show. Born in Philly, and now kickin’ it full-time in L.A., Stewart’s had thespian dreams since catching the acting bug as a young lass. Her plans for Hollywood stardom have developed with big-screen roles in such films as “Guess Who” and “Monster-In Law.” But she’s found her biggest success so far on the little screen, adding the feminine flair to “My Boys.” As the show enjoys its sophomore season, we caught up with the actress to chat about boys, friendship and how a day of playing hooky brought her to where she is today.

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What one word would best describe your experience on the show?
Funny. Everybody on the set is hilarious. The people I work with, we’re joking around with each other all the time. The camaraderie is light-hearted. I’m always asking myself, “Am I really getting paid for this?” I have a fun day every day.

Is Stephanie anything like you?
Stephanie is a girly girl. I tend to think she has a feminine point of view. She does have an addiction with shopping, as do I. She knows nothing about sports, and neither do I. If I’m learning anything about sports, it’s on a need-to-know basis.

What can we expect from Stephanie this season? Will she find love?
She's on a quest. She's always kinda been the other point of view in PJ's life. Giving PJ advice. This time, she gets in trouble and PJ is giving her
advice. Finding love? We'll have to watch and see. That's what keeps it fun and interesting.

NEXT: Kellee decides which sex makes for a better friend.

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Who makes better friends – men or women?
My mother is my best friend, so I have to say women. She's been an amazing role model and a great friend, and she knows how to separate the two. She puts the friendship spin on things when I need a girlfriend. Although, I do have a lot of male friends. Sometimes they are more blunt. They say what's on their minds. It may be hard to take, but honesty is the best policy. I have really good male friends.

Could you ever be friends with so many boys like PJ?
Yeah, for sure. One of my best friends is a 6’6” man, who is very masculine and a somewhat egotistical. We both come from opposite ends of the world, but I value his opinion so much. He's so trustworthy. I believe men and women can be
platonic. There are a lot of lessons to learn from the opposite sex if you pay attention.

How did you get your start in acting?
I was in the fourth grade. Growing up in Philadelphia, my mom woke me up one day and told me we were playing hooky. She got me dressed and drove me to New York City, and I saw my first Broadway play, “Cats.” She was very good at showing us culture and different cities. After “Cats,” I told her that this is what I wanted to do. She put me in summer programs. But I didn’t go into the audition circuit until I was older. My mom wanted me to have a childhood. 

First acting gig?
It was a Tylenol commercial shot in the Philadelphia airport. I was an extra who got
upgraded. That's how I got my SAG card. (She doesn’t remember her line in the commercial.  Darn!)

What's one thing you weren't prepared for, in terms of the business?
I wasn't prepared for the lesson that good is not good enough in the beginning. I thought you go to school, take acting classes, audition, and you get
a job. It isn't that easy. Excellence is the only thing to strive for. I was getting rejected on a large scale, so I decided to get a job as a casting agent at a modeling agency to learn more about casting, negotiation, and what directors are looking for. It showed me that being good is not good enough. You have to turn on your light as bright as it shines. You have to walk out of the room with your light still shining. It taught me to keep going. Nobody can dim your light but you. Keep working hard, keeping move forward.

What were you prepared for?
I knew that when I did make it that it was going to be a whole lot of fun. I'm having a Blast! And I'm able to share it with those people who helped me get here.

What’s next for you? Any more movies?
I want to do more writing. I'm working on a memoir of my childhood. I don’t know where it's going, but it brings me a lot of enjoyment. When the right project comes along, I’ll be ready for it. I learned a lot with “Guess Who.” It was a good set to be on. It gave me the itch even more.

Scratch on!

"My Boys" premieres July 30 on TBS.