We talked recently to Lisa Jakub, who played Princess Isabel in "Isabel, Jewel of Castilla." Read our interview and learn more about Lisa and the making of this royal episode. Isabel and Catalina were best friends that helped each other out a lot — do you have a best friend that you rely on? Did you and Cara Pifko (the actress that played Catalina) become friends? I am lucky enough to have four best girl friends: Kelley, Senta, Theresa and Dawn. They have really made me realize how important it is to have close girl friends that you can trust and that will love you unconditionally. This is especially important if you want to complain about boys! Cara and I had a great time working on the show. She is very sweet, and it was such a relief to have someone to be goofy with on set. Isabel also relied on her diary to help her sort things out — Do you keep a diary or have any other methods for helping to clear your head or work through your thoughts? I keep a journal to organize my thoughts and vent my frustrations. I can work through problems, and write what I really think, without fear of judgment. It clears my head, and at the same time, I feel like I am doing something creative. How would you feel if your marriage was arranged? Do you feel like your parents try to influence the friends/boyfriends you choose? Like most women in our culture, I find the idea of having an arranged marriage terrifying! I love my parents, but I don't think I trust their taste in husbands. However if my marriage were arranged, that would mean that my friends would have to stop trying to set me up with their brothers...maybe it is not such a bad idea! Is it strange to play a real person? Does it make it harder or easier when preparing for the role? I had never played a real person before Isabel. I think that it is exciting to play a real person, especially when you are playing someone with as interesting a life as Isabel. What was it like to wear those clothes? Did it help you get in character? The clothes that I wore in the show were wonderful. However, they were incredibly heavy. The costumes really helped me get in to character. Once I stepped into that gown, I walked differently and I spoke differently. I definitely did not feel like myself. How about the settings — did they help to take you back to that time and place? We shot in remote areas near Toronto. That was very helpful for getting into character also, because the setting was in keeping with the proper time period for the show. Have you ever been to Spain? If yes, did that experience affect your performance? If not, did doing this show peak your interest in traveling there? I have never been to Spain, although I would love to go. My mother traveled there shortly after I did this show, and it was so exciting to hear her talk about the different places that I had learned about due to Isabel. In Isabel's world, so many things seem very different compared to our world today (clothes, arranged marriages, castles, education). Did you find any similarities? I think that even though life seemed to be very different in Isabel's time, there are many similarities. I think that girls today can relate to some of Isabel's struggles. She is strong willed, passionate, and knows what she wants out of life. Isabel had to overcome obstacles to achieve what she did, and I think that is a great lesson. Everyone can learn from that. Isabel learned to read and write probably from her mother, and was taught embroidery and religion from nuns — Did you have a tutor on set (or on another set you worked on)? Do you enjoy working with a tutor or going to a school with other kids? Since I began acting at the age of 4, I spent most of my school years on set with a tutor. I really liked learning that way. The one-on-one attention was great for me, and I got to move along at my own pace. When I was not working, I did go to high school. That was great socially, but I still really liked the attention of working with a tutor. Did you have a favorite princess or fairy tale when you were growing up? Now that you've played a princess, was it all that it was cracked up to be!? My favorite fairy tales are Sword and the Stone, and (of course) Cinderella. I did really enjoy playing a princess, but I don't think that I could do it full time. I am much too attached to my freedom, plus there are too many things that I would miss from my life. Like jeans, DVD's, e-mail, stadium seating movie theaters and ballpoint pens. We'll have to take your word for it, Lisa! And we think you made a great princess!