Photo courtesy of Disney/ABC Television Group IN THE HOUSE- Twenty-year-old Maiara Walsh, middle, performs with co-stars Jason Dolley and Kyle Massey on Disney Channel's "Cory in the House," which airs Fridays. Walsh is a graduate of Royal High School.

Simi Valley may not be a celebrity haven like Malibu or the Hollywood Hills, but it does boast a few stars in its own right. One is Royal High School graduate Maiara Walsh, who plays Meena on the Disney Channel's tween hit "Cory in the House."

Born in the state of Washington, the 20-year-old actress, whose first name is pronounced "my-AH-ta," moved to Simi with her family in 1999.

It was here that she began building her acting credentials, earning lead roles in "King Tut's Tomb" at Sinaloa Middle School and "The Crucible" at Royal High.

For "King Tut's Tomb," Walsh said, "I had to sing all my lines, so it was a little scary. I got good feedback though. That was a positive push for me."

In junior high she had her first taste of show business, landing a commercial for toymaker Mattel.

That initial success came with a bit of unwanted attention.

"It aired in eighth grade, and everyone called me 'Diva Starz' for the rest of the year, which was kind of annoying," said Walsh, referencing the Mattel toy that she pitched in the commercial.

At 17, she starred in the indie flick "Lullaby Before I Wake," which was recently featured at the Malibu International Film Festival.

A year later, she nabbed her breakout role on "Cory in the House."

"I was . . . going to a callback for a different movie, and (my agent) was like 'Get over to this Disney casting office,'" Walsh said. "I went in and there were so many kids waiting to read for all these parts."

Her Brazilian heritage and her ear for language- she speaks Spanish and Portuguese in addition to English- gave her an edge when she was told to prepare an accent.

The Brazilian-Arabic accent she devised for her audition is the one she still uses on the show as Meena Paroom, the daughter of an ambassador from "Bahavia," who attends an exclusive D.C. prep school.

Though Meena is from another country, Walsh said she can relate to her character's desire to be a regular American teen while keeping her Bahavian roots.

"I kind of had that culture clash myself with a Brazilian mother," she said. "There's different rules or expectations in Brazil than America, and me and my mom got in a lot of fights."

Walsh also said she is eccentric like Meena but sometimes even more so.

"I think I'm way quirkier and goofier than her," she said. "I think it's fun to be different."

Currently on hiatus from "Cory in the House"- filming wrapped on the second season last October- Walsh spent April in Vancouver shooting a pilot called "Revolution" for the SciFi channel.

The two-hour action drama is set in the 22nd century on a newly discovered and colonized planet called New America. Walsh plays the politically minded daughter of a founding family who believes in the colony's fight for independence from the United States.

What drew her to the role, Walsh said, was that the character is very different from Meena.

"I don't want to just be known for one thing," she said. "That's what acting is all about- expanding myself as an actor and playing different characters."

In life, Walsh plays many roles: sister, daughter, actress and science geek. Before the pilot disrupted her finals, Walsh was in college fulltime studying psychology.

"I really am a nerd," she laughed. "I'm not afraid to say it; I embrace it."

Walsh also listed biology and neuroscience as interests- surprising, coming from an actress. She said she's had dual ambitions since she was a youngster.

"When I was growing up, I said I wanted to be a scientist or a singer."

Walsh's mother, Magda, agreed, adding that Maiara always had a flair for performance as well as a desire for knowledge.

"She has an amazing thirst for learning, so she may not finish the traditional way, but I have no doubt she will graduate college," said Magda, who also shared that her daughter had to choose between doing Disney or going to a university.

"Some opportunities don't show up on your door all the time," Magda said.

Now the starlet is looking for future projects. Walsh said she'd love to be cast as a strong female lead.

"I feel like the time we are in right now, women are really objectified and treated like sex objects," she said. "Girls need to realize how much power they have and that they have a voice too."

Though Walsh doesn't consider herself a celebrity, she does acknowledge her status as a role model for young Disney audiences.

"I'm not perfect. I make mistakes," she said. "But I really stress to be yourself and believe in yourself. If you have enough determination and focus, you can accomplish any of your goals."

Walsh said this positive attitude has worked out for her so far.

"I'm doing exactly what I've always wanted to do," she said. "I'm just trying to enjoy the moment."