LOS ANGELES , California ( CNN ) -- For Miley Cyrus , star of Disney 's popular television series `` Hannah Montana '' and its big-screen adaptation `` Hannah Montana : The Movie , '' art is not far from real life . Miley Cyrus , here in `` Hannah Montana : The Movie , '' says filming in Tennessee was relaxing . The 16-year-old actress and singer reconnected with her Southern roots for the filming of `` Hannah Montana : The Movie . '' Traveling to Tennessee to shoot the movie , Cyrus said , helped keep her grounded . `` It actually gave me time to relax , and it was when my career was just starting to take off ... when I was just starting to travel , '' Cyrus said . `` It was at a time when I needed to go back home and it could n't have been more of a perfect time . '' In the film , opening in theaters Friday , Cyrus plays Miley Stewart , a typical teenage girl who lives a double life as a famous pop star named Hannah Montana . Eventually , Hannah begins taking over Miley 's life , leading Miley to take a soul-searching journey back home to decide what she really wants : notoriety or normality . Miley shares the screen with her father , country musician Billy Ray Cyrus , who felt that a trip home would be beneficial to his daughter . Watch Miley and Billy Ray discuss the film » . `` This is definitely an example of art imitating life imitating art . ... It 's so important to be aware of where you 're at and be focused on where you 're going but , more importantly , never forget where you came from , '' the elder Cyrus said . `` You ca n't fake going home . That was her home . '' Both on-screen and off , Miley said , she and her father share a close friendship , calling herself a `` daddy 's girl 100 percent . '' Between the endless tabloid headlines and the paparazzi 's persistence , keeping friends and family near at hand , Miley said , helps remind her of who she really is : `` I think just have good friends , good family and a good team . That 's what people miss the most , just having a good team . '' Co-star Lucas Till , who plays Miley 's love interest in the film , remarked on Miley 's down-to-earth personality . `` She 's really nice and really [ endearing ] , and she really cares about people , '' he said . `` She 's a good friend , very loyal . '' The two shared an on-screen kiss that , Till said , `` could have been more meaningful . '' Watch Till talk about kissing Cyrus » . `` There was a lot more there to that kiss than you see , '' he said . Asked whether Till was a good kisser , Miley replied , `` Meh , he 's OK. No , I 'm just kidding . I do n't know . I think I was too busy thinking about my next line to think about it . '' During her film 's opening weekend , Miley is planning on surprising select audiences at undisclosed theater locations across the country . Moviegoers who see `` Hannah Montana : The Movie '' this weekend could also be treated to surprise appearances by stars of the film , live performances and more . Miley said she was excited to give back to her fans . `` I have the best fans in the world , '' she said . After playing `` Hannah '' for three years , Miley said , she 's not ready to quit anytime soon . `` I ca n't be Hannah until I 'm 30 , but I want to keep doing it as long as possible , '' she said . CNN 's JD Cargill and CNN.com 's Elham Khatami contributed to this article .
Cyrus stars in a big-screen version of Movie Much of movie shot in California ; Miley Cyrus said it gave her `` time to relax '' Cyrus kisses co-star Cyrus in film but said she was focused on her lines .