'Traveling' actresses have more than just good jeans

NEW YORK - BFFs Tibby, Carmen, Bridget and Lena are back.

Only now, the girls are a little older, wiser and trying to navigate their way through college and relationships.

Welcome to "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," the follow-up to the 2005 drama based on Ann Brashares' best-selling novels. Sanaa Hamri directs from a script by Elizabeth Chandler, who adapted the previous "Sisterhood."

Returning to the beloved characters are Amber Tamblyn as Tibby, the artistic jokester; America Ferrera as Carmen, the insecure drama student; Blake Lively as Bridget, the independent-minded beauty; and Alexis Bledel as Lena, the naive sweetheart.

Like their characters, the actresses have matured since they appeared together three years ago in the coming-of-age drama. Yet they maintain a youthful playfulness when they're together.

At a press conference, Tamblyn, 25, quickly assumed the role of mother hen. Bledel, 26, frequently serves as referee. Lively, 20, is the ridiculously pretty goofball. And Ferrera, 24, is simply everybody's favorite.

Professionally, the young actresses have grown as well. Ferrera stars in the hit ABC series "Ugly Betty," while Lively is on the CW's hip "Gossip Girl." Bledel and Tamblyn wrapped their TV series - "Gilmore Girls" and "Joan of Arcadia," respectively - a few years ago, and have moved on to other acting projects. Tamblyn shot a pilot for ABC and stars in the upcoming big-screen remake of "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt," opposite Michael Douglas. Bledel stars in the feature comedy "The Post-Grad Survival Guide," set for a 2009 release.

As the four sit down together to discuss their new movie, it's obvious they have a close bond, much like the characters they play on the screen. The girls have fond memories of shopping, dining and leaping into the surf on the Greek island of Santorini when they weren't busy shooting their scenes.

While the Greek excursion was fun, most of the filming took place stateside, where the story picks up a year after high school graduation. The girls have gone their separate ways to pursue higher education. Tibby is attending NYU but is falling behind in her studies because she is still quietly grieving the death of a young friend. That suppressed trauma makes it difficult for her to open up to others, especially her best friends.

Meanwhile, Carmen flees to drama camp in Vermont to escape the changes happening at home with her family. With her parents and friends moving on with their lives, Carmen has self-esteem issues. She copes with those feelings by hiding herself in the background. Then a fellow student pulls her out of her shell and she gets an opportunity to really shine.

Having returned home after a summer romance in Greece, Lena tries to move on by enrolling in a New England art school. Another romance is in the offing, but can she really forget Kostos, her first love?

All but ignored by her father at home, Bridget seeks refuge in her archeology studies in Turkey. But she eventually realizes that she is simply avoiding dealing with feelings surrounding the tragic death of her mother years earlier.

A chance discovery leads her to her long estranged maternal grandmother (played by Blythe Danner) for answers.

While the girls maintain a connection - via a magical pair of jeans which they pass along to one another - they also discover the importance of self-reliance.

The sequel explores how friendships change over time.

"This movie was not so much about what each of the girls is going through, so much as how what they're going through affects their bond," Ferrara said.

As Lena, Bledel is sweet and considerate but too timid to deal with matters involving romance.

"She needs her friends to push her into confrontations that most people could probably just deal with on their own," she observed.

Lively described her character as someone who often chooses to run away from her problems rather than solve them.

"Avoidance," pointed out Tamblyn, nodding. "All of us have the same problem."

Bledel credited Brashares for writing distinct and well-rounded characters with which audiences can identify.

"Anybody will be able to relate to this stage of life - it's just finding your own path," she said.

All four actresses admire the long and solid friendship their characters have and how they are able to maintain their friendship despite upheavals in their lives.

Ferrera says the friendship enjoyed by the "Sisterhood" characters has changed her own views about female friendship.

"I was never lucky enough to have friends who have stayed throughout my entire life, outside of my family," she said. "What I love about this movie is that it gives young women an example of strong female relationships. I don't think I learned how to appreciate strong relationships with other women until I was older." *