A day in the life of TV star Kyla Pratt. (How They're Living).

Many people will tell you that being young an famous is more hard work than you think, but after watching Kyla Pratt for a day, I can't say the same. As much as I dug around for a really troublesome experience for the teen co-star of UPN's sitcom One on One, the more apparent it became that Kyla is really living the life of the young and famous. Months before she got her driver's license, the 16-year-old bought her first car: a Lexus RS6. She's seen on national television every Monday night, playing the role of Breanna, a flip, attractive, popular daughter of a handsome sports commentator, played by comedian Flex Alexander. To boot, she earns more than $10,000 per episode.

She also holds down a part-time gig taping the voice of Penny Proud for the cartoon Proud Family, which airs Saturdays on ABC.

Granted, she's having a great time. But Kyla earns her keep.

"They work me as long as they can," says Kyla, referring to her schedule at One on One. But because she is still a minor, the most she can work is nine hours a day with an hour for lunch. Works for me!

You Call That "Sleeping In?"--On a mild summer day in August, Kyla arrived at Paramount Studios in Beverly Hills around 9 a.m. She stayed with her best friend Brittany, a teen model who lives around the corner from the studio. "I was up at 8:20 this morning, but if I was home [in Los Angeles] I would have had to get up at 6 [a.m.]," says Kyla, while having her face powdered. At 11 a.m., the makeup and wardrobe that Kyla wore at the first rehearsal of the day needed to be retouched and changed, respectively.

The oldest of five children isn't that big on makeup, and all the other glamorous aspects of the business. "At first, I didn't like all the heat, hair spray, or tugging on my hair," says Kyla. "For the weeks that I don't have to work, I don't wear makeup at all. Then with premieres, parties, and shows I usually wear my hair just straight."

From September to June home schooling is in session. But since it was the summer, Kyla didn't have to study or be tutored during her styling sessions, so she had time to chat about movies and parties with Brittany, who occasionally hangs around on the set when school is out. "Signs was so good and Mel Gibson is so tight," Kyla says beaming about one of her favorite actors. In mid-sentence about why she wouldn't watch Freddie Krugar Kyla replies to a two-way page and explains "my friend is throwing a surprise birthday party for one of my other friends. I'm trying to find out if I have to be 21 to get in."

OK, Enough Hanging Out--It's 1 p.m. and Kyla is freshly dressed in a fitted pink terrycloth sweat suit, crop top, and her pressed-and-curled hair is in perfect place. On the set there are 12 crewmembers. The makeup artist powders Kyla's face. Everyone else is busying themselves and making small talk. Although Kyla, Flex, and Tichina Arnold--who is guest-starring this season--have just appeared on the set, no one is star struck. It's just another a day at work!

Creator and Executive Producer Eunetta Boone bellows "Action" and Kyla responds with her lines: "Wow, I'm back with my mom, my life sucks." This process repeats about five times until around 1:45 p.m. Then the cast starts rehearsing two new sentences. Who knew it took so long to perfect one line?

Lunch Time--It's 2 p.m. Kyla socializes with the rest of the One on One cast, including Flex's wife, R&B singer Shanice, who dropped by with the couple's infant daughter Imani.

After a lot of goo-goo, ga-ga-ing with the baby, Kyla was off to her trailer for some lunch. At the trailer was Shanda Johnson, who is technically Kyla's set sitter but Shanda says Kyla sees her differently. "I'm her home girl with a car," kids Shanda. "By law someone has to accompany minor-aged actresses on the set, she explains. "I get temporary guardianship of Kyla, and I make sure she eats lunch and works the correct amount of hours for her age." Before Kyla got her license in September, Shanda would pick her up and drive them both to work Hey, that sounds like a car pool!

While eating burritos, Kyla remembers that she wants Brittany to see singer Tank's new video. After meeting him at the NAACP Image Awards, Kyla took a quick photo with the BlackGround Entertainment recording artist. "I didn't know he was that cute. After I met him, I went out and bought bas CD," recounts Kyla. Kyla loads a VHS tape of music videos that her uncle taped for her as a favor. "I think he is so cute, but he is a grown man," laments Kyla about Tank. On the paneled wall of the trailer, next to the photo of Kyla and Tank, there are separate pictures of Kyla with Toronto Raptors guard Vince Carter and hip-hop artist Nelly. "I get star struck, but I never show it," explains the Los Angeles native. Hmmm. I would have never guessed!

Back To Work--"Kyla, touch up please," says a crewmember signaling that it's 3 p.m. Kyla runs off to the bathroom in the back of her trailer, where her new wardrobe is waiting. She reappears with tight low rider jeans and a long-sleeved thermal top hanging from her short-sleeved T-shirt. She puts her sneakers back on as she finalizes plans for the evening. "What time are you getting off work today?" asks Brittany. "I don't know, probably about 6 [p.m.]," responds Kyla. "OK, we have to go shopping," concludes Brittany. In agreement, Kyla nods and she's off to another rehearsal.

Kyla comes out of retouch about 3:45 p.m. It's the same routine as earlier today. Cast members chat until the director's voice calls "Action. This time, the cast is a little tired. You know how it is after you eat.

"What are my lines again?" Kyla asks in the middle of the scene. In no time, a woman appears and tells Kyla her lines. "Oh, OK, OK, I remember," says Kyla excitedly. Kyla and Sicily, who plays Spirit on the show, sit on a couch shivering under a blanket. They are ready to make the viewers believe that the character Breanna is freezing at the home of her mom, played by Trichina. After about four or five takes of Kyla with Sicily, Kyla exchanges lines with Tichina. Tichina enters the stage waving a lace bra and saying a line about Breanna needing warmer underwear. After another run-through or two, the executive producer decides that the bra is inappropriate and requests a new bra. In about five minutes, Tichina enters with a more suitable bra. Finally, that scene is a done deal.

It's about 5:15 p.m., and time for Flex to rehearse a scene with some extras acting as a basketball team. So for Kyla, rehearsal is over. But it's not a rap just yet Kyla goes back to makeup to take it all off.

At 5:40 p.m., Kyla has made it back to her trailer to disrobe and is now ready to hit the mall.

breaking it down

Name: Kyla Pratt

Age: 16

Occupation: Actress

Full-Time Employer: Paramount Studios

Job Description: Kyla describes her typical work day as the following: "Go to work, school for an hour, rehearse for three hours, school again, lunch, then rehearsal and then run-through with producers and writers, and then school for another hour."

Schedule: 5 days/week 3 weeks a month 9 a.m.--6 p.m.

Salary Range: $10,000-$30,000 per episode

Previous Experience: By the age of 12, Kyla had accumulated close to 20 supporting and guest-starring roles on television series such as Friends and The Parkers. Film credits include the role of Maya Doolittle in Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Doolittle 2, and young Monica (played by Sanaa Lathan as an adult) in Love & Basketball.

How She Got Started: "I didn't really decide to get into this business, it just came up and I started to love it," reflects Kyla. "My grandma showed off my pictures on an airplane and another passenger asked for me to be in a fashion show. Then an agent approached us and we signed with them. It's just been going on for eight years now."

Kyla's Advice: "Don't do it if you are getting into it for the money. If you are, you are going to have it tough, because there is too much work. Don't think you can drop out of school either, because a C average is a [legal] requirement in order for minors to work [in television]."

Visit www.sag.org/youngpersons if you're interested in being a teen actor.