Star Struck: 'High School Musical's' Monique Coleman Talks About Meeting Her Idol

By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

'High School Musical' star Monique Coleman said she never understood what it mean to be star-struck until she met her idol Whoopi Goldberg.

The 28-year-old entertainer, who has the same Nov. 13 birthday as the Oscar-winning comedienne/actress, got to meet Goldberg for the first time during an appearance on 'The View' earlier this year.

"Meeting Whoopi Goldberg was the first time that I understood what it meant to have fans because I never really understand it. People come up to me all the time and that's great, but I'm just a girl. When I was in front of Whoopi – and I was talking myself down backstage telling myself to keep it together – I walked out there and saw her and I just became so overwhelmed with emotion and I realized what it was. Being in the presence of someone that you've always admired and looked up to and whose work and person inspires you and has influenced you so much. By being in their presence, it makes you believe that you're closer to everything that you've ever wanted and that's why we're such big fans of people," the actress explained to me during our interview at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

High School Musical 3 Premiere

(L-R) Jean Marc Genereux, Tre Armstrong and Blake McGrath attend the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021620), contact WireImage.com

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(L-R) Actors Justin Martin, Olesya Rulin, Matt Prokop and Director Kenny Ortega attend the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021590), contact WireImage.com

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Luther Brown and Choreographer Blake McGrath attend the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021574), contact WireImage.com

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Luther Brown attends the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021566), contact WireImage.com

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Actress Judy Jiao attends the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021522), contact WireImage.com

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Director Kenny Ortega attends the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021471), contact WireImage.com

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Actor Matt Prokop attends the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021444), contact WireImage.com

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Actor Justin Martin attends the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021443), contact WireImage.com

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Actors Matt Prokop and Olesya Rulin attend the "High School Muscial 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 22, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.."High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Toronto Premiere.Scotiabank Theatre.Toronto, Canada.October 22, 2008.Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.com..To license this image (56021400), contact WireImage.com

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"I was like, 'I get it now,'" she continued. "Because I was so overwhelmed sitting there and thinking of my childhood bedroom because I had pictures of her from 'The Color Purple' and 'Star Trek.' She's higher than my diploma. I knew so much about her and felt so connected to her. She was so everything that I wanted her to be."

While many people meet their inspirations and are completely disappointed by their real-life persona, Coleman said the 'Sister Act' star surpassed her expectations.

"She just looked at me and commented on my shoes, which were high heels of course. That was very monumental to me," she laughed.

The Orangeburg, South Carolina-bred actress shared that Goldberg isn't the only actress who had that impact on her.

"I've also met Phylicia Rashad and it was that same sort of feeling. I met her in the lobby of The Ritz," she confessed.

Coleman's movie 'High School Musical 3: Senior Year' is in theaters now and has grossed more than $87 million at the box office so far.

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