Homecoming Queen
Free Ride's Erin Cahill sexes up small-town America

Getting angry gets you nowhere - just ask Saddam Hussein. That's why it was refreshing to watch Erin Cahill resist throwing a Hollywood hissy fit over being hit with a $40 parking ticket after her FHM interview at a Hollywood coffee shop. Not that her calm demeanor would surprise anyone who knows her - the homecoming and prom queen from Stafford, VA, is as down-to-earth as they come.

"Growing up, I didn't hang out with only the popular group," says the 26-year-old. "I hung out with everybody. I was never a cheerleader - and I was by no means the prettiest girl in school, either."

The latter part of that statement is hard to believe, but Erin's background does make her ideal for the role of small-town, bank-telling sweetheart Amber Danwood on Fox's new comedy Free Ride. It's a step up from her performances as Jen, the pink Power Ranger in the storied franchise's Time Force series.

"My Free Ride character is the girl next door," Erin says. "And that's who I am. I love going home. L.A. is ass-backward. At home, I can be a total smart-ass, but I'm also like a sister to all my friends."

If only everyone's sister were as hot. And insisted on paying their own fines.

Prove that you're still down-home.

I had my first bow and arrow when I was 5 years old; now I shoot rifles and handguns. A .45 is my favorite. At home, I still go to the shooting range with my dad, but I would never shoot a living thing. When I was really young, my dad killed this deer, but he had no place to hang it when he brought it home. So he hung its gutted carcass from my swing set. I freaked out. I'm a vegetarian now and I think that had something to do with it. Moral of the story, kids - if you want a new swing set, have your dad dress a carcass on it.

What's it like packing heat?

I get a major adrenaline rush from shooting a gun. There's nothing like it. It's like a video game, only real - the bullets actually hit something.

What's the nastiest thing you've eaten in the backwoods?

I've tried moonshine. It's an awful concoction that should never go into the human body. It tastes like pure rubbing alcohol. It was the most terrible thing I've ever put in my mouth. Growing up, though, it was mostly cheap Boone's Farm wines.

Being a country girl, you must have enjoyed skinny-dipping.

A bunch of my girlfriends and I went to a friend's pool, and we decided it would be fun to take off all our clothes. It was really innocent, but at the time we thought it was crazy.

Do you spend more time naked these days?

I walk around the house naked all the time. Who doesn't? You've got to be naked sometimes. I don't have wine and cheese parties naked, but if I get out of the shower and I've got something to do around the house, I'll do it naked. It's more comfortable.

What was it like being a Power Ranger?

Fun. Any day in which you can do some kung-fu fighting, save the world and go out for pizza, it's a good job.

Have you worn your Power Ranger outfit in the bedroom?

No, but I've been asked that more than once. Those suits are under lock and key. We only ever got to hold the helmets for photo shoots. They are literally worth thousands of dollars each.

What do you consider your best asset?

I've had numerous, flattering comments about my backside, from people I've known to complete strangers. I get, "Nice ass," or, "Don't ever lose that," and everything else you can imagine a guy saying. A girl came up to me once and told me that my butt was perfect. I don't know if I agree with that. It is nice, though.

For your FHM debut, you chose to wear lingerie. Why is it so awesome?