Avril Lavigne Makes Film Debut as Possum

(andPOP) - For her film debut, Avril Lavigne spent a long time behind a microphone in a recording studio- big stretch, right?

But she wasn't filming scenes. She was recording her lines, because the singer lends her speaking voice to a character in Over the Hedge, which opens today.

Lavigne plays Heather the possum.

Director Tim Johnson said Lavigne was very nervous at first, but that she quickly became more comfortable.

"She told us, 'I've never done this, I really want it to be successful, tell me anything you need me to do. Why don't you give me a line, how would you read that line,'" Johnson told andPOP.

"Then 15 minutes into the first session, we were talking about it and she said, 'I think Heather would do it this way.' She was totally invested in the character and had fun with it."

Johnson said he had no idea what to expect from a singer who had never acted before.

"The challenge with her was making her feel comfortable. Whether it's Avril and it's your first time or Bruce Willis (who plays RJ the raccoon) and you've done animated film before, it's very intimidating to just rely on your voice. As Wanda Sykes (Stella the skunk) put it, we took away all her weapons ? her body language, glare, and sharp look."

Over the Hedge also stars Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, Williams Shatner, Nick Nolte and Eugene Levy.

Lavigne will actually appear in two upcoming films ? Fast Food Nation and The Flock, both scheduled for release later this year.