Hollywood hit was an 'awesome adventure' says Sugarman

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, starring Lindsay Lohan, is Rhyl-born Sugarman's first film for movie giants Disney.

The film was the second most popular film in the US, taking more than $9m at the box office in its first week.

"I'd always wanted to make a film that was for teenagers," says Sugarman.

Awesome adventure

"A movie for every 14-year-old girl out there who's had to go to a new school with a zit on her chin and deal with extremely complex high school relationships.

"It was a dream for me to come from Wales and make a film in a place called Hollywood. I had no idea we would end up shooting in Canada. It was and is an awesome adventure."

Sugarman, 38, appeared as a teenager herself in the BBC children's drama Grange Hill before moving to the other side of the camera.

She won the DM Davies award at the Welsh Film Festival in 1995 for her film Up The Valley and has followed up with full-length features Mad Cows and Very Annie Mary.

TOP US FILMS 1 The Passion of The Christ 2 50 First Dates 3 Twisted 4 Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen 5 Dirty Dancing - Havana Nights

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is adapted from a novel by Dyan Sheldon and tells the story of teenager Lola moving from New York to the suburbs.

Lohan, 17, starred with Jamie Lee Curtis in the body-swap comedy Freaky Friday and came to prominence in The Parent Trap.

Sugarman said the script had "warmth, depth and charm...more substantial than the average 'teen chick' film."

However, critics have given the film mixed reviews with the Washington Post calling it an "artless caper".

The film, which has grossed another $6.3m in its second week and lies fourth in the US box office rankings, opens in Britain in August.