When you're 11 years old, a couple weeks can seem like years and a waiting a couple months -- particularly when you're an aspiring actress waiting to hear about the biggest role of your career -- can feel like forever.

"It was way long, too long for them to take," laughs Keke Palmer, who plays the title character in the new spelling bee drama "Akeelah and the Bee." "When you audition for a part, it's maybe a couple of weeks and then they tell you you got the part or you didn't. With this movie, they didn't tell nobody they'd gotten the part, so I was a little upset, but then when I found out I was like [She lets out a scream and does a little dance.] But I was still a little mad about it, because it took a long time."

As long as the process felt for Palmer, it was even longer for writer-director Doug Atchison, who estimates they auditioned roughly 300 girls for the role of Akeelah, a middle schooler from South Central who dreams of winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

"Keke felt like a real kid and she's as smart as Akeelah is," says of his young star, whose previous credits include TNT's "The Wool Cap" and this spring's "Madea's Family Reunion." "Now, she'll play around and she'll screw around with you, but she's a brainy kid. I also found a kid that I didn't have to dictate the part to, but one who I could collaborate with."

Even before Palmer was officially signed, her audition tape was being used to woo high profile co-stars like Angela Bassett.

"I remember just being filled inside just looking at her little face and hearing the way she spoke, just feisty and bright and cute," recall's Bassett, who plays Palmer's mother in the film.

Her other co-star, Laurence Fishbourne, also has kind words.

"I think Keke has the potential to do incredibly well," he says. "I think Keke has the potential to have a very long and fruitful career."

Having those two Oscar nominees alongside her helped Palmer, who had never toplined a film before, feel more at ease.

"My mom always told me, 'Don't think you have to carry this movie. Don't think about that. Just think of you going in there and doing your best,'" Palmer says. "And then everybody comes in here saying, 'You carried the film!' I'm sure if they'd said that while I was on the set, I wouldn't have done it that way."

While Palmer downplays her own spelling abilities, she says she didn't find the wordplay any more challenging than learning any other long monologue.

"I learn lines really quickly," she says simply. "That's why it's easy for me to learn those words --Memorize them. Done."

Having the spelling of so many complicated words, can she still do it?

"No."

She pauses.

"Only one. Only the first. Prestidigitation. I can spell that one. P-R-E-S-T-I-D-I-G-I-T-A-T-I-O-N. Prestidigitation."

We'll just assume she's right.

"Akeelah and the Bee" opens Friday, April 28.