SHOWS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS TOO : Christine Lakin takes her celebrity status ‘Step By Step’

Please don’t misunderstand her. Actress Christine Lakin, 16, has no problem explaining to people why she might look familiar. And she doesn’t mind acknowledging to inquisitive strangers that she’s on ABC’s popular sitcom “Step by Step.” But at a recent “Ultimate Oldies” concert in her native Atlanta--where’s she’s happily on hiatus for the summer--she just couldn’t cop to celebrity status.

“I haven’t really been bugged, but the only time I’m embarrassed is when I’m caught doing something really stupid,” says the petite actress who plays middle child Al (short for Alicia). “I was at this concert with a bunch of friends and we were being so goofy and doing the swim and other silly dances. I felt so stupid when two girls walked up and asked my name. I was like uh, uh, Samantha! My name is Samantha. The girls responded with a disinterested ‘Oh,’ and walked away.”

Christine laughs. “In L.A. if someone thinks you look familiar or expect it’s from TV--since after all, it is L.A.--they usually don’t say anything and in Georgia they just don’t expect they’ll know you from TV. I just look familiar. It’s so much more normal here.”

Christine explains why she’s the only “Step” kid to live away from L.A.: “My school’s here and our house is here. We just love it. It’s beautiful and safe.”

The Texas native lived in Maryland, Florida and Virginia before her family moved to Atlanta (mom Karen says they’re “corporate gypsies”)--all before she even began school. She started first grade at the Atlanta private school she still attends.

At 6, she had already tap danced in several states. Upon arrival in Atlanta, Karen Lakin, who acts as her daughter’s manager, enrolled her in tap, jazz and ballet. Then Christine saw a flyer advertising a “drama” class.

“I asked my mom what ‘drama’ was and she said, ‘It’s where you pretend to be characters in a story,’ and I decided I wanted to do that,” says the young actress. “She was reluctant, but I talked her into it.” The class led to auditions, which led to a series of both national and local commercials.

“It seemed like every time my mom or dad would say, ‘This may never happen again, so let’s try it. This could be your five minutes of fame,’ ” she says.

Those proverbial “five minutes” evolved into 10 years. Christine worked in theater--she was spotted at Georgia’s Callaway Gardens by a vacationing L.A. agent--and then appeared in the 1990 TNT production “The Rose and the Jackal” opposite Christopher Reeve, before landing a role on “Step” in 1991.

The only child says she’s got the best of two worlds--playing one of now seven children on the ABC sitcom and having her privacy at home. “We get along amazingly well, especially Angie [Angela Watson] and me. All of us can get on each other’s nerves, like brothers and sisters, but we’re very close.”

While Al began as the resident tomboy, “she’s more feminine now,” explains Christine. “She’s not a total Miss Priss, but still has an edge. She’s feisty and strong-willed.” She’s proud Al’s “a really good role model, since she’s straightforward and doesn’t back down.”

Al’s admirable qualities made their way into the actress’ life: “It helped me become more assertive, to tell people what I think and to voice my opinion.”

And what Christine thinks right now is that school’s essential. When “Step by Step” films--shooting began this week for its fifth season--she has an on-set tutor for three weeks. During the show’s “off week” she returns to school in Atlanta.

“My parents”--dad Jim’s in digital communications--”have really emphasized how important college is and I agree, so that’s my main priority,” she says. “I want a stable background, but I hope acting works out after that, because I just love it. It’s really a passion.”

“Step by Step” airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on ABC. For ages 6 and up.