TORONTO — It was 20 years ago today, or close to it, that Evan Rachel Wood was born, and the actress does not remember a time when the Beatles were not part of her life.

Her parents lived through the 1960s, when the Beatles redefined pop music. Wood grew up with the Beatles' "Rubber Soul," "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Yellow Submarine" albums.

She found a home movie of her first Christmas. The Beatles' "White Album" was playing in the background.

So Wood was well-steeped in the tunes when she won the lead in "Across the Universe," a musical romance set to Beatles songs that's scheduled to open in some cities Friday, a week after Wood turned 20.

"Nobody can touch the Beatles, and there's never going to be another band like them," Wood said in an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, where "Across the Universe" — and three other films featuring Wood — were playing.

"They came along at just the right time, and they really did change the world. To this day, they just seem so untouched and pure, like kids are before they're taught all these rules. They're just kind of open and open-minded and full of love, and that's just what the Beatles seemed like."

On the same day "Across the Universe" opens, Wood stars in "King of California," playing the wise-beyond-her-years teen daughter of a crackpot musician (Michael Douglas) on a quest to find lost treasure buried in the 'burbs of the nation's biggest state.

Both films played the Toronto festival along with the animated "Terra," in which Wood provides the voice of an alien girl whose world is threatened by an invasion of Earthlings, and "In Bloom," with Wood and Uma Thurman in a drama centered around a guilt-ridden survivor of a Columbine-like school shooting.

The rush of films follows an impressive transition toward adult roles for Wood, who started performing in stage musicals at age 4, co-starred in the family TV drama "Once and Again" and had a scorching breakthrough on the big-screen with the independent teen tale "thirteen."

"I think she's the best young actress out there," said "Across the Universe" director Julie Taymor. "Starting from 'thirteen' and moving on, everything she's done, she's been extraordinary in. Then to open up her mouth and sing. She sang 'If I Fell' in the audition, and you fell into her eyes. You fell into those extraordinary eyes."

Wood has found a musical partner in her private life in boyfriend Marilyn Manson. She clams up a bit when asked about him and his interest in the film.

"He's a big Julie Taymor fan, so he's just excited about the whole thing," Wood said. "He's been very supportive."