Even after rising to heartthrob status thanks to his role as Peeta Mellark in "The Hunger Games," Josh Hutcherson has stayed humble and level-headed. His key to not getting too caught up in the spotlight is simple, but effective.

"I think it's all about balance," he told Moviefone Contributing Editor Jessica Wedemeyer at this year's Comic-Con. "It's a world you can get really sucked into easily."

In addition to staying smart, he also reveals that he's got a great support system. "Thankfully, I had a great base around me: family and friends and co-workers who I can trust. So that keeps me on track. I blame my parents for how they raised me and the ideas they gave me and all that stuff."

When Hutcherson originally landed his breakout role, he didn't really know how big of a hit the movies would be. "I wasn't really aware of what I was getting myself into when I said yes [to making 'The Hunger Games']," he said. "I think it's really made me grow to learn that sometimes in life things are not really in your control. You have to learn to adapt and be happy and face the consequences -- these challenges -- with fervor and gumption and really just keep your way and keep your head on straight."

A big benefit of starring in such a franchise is making long-lasting friends and watching them grow and change right in front of your eyes. That includes Willow Shields, who plays the kid sister to Katniss Everdeen, Primrose, who Hutcherson said has changed the most since the first film came out in 2012.

"She's gone from being 10 to an adult now," he said. "It's pretty insane. She's so intelligent and well spoken and everything. But also I think all of us have gone through big changes -- Jen especially. She kind of came into the world and she got put on such an intense spotlight from this movie -- and that's a really big change to go through. But thankfully we had each other and we've gone through it together. That's made it easier, for sure."

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" hits theaters November 20th.