Charlene Amoia connects with former cast members in ‘American Reunion’
Exclusive Interview by Michael Aaron Gallagher of StayFamous.Net
Actress Charlene Amoia
Audiences who have come to know actress Charlene Amoia for her role as “Wendy the Waitress” on the popular CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother,” now have a chance to see her on the big screen as the next movie in the “American Pie” franchise (called “American Reunion”) plays in theaters nationwide.
With a loveable, down-to-earth charm, Amoia (who plays Kevin’s wife Ellie in the film), was thrilled to share her story and talk about her new film, which unites an all-star cast that includes Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, Shannon Elizabeth and Eugene Levy.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Amoia moved with her father to Las Vegas when she was 15. She began modeling locally, at first filling in for a Nine West shoe model, and then eventually auditioning for a television commercial. But it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with acting.
“I knew that it was something that I really wanted to explore. There wasn’t anything at that point in my life that made me feel that excited,” Amoia said. “That was the very beginning for me and then I started taking a couple of acting classes and really fell in love with it. To this day, that has just not gone away. There’s nothing that I’ve learned or tried that has ever been so thrilling for me personally.”
The secret to her success in the business has been learning to say yes to almost any opportunity that comes along.
“When I moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t know a soul… I know a lot of actors will talk about ‘It’s who you know.’ And I do think that that’s true, but that’s just not the route I’ve had,” she said. “It’s just been about being passionate about what I do and the people that I meet through that and people seeing that work and that leading to more opportunities and then jobs.”
Although Hollywood can be a competitive place for actors, Amoia has learned that to be successful in the business, you have to also be comfortable with disappointment, an important lesson for other up-and-coming entertainers.
“I think the biggest thing is there’s going to be no’s – a lot of them and all the time.” Amoia said. “There’s going to be parts that your heart’s set on and it’s just not going to go your way.”
But in the end, she says, “The no’s don’t mean anything, you just have to look for the next yes.”
“American Reunion,” with actress Charlene Amoia is in theaters now.
Charlene Amoia connects with former cast members in ‘American Reunion’
Copyright 2012 by Michael Aaron Gallagher
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