Cliché spoke with Charlene Amoia, actress and former model, about her past roles and future endeavors. This smart and talented actress has been featured in Glee, Castle, and Criminal Minds among other shows. Amoia has a recurring role on the hit show, How I Met Your Mother. Cliché was able to ask Amoia a few questions about her unique experiences, interests, and hopes for the future.
Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself and your career.
A: Hailing from Buffalo, NY, I fell in love with show business when my family relocated to Las Vegas and I began modeling.
Q: Where are you from/where do you live now?
A: I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York but moved to Las Vegas with my family when I was 15. So my roots are on the east coast although I’d say coming of age was in Vegas. I currently live in Los Angeles and plan to stay here for a while.
Q: How and why did you get into acting?
A: I was sent on an acting audition while I was doing some local modeling when I living in Las Vegas. That very first audition gave me such a high that I knew I had to explore it a little bit. The more I learned about acting the more I fell in love with it.
Q: What actors/actresses inspire you?
A: There are too many to name! Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp never cease to amaze me though. I love watching how courageous and nuanced all of there characters are.
Q: What is your favorite part about your role on “How I Met Your Mother”?
A: I love playing flawed characters. Wendy is so genuinely sweet and guileless to a point that she doesn’t realize she’s being taken advantage of. Being able to take on these characteristics in a way that is funny and harmless is always so much fun!
Q: How did you like working on the set of “Glee”?
A: Working on Glee was one of my favorite jobs because of the amazing children I got to work with that week. We shot a very moving episode where Sue Sylvester and Mr. Schuester came to the hospital I worked at. The group of kids that we worked with were such incredible souls. It was a truly enriching experience.
Q: What project do you think has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
A: It’s really hard to pick just one role as my favorite since I fall in love with every character I play. Most recently, I did a really great guest star on Fox’s new show The Finder that I am really proud of. That will be airing in April as well.
Q: Tell me about your upcoming movie “American Reunion”.
A: American Reunion is the American Pie franchise long awaited sequel. Now 10 years later the original cast is brought back to reunite at the high school where all our favorite memories took place. Only now we see who has changed and who has stayed the same and we get to meet all of the original characters significant others and see what kind of debauchery happens when everyone gets back together again. In the comedy American Reunion, all the American Pie characters we met a little more than a decade
Q: How would you describe your character, Ellie, on American Reunion?
A: Ellie is Kevin’s “bringing home the bacon” wife. She is sweet and devoted and loves that she and Kevin can enjoy watching reality TV shows and chick flicks together!
Q: What was it like working with the entire American Pie cast in the 4th movie of the series?
A: It was a little bit like be the new kid in high school. Except this high school was a super fun, raunchy, joke playing one. It was pretty much awesome, in every way possible.
Q: What would we be surprised to learn about you?
A: I can be pretty shy in large crowds although I am not at all in a one on one situation.
Q: What other interests do you have?
A: I love cooking, playing with my guitar and getting outdoors as much as possible.
Q: What do you hope to achieve in the future?
A: I hope to continue to work in this business for a long time. I love acting and directing and hope to create my own projects at some point too.
Be sure to watch Charlene Amoia as Ellie, Kevin’s wife, on “American Reunion” coming to theaters April 6th, 2012.
Photographer: Louie Aguila
Wardrobe Stylist: Stacy Ellen
Hair & Makeup: Jose Monzon
Wardrobe Credits:
Eva Franco Dress
