Most Magazine – Celebrity May-June'17 ISSUE NO.3 by Most Magazine

CONTENTS

M AY - j u n e 2 0 1 7

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Entrepreneur, Supermodel & E!’s WAGS

Nicole Williams WWE Superstar & E!’s Total Divas

CJ (Lana) Perry

22 Escondido Photographer: PATRICE BERCHERY 26

FOX’s Lucifer & Battlestar Galatica

Lifetime’s Dance Moms’ Choreographer

Creator and Designer of Stone Symbol Jewelry

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Tricia Helfer Gianna Martello

Doriana Richman

Mansion 50 Peacock Designer: VICTOR ROSSI

Stylist: MARCELA URIOSTE Makeup Artist: OWEN MICHAEL O’DONNELL Models: Rachel Alexandra, Jamie Bowersox & Anna Veshniak Photogragher: DCProStudio

Exclusive interview with

Viviana & Bruce Fabrizio founders of

Amore for Dogs 36

Author, Actress, Talk Show Host

Garcelle Beauvais

The Flash 82 CW’s Violett Beane

Netflix’s House of Cards

Lamont Easter

94 Alcôve Noire

Makeup & Hair: MARCELA URIOSTE Stylist: HELENE FRANCE

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CMT’s Sun Records

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Author

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Netflix’s Stranger Things

108

CMT’s Nashville

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CBC’s 21 Thunder

Jennifer Holland Ioana Lee Shannon Purser Isabella Amara Kevin Claydon

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CELEBRITY M A G A Z I N E ||

elcome back to another exciting issue of MOST Celebrity! We’re back with an issue jam-packed with stars from all corners of the globe. This month you’ll see some of the most recognizable stars and we’ll introduce you to new trailblazers you’ll want to keep your eyes on.

Calling all Battlestar Galatica fans! Sharing the cover this month is Tricia Helfer. Tricia currently stars in FOX’s hit show Lucifer but we could not help asking about her time on the show that launched her career. Tricia spoke to MOST about her journey to the small screen and making a successful career for herself.

CJ Perry is an actress, dancer, model and singer. That’s got to be enough right? Wrong. CJ is also signed to WWE as a professional wrestler under the ring name Lana. MOST caught with CJ between projects and learned she working to launch her own YouTube channel focusing on fashion, beauty, fitness and lifestyle.

Vivianna and Bruce Fabrizio took the time to talk to us about their love of dogs and how they have dedicated so much of themselves to love and support dogs and rescues that keep them safe. Their organization, Amore for Dogs, they raise money to donate to causes that benefit dogs.

For all you dancers out there, we got the treat of speaking with Gianna Martello, resident choreographer on Lifetime’s Dance Moms. Gianna spoke to our writers about creating inspiration and crafting new dance for the girls on the show. At fourteen years old, Nicole Williams started her career in Toronto. This talented model is also the star of E!’s WAGS and is engaged to former NFL player Larry English. MOST chatted with the striking beauty upon her return from her incredible bachelorette celebration in Hawaii. MOST was thrilled to speak with co-host of the hit talk show Hollywood Today Live, Garcelle Beauvais. With a career most actors dream of reaching, Garcelle has nearly done it all. An author, actress and now talk show host, Garcelle has an electric energy. Whether she’s interviews fellow stars in Los Angeles or jetting off to Georgia to film the new Spider-man movie Garcelle stays humble through it all. We are honored to have Garcelle on this issue’s cover.

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Rounding out this jam-packed issue are stars that are jam-packed with talent. Shannon Purser burst onto the scene last year with her scene stealing, fan-favorite role of “Barb” on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. Kevin Claydon spoke with MOST about starring in the highlyanticipated CBC drama 21 Thunder. Lamont Easter holds a successful run on the Netflix original series House of Cards. Doriana Richman is the Founder and CEO of Stone Symbol Jewelry, a line of elegant pieces emblazed with a rich and ancient history. Jennifer Holland stars in the leading role of CMT’s series Sun Records which tells the story of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. Violett Beane stars as Jesse Quick in CW’s The Flash. We’re truly honored to share so many stars with our readers this issue. A big thank you to all of our readers that are back with us.

Managing Editor & Associate Publisher

Publisher:

MOST Media Group LLC Publisher & Editor in Chief:

Cameron Habashian

Managing Editor & Associate Publisher:

Kelly Price

Managing Editor:

Darcy Tharp Director of Photography:

Kim Mizuno

Fashion Creative Art Director:

Frank Berlin

Director of IT & Creative Solutions:

Rajiv Ghangrekar

Associate Director of Fashion:

Helene France Social Media Marketing Manager:

Brian Price Social Media Strategists:

Chahat Sharma Edna Jones Marissa Poe Mayelee Watts Editors/Proof Readers:

Jenna Belt Ben Donnelly Marrisa Poe Mayelee Watts

Art Director:

Miriam Jave

Associate Managing Editor & Art Director:

Jenna Belt

Travel & Leisure Associate Director:

Natalya Anderson

Culture & Lifestyle Development Manager:

Melissa Wilson

Contributing Hair/Makeup Associate:

Marcela Urioste Rachelle Dalton

Contribution Writers

Darcy Tharp Jenna Belt Sabina Bloom Mia Hansen Marissa Poe Michelle Prescott Brian Price Elizabeth Price Denise Smith Austin Thomson Kia Vang Lilly Wilner

You will find related information to this and previous issues by following us at:

Most Magazine

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E n t r e p r e n e u r , S u p e r m o d e l & WA G S O N E !

Nicole Williams Twitter: @JusttNic | Instagram: @JusttNic

B y : K e l ly P r i c e

t fourteen years old, Nicole Williams started her career in Toronto. This talented model is also the star of E!’s WAGS and is engaged to former NFL player Larry English. MOST chatted with the striking beauty upon her return from her incredible bachelorette celebration in Hawaii. Her career and ambitions stretch beyond her work as a reality TV star. With a most instinctual creative gene, she is involved with and started several business projects. Nicole has collaborated with top Australian beauty line BodyBlendz to create several unique products including a Signature Collection, all under the moniker, NicoleXBlendz. This summer, Nicole will release her new swimwear line Nia Lynn and her own jewelry line, Nia Lynn Jewels. Displaying the strength and love of the women in her family, she has named her swim line Nia Lynn as a combination of her, her mom’s, and her niece’s names. Follow Nicole and all of her exciting adventures on Instagram @justtnic and tune into E! to see Nicole on WAGS.

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Photo Credit:

ACE AMIR w w w. a c e a m i r . c o m

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CELEBRITY M A G A Z I N E ||

You’re from Toronto, how did you end up in the states?

I was born in Newfoundland and my family moved to Toronto. When I was 14, I signed with modeling company, Next. I then moved to NY by myself, and stayed at a fellow model’s apartment until I established myself so that I could get my own apartment. I would go back and forth to Toronto, but I was living on my own in NY as a young teenager. It was common to send young models to Taipei and Barcelona to learn about modeling and to gain international experience. When I was 16, I went alone to both places. By my 6th year of modeling, I started getting calls to work in Los Angeles. I ended up moving to LA. I’ve been traveling my whole life, it’s nothing new to me Do you have siblings?

Yes, I have two younger brothers, Brad and Gord. They live in Toronto. Brad lives with my mom and Gord lives with his fiancé and three children, one girl and two boys. I get to see them quite frequently. My mom and Brad were just visiting me and I try to get back to Toronto often to see them all. Clearly your mom is most important in your life. What makes her so important to you?

My mom is the reason I am where I am today; she’s always been pushing me. I grew up in Newfoundland, a really small place on the East Coast and a place not many people leave. My mom noticed I wanted to do bigger things, model and act; I was always performing for her and her friends. She felt she needed to give me a chance. I explained to her there weren’t many opportunities for me to model or act in Newfoundland. She sold her house, packed up the car and drove to Toronto to give me opportunities. She didn’t want us to feel trapped, and wanted to make sure we had opportunities to chase our dreams. My parents separated when I was 13 and my dad moved to Vancouver. We had some family in Toronto that helped us settle. The first week we were in Toronto I signed with Next, and they are the ones who sent me to Taipei

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and Barcelona; giving me a lot of exposure through international magazines, and allowed me to get acquainted to the business. It was that experience that taught me to become more independent. I did so many things when I was very young, and felt I accomplished everything I could in Canada, so I wanted to branch out to the U.S. When I had the opportunity to come to America, I went to NYC, fell in love with the city, and ended up staying for six years. I got my working visa and everything I needed to live in the U.S. From there, I did some of my biggest campaigns, Nike, NY & Co., BeBe, etc. I realized LA has more commercial work - a lot of money with commercials. In LA is where I shot my two Old Navy commercials - one with Amy Poehler and one with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, both were speaking roles and I loved it. Those incredible opportunities eventually gave me another incredible opportunity, and that’s how I landed on WAGS. You have a diverse career. From TV, modeling, swimwear and jewelry designer, when/where/how do you get your most inspired ideas?

My mom was a seamstress, and she’s always been my inspiration since I was young. I’m also inspired by the designers I’ve modeled for; campaign shoots, and other projects. For example, I’ve worked on Avon campaigns, and I get ideas for other beauty products that I would like to design. What is the most difficult/unique thing you’ve ever sewn?

I once made myself a pink velour tracksuit. It had zippers, pockets, and I embroidered my nick-name on the back, Barbie. They’re becoming popular again, and I wish I still had it. What kind of sewing machine do you use?

I have a Singer. My mom got me a new one which does embroidery, and I’m still figuring out how to use it. What is the process of actually designing an item of clothing, swimsuit in this instance?

You have to know what people want, and you have to have an eye for fashion. I see things on the runways at Paris Fashion Week, designs that maybe aren’t “in” right now but will be. I hold onto those ideas, and eventually they end up in my designs. I focus on how clothes fit, so it’s important to know what makes a woman’s body look stunning. I have a lot of experience modeling swimwear, so it felt natural for me to design a swimwear line to start. Nia Lynn will have a variety of fits for all different body types, some more modest and some that will emphasize different parts of the woman’s body. I’ve been at it for a year and a half; and it has to be perfect. I won’t be happy unless it’s absolutely perfect. The material has to be amazing, the suit has to suck in where it is supposed to suck in. Every detail has to be perfect. When will your line be on the market?

I am working towards this summer. Fingers crossed for June.

Photo Credit:

ACE AMIR w w w. a c e a m i r . c o m

Photo Credit:

ACE AMIR w w w. a c e a m i r . c o m

Tell me about your jewelry line.

It is with Seven50. I have filmed a lot of the campaign for the jewelry line to be shown on WAGS. I teamed up with Seven50 and made my own collection of rose gold and yellow gold pieces with diamonds; it is high-end jewelry. My collection will be named Nia Lynn Jewels, and is launching in May. There are dainty pieces, thin chokers, and everyday jewelry like body chains and ring chains. Everything is very thin, not too heavy, barelythere jewelry. There will also be high-end jewelry; a ring of all diamonds - going out jewelry. Everything else is for your everyday, with a hint of diamonds here and there. How long have you had such a strong passion for animals? How did you get involved with PETA?

My mom is a huge animal fan. I had every kind of animal growing up. I don’t kill anything, not even flies. As I got older and had my own ideas and choices, I quit eating meat. That was a strong belief I had. An animal should not have to die for me to eat. I am now 100% vegetarian, almost full vegan. I’ve also been eliminating all leather from my wardrobe. I have 2 French bulldogs, and they are my babies; they will be in my wedding. I’m so crazy about animals. I will approach a homeless person who has a dog and offer to help the dog. I’ve done it a million times. My fiancé thinks I’m crazy. I feel like I’m the animal whisperer. I’ll do anything for an animal and I’ve always wanted to do a PETA campaign. Finally I got the opportunity, and it a dream come true. The anti-leather campaign was difficult for me because I had so many things were made of leather. PETA has helped me make a gradual change in my wardrobe, removing leather pieces one step at a time. How were the bachelorette festivities? Any embarrassing photos?

We had paparazzi follow us everywhere in Hawaii, non-stop. We had a blast, and it was really a beautiful and fun trip. We were trying to do our girl thing, but the paparazzi were always there. All of us 14 girls still managed to have an incredible time though. We lounged on the beach, swam with sea turtles, and stayed in a penthouse. I also got horribly sunburnt, but other than that it was an amazing trip. What does Larry love about you?

I’d like to know! I know that he loves that I love animals. He says a person that loves animals is always an amazing person. He likes that I am an honest and caring person to my friends. He sees the good in me, and that I am thoughtful of other people. He also loves that I am hard working

about everything, I don’t even drive a car because I’ve always had a fear of driving. I am worrisome and he’s not crazy about that. Do you have Larry’s name tattooed on you?

Yes, I do. I tattooed his name first, when I was getting another tattoo done. I have an infinity sign on the left side of my ribs, and I added Larry with the infinity. Do you have a wedding date?

What is he not so much a fan of about you?

Well he hates that I eat late because he doesn’t have a fast metabolism like I do. I also have anxiety

May 19, 2017

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Photo Credit:

ACE AMIR w w w. a c e a m i r . c o m

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CJ (Lana) perry W W E S u p e r s t a r & S t a r o f T o t a l D i va s

Instagram @thelanawwe Twitter @lanawwe Snapchat @thelanawwe Facebook: Lana- WWE

CJ is an American actress, dancer, model, and singer. She is also currently signed to WWE as a professional wrestler under the ring name Lana. As the manager of her husband, professional wrestler, Rusev, CJ rose to prominence on WWE’s popular Monday Night Raw with over 40-million views each week. CJ also stars in E’s hit show Total Divas. Outside of the arena, she has also made cameos in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2. Currently, CJ is in the process of launching her own YouTube channel, focusing on fashion, beauty, fitness and lifestyle. She is also excited about many upcoming acting projects in the works. CJ was recently nominated in the “Best Actress” category for the 2017 NICE International Filmmaker Festival for her work in her 2016 film, Soul. MOST Celebrity had an opportunity to interview CJ and ask her a few questions.

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What motivates you every day to keep pushing to be better, especially in your industry when you already considered in most people’s mind as a “perfect body and health”?

My motivation is being better than I was yesterday. I am extremely competitive, and I’ve finally made peace with myself that there will always be someone prettier, smarter, stronger, faster, younger, wiser & better than me, so I compete against myself. Can I lift a little heavier than yesterday? Can I educate my mind & learn something new every day? Can I love myself in midst of a judgmental society & be grateful for all my circumstances? These are the things that motivate me. Best advice for aspiring WWE Superstars?

Work harder than everyone else, be grateful, stay true to yourself, listen, be creative, try new things, be courageous, be resilient and follow your own path no matter what people think. How did reality TV impact you’re relationship? Do you miss your privacy?

I’m an open book. I have always been known for my unfiltered honesty. I wanted to share with people my life because we are all imperfect, but it is what we do with our flaws and failures that will determine the life that we live. If I can help encourage one person that is watching Total Divas that they are not alone, I feel it is worth all the failures & sacrifices I have made in life. What’s the most dramatic thing that you experienced on Total Divas set, last season?

You grew up in an American Christian missionary family in Russia, tell us about your family and how they influence your career?

My Dad has told me the sky was the limit for my entire life. He said that if I work hard and have a positive attitude, I can be anything I want to be. I had learning disabilities and I couldn’t read until I was 9 years old. My mom would encourage me to keep trying to read even if I could only read kindergarten books -- she would say it is never too late to learn and one day I will be able to read. Sure enough, at 9 years old I started to read books that kids my age were reading. Still to this day, I read slower than most people, but I have learned to not compare myself to others because I am on my own journey. These values and ideas instilled discipline and made me resilient. In my career, whenever there have been set backs, I always remind myself that the slow and steady wins the race. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. 18 ||

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Definitely the Bulgarian wedding! You will have to tune in for the episode. It got really dramatic -- I almost left Bulgaria and didn’t show up to the wedding. What makes you truly enjoy being a main cast member of Total Divas?

I enjoy being around empowered women that are changing the course of history. Total Divas returns this spring, what could your die heart fan look forward to this season?

It returns April 5th! You will see it all! You will see the WWE draft, me being torn away from my closest friends, laughter, tears, break ups, Nikki Bella trying to overcome neck surgery. You will also see my second wedding to the same man, lots of Bulgarian traditions, the girls failing their wellness policy, dance battles, prom, debuts and me training and fighting for my opportunity to wrestle.

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Who’s your best friend in the show?

Future projects/plans that you are working on or have coming up?

Trinity & Nattie. Trinity is the sweetest soul and dance has always bonded our hearts together, even though I might have challenged her to a dance off to prove that I was the better dancer, haha. Nattie is like my older sister that drives me crazy, but I love her so much. I always go to her for advice, and sometimes I don’t like what she has to say about issues, but we need people in our lives that will be honest with us even when it hurts. It’s the only way we can continue to grow as human beings and become better versions of ourselves.

I was nominated for Best Actress in the Independent movie Soul, at NICE Film Festival, which is coming up in May. This past year, I produced and starred in my first feature film, ‘Other Version of You.’ I’m also gearing up to release my YouTube channel, but most importantly I’m training for when the time is right for me to shake things up in the women’s division and go after the ‘WWE Women’s Championship.’

Best pump-up/workout music?

I have to be honest -- I usually listen to audio books when I work out. I just constantly love to educate my mind. I have been on a big reggae and Bob Marley kick lately. It puts me in a loving place. Guilty pleasures?

Justin Bieber music, Louis Vuitton and Mexican food.

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Make sure you follow me on my social platforms to see what’s next in my journey with my #LanaSquad

Instagram @thelanawwe Twitter @lanawwe Snapchat @thelanawwe Facebook: Lana- WWE

Photo Credit:

Mario Barberio w w w. m a r i o b a r b e r i o . c o m I n s ta g r a m : m a r i o b a r b e r i o p h o t o s T h e wa r d r o b e s t y l i s t :

Cherie Kilchrist I n s ta g r a m : @ c h e r i e m k i l c h r i s t h t t p : / / i n s ta g r a m . c o m / c h e r i e m k i l c h r i s t Hair & make up stylist:

E i l e e n S a n d o va l I n s t a g r a m : @ h o n e y b e i l e e nÂ h t t p : / / i n s ta g r a m . c o m / h o n e y b e i l e e n

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PHOTOGRAPHER :

patrice berchery

www.patrice-berchery-photographe.com model :

HETTIELY BECK : mua :

L A TA L E N T / L A M O D E L S

AGENCY BRAZIL

Special Thanks to:

Brad , Maia , Christian Audiger , Mailin 22 ||

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l e f t pa g e :

Jeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Short: Levies Strauss Bottes: Zara Chapeau: Stefanel Lunettes: Oliver Poeple

rigth:

Pantalon: Luc Duchene Shoes: Aara Ceinture: HM HEAD PEACE:C.Audigier Gift

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bot tom top :

Short: Levies Shoes: Bershka Gilet: Melrose Market Lunettes: Oliver People bot tom left :

Robe: Guatemala Vintage Top: Sabine des Brumes bot tom right :

T-shirt: Diesel Robe Vintage: Gloria S Chapeau: Stefanel Top: Sabine de Brumes

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top and left image :

Robe: Bershka Shoes: bershka Lunettes: Oliver People

PHOTOGRAPHER :

patriceberchery www.MOST mag.com ||

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top :

Robe: Black Pearl Boots: Minnetonka Lunettes: Oliver People right :

T-shirt: Diesel Robe: Zara Boots: Minnetonka Lunettes: Oliver People

PHOTOGRAPHER :

patriceberchery 26 ||

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FOX’s Lucifer & Battlestar Galatica

Tricia Helfer www.triciahelfer.com www.twitter.com/trutriciahelfer www.instagram.com/officialtriciahelfer www.facebook.com/officialtriciahelfer

By:

Brian Price

nce you’ve played a robot, serial killer and a Texas Ranger you’d think what could possible by next. Tricia Helfer, an actress hailing from Alberta, has a new project that blows the rest out of the water. Fans who recognize Tricia from Battlestar Galactica are sure to love her new show. Tricia’s latest roll is hell, literally. She plays Charlotte Richards (Mum), the Goddess of Creation and mother to Lucifer. FOX’s sophomore show is based heavily on the comic book of the same name but makes creative jumps; like Tricia’s character, one not found in the comic. If you thought your family had drama, try this one on for size. “Dad sent Mom down to hell and for millennia she’s been stuck down there,” Tricia explains. It’s not all revenge and villainy. Charlotte’s escape to the surface brings a new beginning, an opportunity to connect with her boys and make up for lost time. The character is complex, a well-crafted and deeply complex individual Tricia attributes to the hard work of the show’s writing staff. Charlotte’s journey toward www.MOST mag.com ||

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redemption is rocky and complex, but aren’t all the great characters we love to watch? Tricia joined Lucifer as a series regular in time for the show’s second season. No stranger to coming onto a project already in development, Tricia transition could not have gone better, but that has not been the case before. “I had a bad experience once, where the cast were much more into their egos and they didn’t want a new actor coming in taking screen time away from them,” she recalled. “Everyone from the Lucifer cast crew, crew, writers, producers and execs are a team that just really enjoy what they do and are supportive human beings.” Lucifer went into its winter break with an emotionally rich episode that shook viewers. Charlotte and Lucifer made trips back down to hell, risking their chance to return to the surface in the process. After that winter finale, the closing of season two promises an “explosive” ending. “There has been a lot building for Mum and her boys, and there certainly is a culmination of all that tension and excitement that builds over the last 5 episodes left to air this season.” Tricia would (could) not offer up any more spoilers for the ending. If the last few episodes live up to what the show has delivered so far, we are sure it will not be a finale to miss. It’s been nearly 14 years since Battlestar Galactica (BSG) sparked a world-wide phenomenon. Nearly ten years have passed since the show went off the air, and yet it continues to grow in popularity. This summer the cast will reunite for a special appearance at the ATX Television Festival hosted by Entertainment Weekly. Yes, Tricia will be in appearance. Reunions make us reflective. Looking fondly back on the days BSG was still on the air, we asked Tricia about the biggest lesson from working on the show that sticks with her today. “That I love what I do and I want and should always keep learning and growing. And that a show works best when there is support of each other and a collaborative mind set.” Tricia joined BSG early in her career. She had only been acting for one year when she booked her role on the show. In an era before social media ruled our lives and shows were judged on how they trended, it could be difficult to judge the success of a show. But once Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide started taking notice of the science-fiction darling, Tricia knew they had something special. Many years later, and probably too many comic cons to count, that could not be more true. 30 ||

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Man f r e d B auman n w w w. m a n f r e d b a u m a n n . c o m

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DANCE MOMSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gianna Martello www.twitter.com/giaabella www.instagram.com/gmartello22

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By: D e n i s e S m i t h

or Gianna Martello, dancing is her happy place. A resident choreographer on Lifetime’s Dance Moms from an early age, she has been instrumental in creating some of the shows finest dance moments. Hailing from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, surrounded by a family of dancers, it should come as no surprise that dance would play such a pivotal role in the young performer’s life. With a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations from Point Park University, Gianna is more than willing to lend a hand with advertising and social media marketing but her truest passion lies in creating something extraordinary for her students. Most Celebrity spoke to the seasoned talent about some of her personal dance favorites and what inspires her. From creating each new piece to navigating the high standards that the viewers have come to expect, Gianna is always on the move when the rhythm takes hold. A true dancer at heart who will surely leave you all feeling…well, happy. Tell us about life growing up in Pennsylvania, the birth place of the Declaration of Independence. What city are you from and what did you love most about growing up there?

I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. As a kid I always thought it was boring but once I grew up I realized I loved it. It’s just enough. Not too big, not too small. My entire family still resides there and it will always be home, no matter where I go. Photo Credit:

R ya n W e s t | w w w. r ya n w e s t p h o t o . c o m

A dancer since the age of four, were there any other activities you were involved as a child/young adult?

I swam and tried gymnastics but nothing compared to dance. I never played sports. I even stopped taking gym class in high school because I couldn’t be injured for dance competitions. It is one thing to follow the steps of a set routine and an entirely different skill set to create the steps. Surrounded by all those dancers in your family, how have they shaped your style and creativity on the dance floor?

My mom could be an artist and my dad is a drummer so I think my creativity and my musicality comes from them. Basically everyone in my family took dance lessons at some point in their lives, so there you have it! My passion for choreography probably came from Abby, who trained me for almost my entire life. I used to assist her when she choreographed. I used to sit at my computer desk and make up routines without even getting up out of the chair, I just had to hear the music! www.MOST mag.com ||

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Photo Credit:

R ya n W e s t w w w. r ya n w e s t p h o t o . c o m

Did you ever think for a moment that you might pursue a

Walk us through the process of creating a new dance. Does it

different profession?

start with the dancer, the music or a subject?

I went to school for advertising and public relations, and I love creating in Photoshop. For a minute in college, I thought I could pursue that ... then I interned and had to sit at a desk all day… let’s just say, I can’t sit still at a desk all day!

On “Dance Moms” it starts with a subject, then the music, and then finally the dancers. Outside of the show I usually search around for music in my free time. When a song strikes me and I start moving to it, I just know I have to create something with it.

you hold a BA in Advertising and Public Relations from Point Park University. What drew you to this field? How has your degree benefited you in your chosen career path?

Known as the nice teacher at the Abby Lee Dance Company, your style and technique differ drastically from Ms. Abby. How has this approach served your students and the finished product?

The girl that lived next door to me in college, who still happens to be one of my best friends, was majoring in that. I used to watch her create and do her work. About halfway through freshman year I thought I would like to try it so I switched my major. I don’t currently use my degree on “Dance Moms”, but I do help out the dance studio with their advertising and social media marketing.

I actually grew up dancing for Abby and started working alongside her when I was 16. I definitely have many of the teaching techniques she does. My classes and choreography reflect everything she has taught me, just with a little bit of my spin on it. I think because I’m younger and grew up just like these girls — on a competition team — they can relate to me. I know what works for them and what they look good doing.

Having choreographed so many lovely pieces, where does the inspiration come from? How do you navigate the pressures of sustaining such creativity?

What are some of your favorite dance numbers — whether it be in film, stage or television?

Anything! Everyday events, movies, pictures, even shopping. I could walk into a store and see a dress and just know it has to be used for a piece. It’s definitely hard to create when you have so many people watching and judging your work but knowing that I love what I do, and so do the kids, is what makes it worth it.

Some of my favorite numbers I’ve done are definitely 2 of the group routines from Season 7: Six Feet Underneath and Blush & Bashful. My favorite “So You Think You Can Dance” moment was ‘The Bench’ routine by Mia Michaels. Definitely a few seasons ago, but will always be my absolute favorite.

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Who inspires you? Can you name some of the dancers you admire and what it is about their particular style of dance that moves you?

A lot of dancers inspire me. I trained and choreographed for Maddie Ziegler since she started to dance. I would give her a phrase and she would execute it in class as if she was performing to an entire theatre. She would perform my choreography better than I would have ever imagined… that’s really inspiring. Do you think dance is instinctual or can it be learned through study? Is it nature, nurture or a bit of both?

I think dance steps and combos can be learned, but I think you either have musicality or you don’t. You can improve your turnout, your feet, your strength and your flexibility. Your ability to interpret the music and perform is born in you. What’s would be the dream piece/work for you to choreograph?

Choreographing on a TV show every week was definitely a dream come true. A movie, a Broadway show, a tour. All of it!

Finish this sentence… Dancing is__my

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Founder and CEO of Stone Symbol Jewelry

Doriana Richman www.stonesymbol.com www.instagram.com/stonesymboljewelry/ www.facebook.com/stonesymbol twitter.com/StoneSymbol www.pinterest.com/stonesymbol www.twitter.com/shannonpurser

B y : K e l ly P r i c e

“I am all about unity” I had the opportunity to talk with the delightful Doriana Richman. Ms. Richman was born to Italian parents in Vancouver Canada and lives the American Dream in Malibu California. When asked which of the three countries most describes her personality, she said, “I am 100% Italian, definitely.” Does she cook? Yes, she does cook, but says she prefers people to cook for her. She and her husband of 22 years, Roger, have two children, and three dogs, the American Dream. She stammered a bit when I asked her to describe her husband. She finally nailed it. “He is an incredible example of what it is to be a good person.” Both of her children share her passions, her son is in the family business with mad motorcycle skills. Her daughter has a beautiful equestrian talent, like her mother. When Doriana speaks of parents, her tone changes and her voice becomes full of emotion. Her parents’ love story clearly has made an impression on Ms. Richman’s heart and life perspective. When I asked her to tell me more about her parents, she said, “Do you have time for this?” It was obvious at this point this story was deeply personal to her and a story she was proud to share. Oh, had time! She had my interest and I was intent on hearing her parents’ story.

She describes her mom, Maria Di Giovanni, and dad, Mauro Di Campli, as the most amazing people she has ever known. Her father came from a wealthy family who had success with their vineyard business. Mr. Di Campli also had a love of cars and motorcycles and actually raced motorcycles, living life full out. Mother Maria, an industrious, creative, independent woman, had a greater impact on her life than anyone else. Ms. Richman’s creativity could easily have come from her mother, who was a designer, pattern maker and seamstress. In Italy, her parents secretly started seeing each other. At that time society and her family’s heritage had very conservative views on dating. Her father never committed 100% to the relationship. When her mom got the opportunity to go to Canada, she took it. She boarded a passenger liner to Canada, then rode the train from Halifax to Vancouver. Once at her new hometown, she began working as a seamstress and pattern maker. Her parents wrote to each other, yet while in Vancouver another man proposed to her mom. When her dad found out, though he was still in Italy, he took Maria’s sister to the church and married Maria by proxy! When he finally went to Vancouver to be with his new wife, he loved it as much as his wife and they never left. He continues to love the outdoor life that Vancouver offers, he is an avid sportsman and big hockey fan: Canadian through and through.

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It is hard to look at Ms. Richman’s life and not see the influence of her parents. Doriana and her husband Roger are co-owners of LA Motorsports which provides premier stunt drivers and coordinators to the advertising and entertainment industries. As a stunt driver herself it seems she may have a bit of a rough and tumble sort of career. She absolutely loves her work and she especially enjoys the talent and camaraderie of her co-workers at LA MotorSports. I am sure her dad enjoys and is proud of her work, and may even take some credit for her passion for driving. Ms. Richman is a slim beautiful woman and by appearance does not have a rough and tumble feel about her. It is much easier to envision her at her new company, Stone Symbol, a line of elegant jewelry. She has discovered a passion and satisfaction in her new company, which causes her to reflect with clarity that she has found her place. Stone Symbol is a fit for her from a business and spiritual perspective. Stone Symbol germinated when Doriana visited the ancient Greek City of Ephesus in Turkey. A special tour guide, Figen, changed Ms. Richman’s life by telling her the history of Ephesus. As Figen pointed out an ancient symbol along their route, Doriana says she felt like she was struck by lightning. She felt an immediate connection between the symbol and its meaning. It was as if this symbol, a six pointed star within a circle, represented the same basis which her own heart operated upon. Historically this ancient symbol acted as bread crumb for followers of early Christianity. It was a symbol to the early Christians that there were fellow believers among them. It became a symbol of unity over 2000 years ago, and to Ms. Richman it has the same meaning today. Doriana was so transfixed by the symbol and its meaning, it created a friendship between her and Figen that continues today. Figen changed Doriana’s life. Doriana re-creates the symbol in her jewelry line. Her intent is to reproduce the symbol with authenticity; it bears the burnished look of time in a multiple colors of gold and in sterling silver. She wants someone to be able to wear a color that compliments his/her skin tone. The motto on her website, www.stonesymbol.com is: “Unifying Our Collective Hearts”. This is perfect description of the history of the symbol and the warm Doriana Richman. Her warmth extends to affection for animals. Since childhood, Doriana has had an unwavering love and protection for animals. She is vested in the well-being and security of all animals, especially dogs and horses. She believes that we as humans should speak out and be the voice for those who cannot fend for themselves. She has pledged to never be silent in the face of abuse and exploitation of animals. As a result, 10% of merchandise sold through stonesymbol.com will be donated to the Beagle Freedom Project, and Physicians Committee. The Beagle Freedom Project is a leader in global animal rescue and advocacy. Physicians Committee has been working for an alternative to the use of animals in medical education and research.

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P a u l P a p a n e k | w w w. p a u l p a p a n e k . c o m

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Unique luxury Jewelry offering a Spiritual Significance. Exquisitely hand crafted in yellow, white and rose gold or sterling silver with unparalleled craftsmanship and commitment to detail. Proudly made in the USA. Please visit our website for more information.

Stone Symbol - Unifying oUr ColleCtive HeartS www.stonesymbol.com

PHOTOGRAPHER :

DCProStudio Designer:

Victor Rossi

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Marcela Urioste

Hair Stylist:

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Makeup Products:

FOM

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Makeup Artist:

Owen Michael Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell w w w. i n s ta g r a m .c o m / o w e n m i c h a e l o d o n n e l l w w w. fa c e b o o k .c o m / o w e n m i c h a e l .o d o n n e l l Models:

Rachel Alexandra, Jamie Bowersox & Anna Veshniak S t y l i n g A s s i s ta n t s :

Aleksandra Patykowska Kameer Bacchus Hannah Pepus L o c at i o n :

Peacock Mansion, VA

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P H O T O G R A P H E R : DCProStudio Designer: Hair Stylist:

Victor Rossi

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Marcela Urioste

Makeup Products:

FOM

M a k e u p A r t i s t : Owen

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| w w w. f o m w o r l d.c o m

Michael Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell

www.instagram.com/owenmichaelodonnell | www.facebook.com/owenmichael.odonnell Models:

Rachel Alexandra, Jamie Bowersox & Anna Veshniak S t y l i n g A s s i s ta n t s :

Aleksandra Patykowska, Kameer Bacchus, Hannah Pepus L o c at i o n :

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Peacock Mansion, VA

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Exclusive interview with

viviana&bruce Fabrizio founders of non-profit foundation

www.amorefordogs.com www.facebook.com/Amore-for-dogs-760944867266526/ www.facebook.com/viviana.soldano www.simplegreen.com

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Article Credit:

Darcy Tharp

“Everything’s gonna be all right!” And that is thanks to Viviana and Bruce FaBrizio for using their unique backgrounds and expertise combined with their passion for helping animals and wildlife to establish the non-profit foundation, Amore for Dogs. Born out of her love for her Bichon Frise, Amore, who she had for 14 years, celebrity and fitness model, Viviana, knew she was meant to try to save as many dogs as she could. Together with her husband Bruce, the founder and CEO of Simple Green who started EGBAR (everything’s gonna be all right) his foundation for protecting the environment and wildlife, it was only natural that they would create something to help the most important animal in their lives-dogs. “It feels like an extension of everything I’ve ever done with the EGBAR foundation, and Viviana truly does an excellent job of being hands on from the beginning to the end,” says Bruce. In an ingenious move, Viviana has managed to incorporate her skills as a model, her contacts in the industry, and her creativity above all else, to raise money and awareness to make a real difference in the lives of rescue dogs. Unlike any other dog foundation, Amore for Dogs is unparalleled in its vision of how to educate the public and accomplish its mission. Setting up photo shoots, publishing calendars, exhibiting at events, running fundraisers, and with numerous new projects and ideas springing to life, Viviana is mapping out a better life for dogs everywhere. With Bruce by her side, bringing his own brand of inventiveness to the table drawing from his experience with his company and foundation and his lifelong love for dogs, they make an unstoppable couple. In a rare interview, MOST Magazine sat down with the couple to hear firsthand how Bruce’s personal philosophy is changing the world, how Viviana is taking it to the next level, and what’s on the horizon for the FaBrizios this coming year.

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Q&A:Viviana What events and life experiences motivated you to start

What advice do you have for people who want to adopt or

this organization?

rescue a dog?

I started Amore for Dogs with my husband a few years ago. I have always loved dogs, and I had a Bichon Frise for 14 years; she was my baby, the love of my life, and her name was Amore. She was with me every day and night, traveled everywhere, and was always there for me. After she passed, I missed her terribly, and my life changed without her. Once she was gone, I started rescuing dogs, and it was like she was guiding me and telling me what to do from Heaven, so I decided to start this foundation and try to save as many dogs as I could. I raise as much money as I can and donate it to shelters and rescues around the world. I named the foundation after her, AMORE FOR DOGS, which means “love for dogs” in Italian.

I would say to go to the shelters and see them in person. Sometimes shelters mistreat the animals, and some are clean and some are not so clean. And so then a lot of people go to the rescues, but adopting through a rescue is very difficult because they often give pages and pages to read and sign, making it almost impossible to adopt a dog. I have tried to help a few people get dogs and make phone calls, and I have seen firsthand how difficult it can be. Most have waiting lists, and they also have their favorites so on Saturday and Sunday when they go to the stores they just bring a few of their favorite dogs to showcase for people to choose; it’s like politics.

Tell us about the rescues you support?

I have narrowed it down to a few that I support because I had an unfortunate experience with one of the shelters in the past where I was donating without checking, and I learned my lesson. I am now more diligent in who I deal with and who I spend my time with as a volunteer. Waggin’ Trails is one of the main rescues I support, and the owner and I have become friends and partners. I go with her and pull out the dogs from the shelters and she sends all the dogs out of state, hence the name of her rescue, and some go to Canada, some go to Oregon, etc. They go to either families that are ready to adopt, foster families, or rescues that are organized and trustworthy. I know where the money goes and how everything is handled. There is also another shelter about 20 mins from our house, near the beach, which is a non-kill shelter, that I also work with. Again, I know the owner, and I like the way they run their shelter. What plans do you have to make an impact on society this year?

My goal is to educate more through media, my photos and some of the modeling, shows and events that I do. I use every tool I have and all my powers to raise money, make good contacts, and learn as much as I can to then educate people about the animal world. People truly don’t understand how shelters and rescues work, and they often can’t handle the dog they adopt because they did not receive any education or were not taught how to train their new dogs. There is a lot going on in these rescues and shelters that the public doesn’t know, so I want to help people better understand.

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Rescue shelters need to have more contacts or friendly ways to get in touch with the public, and I suggest that people should research non-kill shelters and rescues and attend events. Going to events is truly the best way because you get to meet the founder, and to know what they are about, what they support, and it’s a good way to get to know which rescue you want to deal with. Overall, people need to be more careful, more hands on, go to events, visit the shelter, open your eyes, and ask questions. These animals need to be treated like humans, not like furniture. You are a model and fitness model and come from a background with fashion-how does that play a part in your everyday life and in your charity?

I try to keep what I like to do and enjoy doing and mix it with my passion for dogs. I have done postcard projects and a calendar featuring various photos shoots in the past with all my dogs. I also do a lot of local shows and events and expos, and many of the other foundations can come across grim and depressing, and you see all these dogs in the cages. But the way my booth stands out, is that we make it very happy and pink and cute, and we dress up the dogs and give out free samples of products, while at the same time educating people about how rescue dogs need a lot of attention and that they need to realize what goes on in shelters and what exactly they are getting into. What upcoming projects or plans do you have for this year?

Pet expos and those types of events typically start around this time and any that I think will have dog people there, I try to sign up for and have a booth. I’m doing a horse race event soon, as there are a lot of dogs there, so it’s a good way for me to connect with fellow dog lovers. There is also a surfing event and like the horse event, there are always a lot of people walking around with their dogs. Having a booth is a lot of fun, and I create baskets

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to give away, and I always bring some of my dogs, offer photo shoots for the dogs, and people are always attracted to my booth since we make it colorful and very happy. We also have a couple of boats, so we offer a day on the boat with a ride around the harbor where you can bring your dog, have wine and food, and get pictures with your dog. In 2019, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do another calendar, this time with models and dogs, each one being a unique scene. I am also excited to be working on my own event, which will be an auction featuring various items, such as art pieces from a photo shoot I had where the photographer and I plan to create 10 art pieces from the photos to auction off or sell. Also, some of the gowns in the paintings/photos will be in the auction, and I will have friends that own stores donate a piece of jewelry or a gown. The event will showcase fashion and jewelry to benefit Amore for Dogs, and we will host it at our house. I envision it being a private list type of event where I will select all the people who want to make a change, and hopefully they will want to come and support Amore for Dogs. What is your ultimate goal?

My ultimate goal is to open a dog haven on about 3-4 acres of land. I am always very hands on with our dogs, and I work closely with our dog trainer Paul from K9 city. I have learned so much about dog behaviors and how they think and just find it fascinating, and so eventually I want to have a place where dogs can be safe and feel taken care of and happy.

Q&A:Bruce

The Story of Sunshine Makers, Inc. Tell MOST readers how your company started, and what was the impetus for creating better cleaning solutions?

In the summer of 1972 my dad had decided he wanted to become a representative for an industrial based chemical company on the East Coast that was looking for representation on the West Coast. I was headed off to Occidental College for graduate work, and so he and I started Simple Products to create a simple solution for industrial cleaning. One day in the summer of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;72 I was delivering a canister of cyanide in LA, which they used to make chrome plate wheels. They used a serious of vats to clean the wheels that came in from Brazil, filled with all these different acids, cyanide, and 220-degree water to clean the wheels so that they could then put the chrome plating on. While I was watching, this young Mexican kid fell into one of the vats and died right in front of me. It was such an overwhelming situation that I added Chemistry to my English major and spent the next two years studying periodic charts. Every weekend I would deliver products to hospitals, catering houses, and restaurants, and I used them as guinea pigs to try to find a safer alternative to removing very dense oils. We finally came up with this formula that did the job, and after we sent it off to the testing www.MOST mag.com ||

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grounds, we found that it was actually safer than Aspirin! It was such a non-harmful product that I would drink it on presentations, and I remember this one time when I got my first big contract. I went to Edwards Air Force Base, and I cleaned this jet engine that had been out in the desert for two years while the engineers watched. I licked the wing and turned around, and it was like a sea of ants as they were taking my product off the truck so quickly. After that, we got a contract to clean the space shuttle, and we have had a GSA contract ever since to clean the military equipment and all the tents. I even spent time in a nuclear submarine for a weekend and a nuclear aircraft, and that’s really how we got off the ground initially. As we moved forward in the industrial arena, people were so amazed, but I wanted to make sure that if we were going to solve these problems, I was not then causing other problems down the line and downstream. I ended up spending five years at Duke University doing research to prove that the by products of doing ocean clean ups would not hurt any sea life, which nobody had ever done before. We actually wrote the protocol before the Valdez oil spill which was the worst crude oil in the world. We did all our open water testing at Duke in 1984 to prove that downstream it wouldn’t hurt crustaceans or the smallest shrimp or sea life. So we were listed on the EPA’s oil contingency clean up list, and we were used all around the world. What was the biggest challenge you have ever faced in the running of your company over the years?

My most difficult time was in the late seventies, when interest rates had climbed to almost 22% during the Carter administration. When we started our business, we were just two Italians that had no business background and didn’t want to make things too difficult, and we just wanted to solve problems so we used Simple Green, Simple Red, and Simple blue for various types of cleaning. I sold on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, delivered on Tuesday and Thursday, and did the books on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, we could not get anyone to lend us any money for our dream because in those days people did not care about the environment. Everyone was using very toxic materials to do all types of cleaning that were harmful and carcinogenic, but people just didn’t care. We could not get a loan, so in 1979 we had to borrow street money to make payroll, and one day in order to make our payments, we had to go to Vegas and try to win rent on the craps table. We lost, took the bus home, and I had to fire myself and go on commission. By December of 1979, the stress was so great that my dad had a heart attack and died. I was told by my attorney and clients that I should just close the doors, but I owed half a million dollars and had 16 different creditors. They told me I was D.O.A. and I should file bankruptcy. However, I knew his death could not be for nothing and that I was going to stay with it until they closed the door or locked me out. I persevered and went to the 16 companies where I owed money and convinced the CFOs to sign an agreement saying they would give

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a moratorium on the interest, and I agreed to pay them 120% of what I owed. I went from being basically out of business, to being the biggest customer most of them have today. I call that the “valley of death,” from 19801984; I lost my house, my car, my credit cards, and I would walk to work. I was doing everything from selling t-shirts to selling vitamins to whatever it took to make rent and pay off my debts and keep Simple Green alive. So how did Simple Green finally find success?

We struggled through 1984 and we had all those test results coming back from Duke University and we had those GSA contracts, and then suddenly all the automotive sellers across the country wanted to take our product. We rolled out nationally to Pep Boys and JC Penny and Sears Automotive. Then, all of a sudden, Walmart and Costco came calling, and we were able to get into the automotive section, and into virtually any store that had an automotive section because everyone realized how effective we were. It then evolved into home improvement centers, and we became the featured item at Ace, Home Depot, and Lowes, and now our whole family of products are available at those outlets. The home improvement centers are the sweet spot for our product because you’ve got the homeowner, the house wife, the business man, the small business, the guys that are carpenters, plumbers, and anyone that needs a cleaning product or solution that doesn’t want to have cancer or have flammables, then Simple Green was and continues to be the answer. That is our absolute gold mine. How do you stay abreast of the current trends/ developments in cleaning products and continually develop new ideas?

We pre-dated Earth Day, and in the late seventies and

early eighties, when companies saw the name Simple Green, they would put it in the lawn and garden section because they assumed we were plant food. But later because of our relationship with Duke University and the research triangle, that expanded out to a lot of chemical researching concerns and people started finding out how we cared about quality. I wanted everything to be made in America, with American technology, American jobs, and American everything that I could get my hands on from the beginning to the end. It felt like we were trying to create a Mercedes image in a chemical industry that didn’t used to care about it. We now have a pool of researchers across the globe from Switzerland to Canada, to Raleigh, to my office, and we have the Environmental Technology Division where we have people who only look for better ways to do cleaning products.

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What new products/plans do you have coming out this year?

On the first of May, we are launching a better, safer way to clean and disinfect everything from dog runs to the inside of your house, and it cleans and disinfects a counter in 5 seconds without any bad side effects. We also have a line of outdoor odor eaters, where we use enzyme technology to remove the odor. The protein has been eaten out by the enzymes so the dog doesn’t go to the bathroom in the same place again, and it also works in mass transit on trains and subways. What achievement or accomplishment are you most proud of?

Sunshine Makers-I had to change the name of the company after my dad died; I had to make my own sunshine because everything was so bleak, so I changed the company to Sunshine Makers. Getting out of the “valley of death,” and climbing up that hill and reaching now 45 years later and still being able to be in charge, still seeing the growth, and now having our family of products spread to over 40 countries is truly amazing. So really, the survival factor is what I’m most proud of, especially when I’ve seen so many of my patriots and many more be sold and go out of business. I was able to visit Sam Walton in his office, who took his dog to work with him like I take my golden retriever with me, and he actually took me under his wing and gave me his book about how you survive in this world today by being more industrious, more creative, more dedicated, and working harder than the guy next to you. The average person in my office has more than 20 years of service in my company, which doesn’t happen often these day, so that’s my proudest accomplishment.

V i k t o r i j a Pa s h u ta

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How did your foundation EGBAR, “Everything’s Gonna Be All Right,” get started?

When I was going through that difficult time after my dad had passed, I said it can’t get much worse than this. My attorneys would put that on my gravestone because I was always saying that phrase, even when they were sure I wasn’t going to be able to unbury the company. I found the guy who made EWOKS for Lucas’ films in L.A. and told him that I must create a goodwill ambassador for EGBAR and bring the slogan I was using to life and start a not for profit environmental educational and clean up foundation. I told him I needed a mascot, and that it had to be big, green, lovable, and strong, and somewhere between a bear and an alligator. He actually used me as the model, and I even have a picture of him putting foam rubber all over me and creating the nose and mouth and the feet. Today, thirty years later we have 40 walkabouts around the world, have given away probably about 150,000 EGBAR stuffed animals, and our foundation has done all kinds of disaster relief clean-up. We are helping sponsor the whale conservation efforts in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, bird conservation plans and habitats, and have aquariums and clean ups all over the world. Nearby, in Huntington Beach, we helped the Bolsa Chica wetlands stay open, and we work to help protect the endangered species there. One of our nicest and newest additions is that we built and sponsored a mobile environmental education center that goes into inner cities with tide pools and creatures and videos to teach about what happens downstream when you pollute. It’s a great way to educate kids who may never get to the beach, on what it means to be environmentally conscious. We also sponsor the SEA Lab, where they have a touch game for kids and teach them how to become leaders. A great example is one of the girls who I started with at the SEA Lab is now the director of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, and she said the time she spent with us actually changed her life course forever. How does Viviana and Amore for Dogs inspire you and your work?

Viviana has this passion for doing the right things by animals and taking care of dogs, and she puts so much time and effort into doing an excellent job. She is not just sending money, but she is going to see people, meeting dogs, and visiting kennels to see what’s happening on their ends. She puts her hands on the dogs from beginning to end, and it’s like my business the way she approaches it. Recently, Viviana found the dog trainer, Paul, who is just like the dog whisperer, and we’ve watched him at work. We are getting together with him and planning on spending more time with him to help dogs on death row to see what we can do to take them out of that situation and find them homes. It feels like an extension of everything I’ve ever done with EGBAR foundation, and this time with dogs.

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I’m very excited about our newest creation. I have a reputation for entertaining my troops, and I’m an absolute ambassador for fine red and white wines. When I was on the road for 45 weeks a year for 25 years, I would take my guys out every night to a good dinner, so I have built up quite a collection of wine and food knowledge and have many friends up in Napa Valley. I have a guy called the bounty hunter who has a connection with all the grape growers and the best wineries, and we worked with him throughout the whole process to create our first wine, a Chardonnay, which we are ready to debut this summer, called Blonde. We are in the final stages of approvals and we plan on using the wine for fundraisers for Amore for Dogs. I found it to be a very enjoyable thing to do. Viviana and I are very proud of it and excited to make it a part of the baskets and giveaways that we plan on doing.

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By: B r i a n P r i c e

How do you start an interview with someone who interviews celebrities for a living? Garcelle

A u t h o r , A c t r e s s , Ta l k S h o w H o s t

Beauvais, co-host of Los Angeles based Hollywood Today Live (HTL), has been doing this for nearly two years. An actress for more than twenty years, Garcelle is no stranger to being on the other side of the interview process. I did what any sensible person would do, and asked what questions she won’t ask on the show. A few quick tips from the master and we were underway.

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Garcelle could be one of the best examples of ‘everything happens for a reason.’ On the brink of leaving to New York for a new show, CBS pulled the plug on the project keeping her in Los Angeles. One meeting with FOX later, and she landed herself on Hollywood Today Live. Of course the talk show world did not simply fall in her lap. Garcelle proved her talk show chops while guest hosting on

Garcelle Beauvais

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Access Hollywood Live and The View. Securing the job in Los Angeles meant spending more time with her kids. Don’t be fooled, Garcelle understands the stakes of live television. “Whatever you say, whatever you think there’s no take two or take three. That was a little jarring and a little scary at first.” That’s why she studies. After our interview; Garcelle was off to read Kelly Rowland’s new book in preparation for her upcoming interview. There is no way Garcelle walks into an interview without doing her homework, and ends up asking something like “so what’s your next project” or “tell us about your kids.” (These were notes I listened to very carefully.) Like I said, Garcelle is no stranger to interviews. This may be her biggest asset on the HTL team. “For the guests it makes them much more comfortable because they know I’m not going to some place that they may not want to go to, they feel comfortable and safe.” Some of the show’s guests have starred in projects alongside Garcelle. Not only do some of the interview segments feel like mini-reunions, but the energy she brings out of her guests makes for fun television. A clear asset in the talk show world, Garcelle has not said goodbye to acting yet. During her time on Hollywood Today Live she maintained her reoccurring status on a number of shows, including The Magicians and Chicago Med. Garcelle appears next on the big screen. This summer she will be in Marvels highly anticipated Spider-man: Homecoming. Although details surrounding her upcoming role are hush-hush, Garcelle shed light on the process to land the role. One day her manager called over to tell Garcelle she booked a role in the next webslinger adaption. Biggest shock, Garcelle never read for the part. Details about the part were still unknown by the time she had to fly to Atlanta to start filming. The mystery will come to an end when Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters this July. Not only does Garcelle star alongside a superhero, she’s a super mom. Seriously. In 2013, she began publishing a series of children’s books called I Am. “I Am Mixed,” “I Am Living in Two Homes” and “I Am

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Awesome” were a product of creativity and inspiration from her boys. Garcelle says she’d often take her twin boys to the library and bookstores and never find characters that looked like them or celebrated diversity. Will a biography be coming soon? Not for now said Garcelle, but don’t count it out. If hosting, acting, and writing were not enough to keep her busy, Garcelle recently partnered with Emmy winner and associate producer on Hollywood Today Live, Lisa Wilson. Together they created their own production company. Lunch meetings quickly became work meetings. Thus, Beauvais Wilson Productions was born with a focus on “developing and producing stories with a diverse voice in television, film, digital and independent projects.” They certainly put their money where their mouths were with the company’s first feature. Their first short film begins production this summer on a dire subject matter 78 ||

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The short film, Lalo’s House, shines a light on the issue of child trafficking. The project intends to bring awareness to “the worsening conditions of child trafficking in Haiti and around the world.” Lalo’s House will focus on two young girls kidnapped and trafficked. To learn more about this project and how you can help, visit beauvaiswilsonproductions.com. With so many exciting and impactful projects it will be easy to find one that is an inspiration. Of course none of us here can wait to see her in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

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Violett Beane Actress / CW’s The Fl ash

www.instagram.com/violettbeane www.twitter.com/violettbeane

By: D e n i s e S m i t h

ou have to be pretty quick to keep up with break out star Violett Beane. On the WB’s The Flash, now in its third season, this fresh new talent plays the first female speedster, Jesse Quick. Daughter to Tom Cavanagh’s, Dr. Harry Wells, she boasts super human speed, strength and flight. Born in St Petersburg Florida, Violett’s family soon relocated to Austin Texas where she now lovingly calls home. Austin, best known for embracing an eclectic musical and artful scene seemed the perfect place for this rising star to get her start. A plum audition for HBO’s The Leftover’s would quickly change the course of Viloett’s future dramatically. With supportive family and friends in her corner she would go on to land the role of missing girl Taylor Truitt. Beyond acting, Violett is passionate about spreading a positive message regarding a myriad of issues that are important to her. MOST Celebrity spoke with the peace advocate about her pet rabbit Milo, being raised Quaker and spreading love and kindness to all those she meets. We look forward to watching this Violett flourish.

Keep Austin Weird…having moved to Austin at the highly impressionable age of ten, can you share with Most Celebrity readers, just how weird are we talking?

The city is incredibly expressive. Art isn’t only allowed, but encouraged in all forms. You can walk down any major street in Austin on any given day, and there will be ten different bands playing every type of music imaginable. You can walk out of your house in any neighborhood and see a naked bicyclist. There’s a huge cement hill covered in graffiti that serves as an interactive art exhibit sitting on one of the most expensive lots of land downtown. And you’ll see half the city braving the ice cold water of Barton Springs on New Year’s at the Polar Bear Plunge! Having immersed yourself in theater and acting at an early age, what made acting turn from a school activity into the desire to make it a career?

I had been in school plays all throughout middle and high school, so I always knew I loved acting and being on stage. My junior year of high school, the board hired a new theatre coach and let’s just say, we were not fast friends. In fact, I didn’t get cast in a single play after his arrival, not even in the ensemble. I was missing that creative release so I ventured out and found my own form

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of it with a local TV/Film agent. During my senior year, when my friends were applying for colleges, I realized that if acting was what I really wanted to do and that the traditional route of academia might not be for me. Landing your first professional role in HBO’s The Leftovers, you played missing girl Taylor Truitt. How did you learn about the part and what was the process leading up to and landing the role? What were some of the reactions from friends and family?

For how creative Austin is, there are a surprisingly low amount of productions filming there so when a show from HBO comes to town, everyone is aware. I got an audition with one of the local casting agents for the role, and went in. I honestly felt like it was one of the worst auditions I’d ever done, and never expected to hear anything back. So when I did the next day, I was very excited! My family has always been extremely supportive and were very happy for me. 84 ||

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Comic Book shows/films have taken the industry by storm. With the recent successful films showcasing strong female leads such as Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, can you imagine a time where the gender gap will no longer be a factor? What are some of the inroads the industry could take to level the playing field?

Comics are one of longest running forms of media that have portrayed women as strong and powerful, and I’m proud to be a part of that. I can totally imagine that day, and I know we’re taking steps towards closing the gap between gender, race, and sexual orientation, but there is always more we can do. For Hollywood, a huge step is to not only represent our diversity onscreen, but also off. I have loved working with the few female directors I have, and want to encourage it more! I’ve never worked with a female camera-op, how is that possible!? We need to work together to represent everyone across the board.

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Tell us about Jesse Quick and what drives her.

Jesse is too smart for her own good. She’s loving and caring and that drives her to be the best hero she can for the world and for her family. In the beginning of the series, we saw her using her brain so often, thinking and offering plans to the team. I would love to see more of that! I want to see Jesse kicking butt on her own and being the strong female that she is! Describe the working relationship among your cast mates while filming. We envision filming is professional… yet silly at times with lots of laughs and multiple takes.

I absolutely love everyone I’ve gotten to work with on The Flash. As the fans know, we’ve got A LOT of group scenes, and those days are definitely the craziest on set. You can count on at least two guitars, many laughs, and ridiculous charades to “Head’s Up”. Not

to mention, our crew is one of the best I’ve ever seen- They all know exactly what they’re doing and more importantly love doing it. Social media allows super fans to see beyond the drama, costumes and sets to the very real people who bring their favorite characters to the screen. Considering the current political climate, how have your beliefs and passions been received via social media and what are some of the ways to navigate the level of hate that passes unchecked among virtual strangers?

Social media is a tough one, because it can be such an amazing platform for sharing new projects and helping to spread positive messages, but because there is no real verification process to create a user, there are a lot of people out there who abuse the power they’re given. People will say all kinds of things on the internet that they would never say to your face and might not even actually think. It’s important to remember that. People who

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spread such hate, are probably dealing with their own issues, and it makes them feel a little better to tear you down. It’s not personal! Do you!! One of those passions include gun control which you tapped into, voicing real life victim, Claire Wilson in the animated testimonial, Tower. Can you share with us a bit of what it was like to work on this project and immersing yourself into this senseless loss?

Being a part of Tower is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. I have always been an extremely peaceful person, advocating for gun control and putting an end to world violence, and working on this film reaffirmed all of my beliefs. I portrayed Claire Wilson who was the first person shot in the shooting. She was 8 months pregnant, and both her boyfriend and unborn baby died while she survived. She is an inspiration in herself. Her feelings towards what happened to her are so unique and honest. She has never carried any hatred for the shooter, but instead dedicated her energy and time into working towards stronger gun control laws. Let’s talk about Milo to lighten things up a bit. Tell us how this little furry chicken nugget became your rabbit.

OMG he’s so cute! I’ve always been a dog person and I’ve never really thought about bunnies as real pets (like most). I was on Pinterest one day and saw a homemade bunny hutch and I was like, “I need to make this.” So you can say I got a bunny, because I wanted to build a little house and needed something to put in it! Turns out, rabbits are a lot more like cats and need a lot from their owners. Now I try to advocate for parents to not get their children rabbits as pets unless they’re prepared to take care of them.

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From demonstrating your directing/editing/acting chops on Eyelid Kid, watching Fixer Upper to DIY’ing your own furniture, tell us something about you that we can’t find on the internet.

Something a lot of people don’t know about me is that I was raised Quaker. It is a very interesting religion, and doesn’t have any one specific deity or god, but focuses on following the five principles of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality. Because of that, it attracts all types of people! You can be a Christian Quaker, a Jewish Quaker, etc. Pretty cool! Lin Manuel Miranda wrote in his award-winning hit play Hamilton, “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you’ll never get to see.” At this very moment in your young career, what do you hope your legacy will be?

When I meet people, I just hope to spread a little more love. Little acts of kindness can go a long way and if we all put a little bit out into the world at a time, we can begin to heal.

Hitting the Right Notes

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Exclusive interview with Actor

Lamont easter www.lamonteaster.com Photo Credit:

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Makeup: Owe n M i c h a e l O ’ D o n n e l l www.facebook.com/owenmichael.odonnell | www.instagram.com/owenmichaelodonnell Makeup product:

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amont is a television, film and commercial actor who has had recurring appearances on shows such as Netflix’s House of Cards, HBO’s VEEP, CBS’s Madam Secretary and in various national commercials such as GEICO, and Coca Cola to name a few. He is also featured in numerous national print campaigns and many corporate video productions and has had leading and supporting roles in several independent films. Lamont is the on-screen spokesperson for a world-wide initiative by the US State Department aimed at providing world leaders and their Governments critical information for the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). He is dedicated and committed to his acting and his literal day job where he works in IT at the US Department of Justice. And justice is his thing. When we started to talk about current issues, he casually stepped up on his soap box and began to defend the rights of all. Lamont is an accomplished drummer and genetically, from his mother, quite the dancer. He also manages to fit into his time his advocacy work for childhood cancer and autism. We sat down and talked with him about his career, how he stays there, and where he is taking it. You have played a Secret Service agent on Netflix’s House of Cards, HBO’s Veep, and CBS’s Madam Secretary and more, what’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role? Is this your favorite role to play?

At times all three had challenging moments. The most difficult thing to do in acting is performing without words. To show emotion and inflection of a character

against a backdrop of detailed story with other characters is always a challenge. So, it still requires putting my acting skills and training to use. It’s critically important to always “be in the moment”. For example, being one of the first Secret Service Agents selected for Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood character on the show House of Cards, Netflix provided us with actual Secret Service training to prepare to act in a truthful manner. They hired retired a Secret Service Detail Chief to provide training. My favorite role? Well, I consider myself somewhat of an expert at portraying the agent type. But beyond that, I’m more interested in performing a collection of roles that lead to an overall body of work; that people find interesting, entertaining, memorable, and impactful. That would be nice. House of Cards will return on May, 30th 2017, what should diehard fans be excited about and can you tell us about your role this season?

“We can’t talk about our participation in the show or lack thereof, prior to the shows release.” But I can say everyone is excited about working with our new writers and showrunners, Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese. Considering everything that is going these days in Washington, how much of “House of Cards” story you feel is factitious or somewhere in between?

A lot is so in between. The circumstances in the show are factitious, but humans are humans and the same elements can exist in real-life. The parallels of real political life are there. Some come to Washington for ego and some come carrying a torch hoping to effect real change. Then you have those who wish to ascend to www.MOST mag.com ||

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positions of ultimate power. But, when you get to the top of the political mountain, what do you do with it? As it relates to our current political climate, I would use the three shows you mentioned in the very beginning as a metaphor. Washington is currently displaying the plot of House of Cards, attempting to be like Madam Secretary, but unfortunately the cast of characters are straight out of Veep. Now you figure that one out (he smiles and winks) How do you describe working by the side of Awardwinning producer and actor Kevin Spacey?

That’s easy; it’s amazing and a privilege. I have played some kind of role on the show ever since episode one season one. So, I have spent countless hours being able to observe a master at work. I have been able, through close observation, to assimilate some of his technique of the craft and place it into my acting toolbox awaiting the opportunity to call upon it. If you could play any other character in this show, who would it be?

The very one that I play, Frank Underwood’s Secret Service. But the agents are to be seen, but not seen. I’ll share a little insight into the process of casting for a principal role. In season three there was an opportunity for one of the Underwood Secret Service Agents to have significant dialog in an episode or two. So I along with 20+ agents on the Secret Service roster auditioned for that opportunity. We all went to Kimberly Skyrme Casting, in Baltimore. They then passed the winners to New York HOC Casting Office. The winners from there are sent to Netflix and Netflix then reviews and forwards their picks to Kevin Spacey. Since Kevin Spacey is one of the Executive producers of the show he reviews all such auditions. Finally, Kevin forwards his selections to the guest director. Four levels of vetting before the director even gets a chance to see it. I received a call saying that I was the director’s pick. Now here comes the House of Cards kind of plot twist... A few hours later I got another call from the casting office that during “script re-write” meeting, they noticed that the principal character of Secret Service agent Edward Meechum didn’t have any lines in the episode. So they made the decision to give my dialog to him, given he is a principal character. I was disappointed, but thrilled to have made it as far as I did. What I found most humorous was the first scene in which I would have had dialog, I was actually standing near Agent Mechumm when he delivered “my lines.” I went up to Nathan and humorously shadow boxed him and said, “You stole my lines!” We both had a good laugh.

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What events and life experiences motivated you to start in acting? Did you have the support from your family?

I always knew I would have some involvement with the entertainment industry. I was too busy allowing my career as a Federal Civil Servant get in the way of all of the fun stuff. If I can play any role in making someone smile or feel good no matter how brief, then I get satisfaction from that. But, what motivated me to start acting, two things. A persistent supervisor at work that would bug me to get involved in acting or modeling. On one occasion, the supervisor suggested I submit a picture to a show that was shooting locally in Maryland and I did. Two days later I got a call from the production company to show up on set the following week.

Oh, I said two reasons, didn’t I? Well, the second reason was after a separation and divorce, it turns out that I had plenty of time on my hands. “Did I have the support of my family?” I think I just answered that (he smiles). Who are in the list of your admired Directors?

I am very intrigued by the work of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu know for The Revenant, Birdman also Sir Peter Robert Jackson who is a New Zealand film director best known for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. Martin Charles Scorsese with his amazing skills, love the work of Quentin Taratino, Steven Soderbergh and I’ll round out my list with James Fraley, David Fincher, Jodie Foster all of whom I’ve had the privilege to work with during filming of House of Cards and I especially have an affinity for Carl Franklin who was the one that actually

personally picked me to play a recurring Secret Service Agent on House of Cards. Tell us about some of the charities you support?

I am one of the founding board members of a charity called AutismFYI.Org. Our mission is early recognition of special needs in their existing and future communities, job fulfillment and support. Also close to my heart is an organization called Stillbrave.org whose mission is providing non-medical supportive care to children with cancer and their families. I have travelled as far as New York to join Danny Glover, Trish Melek, the Sugar Hill Gang and 20 old-school recording artists supporting the “Classics 4 Cancer” extravaganza. But I in general, considering myself a humanitarian, I’ll give of my time and energy to any cause that touches my soul and

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I am also playing a lead role in an indie Western, The Lonesome Trail, I play a drifter. It was a very different role for me, portraying a vulnerable man in the western territories of the 1890’s. I also just wrapped on another short indie thriller film that’s currently in post-production called Exigence. In addition, I’m currently trying my hand at behind the camera ventures such as Associate Producing and Strategic Advising on various projects. I just completed a short film project called Union, it draws on historical accounts and notable ﬁgures during the American Civil War. I continually do various MC/Hosting events, Print modeling, TV commercial and Corporate training video productions as time allows with my very busy full-time civil service job schedule. How much time you spend to keep up with your fans on social media? Favorite port for social media?

that supports the care and generosity to those in need, and/or that promote equal justice, human rights and the making of the world a better place for all. For me, just being in a position to be able to give back is extremely important. At the end of the day, any level of recognition, fame, or fortune is fleeting. None of it can possibly compare with the joy of making a positive impact upon someone’s life in a meaningful way, especially the young. That is what the journey of this life means to me. What projects you are currently working on?

One of my most recent projects is that of being the on-screen Spokesperson for a series of global video presentations for the “The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF)” representing the United States Department of State. The series is directed to World Leaders and the practitioners within their governments. The first in the series was presented to World Leaders at the United Nations by the Deputy Secretary of State. I just now completed five new presentations that were just released to the world.

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Hahaha, “How much time?” Way too much! Having said that, I spend a lot of time on Facebook connecting to people that follow my shenanigans. I love interacting with people. As I said before, making people smile gives me a tremendous amount of fulfillment. I would have to say Facebook is my preferred platform, I also chatter with people through my web site at www.lamonteaster.com, and on Instagram and Twitter. With your career quickly rising, are there any roles that you have yet to check off your bucket list?

I don’t know, as an actor I don’t want to ever get comfortable with the craft. So I’m willing and open to try any type of role where the screenplay is well written and has depth and dimensions to the character. I guess I look forward to going against type and playing a really devious bad guy, maybe a killer in a thriller movie. How cool is that?! Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years?

When asked that question, I’d like to say “On an Airliner somewhere halfway around the world, going to, or returning home from performing on an amazing production!” (he smiles)

AlcÃ´ve

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Beaded Matador jacket and flower choker: bebe brand Satin illusion top: Kasper High waisted military pants: Golden Goose deluxe brand right:

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Q & A By: R a c h e l G r e i n e r

ennifer Holland stars in the leading role of CMT’s series Sun Records which tells the story of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll through the eyes of Sun Records creator Sam Phillips (Chad Michael Murray). Holland plays his wife Becky, whose dedication and loyalty to her husband contributed to the success of his business Holland was born in Chicago, but moved around a lot as a child, attending several different schools in Illinois and Florida. She discovered an early talent in gymnastics, competing professionally until she was 12, ultimately realizing it was not her future. Looking back, she believes gymnastics instilled in her an impeccable work ethic and appreciation for performing in front of an audience, leading her to where she is today. In high school she found her calling when she joined the drama program. While still in high school she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, and soon began booking roles in film and television projects. Early in her career, she starred in the American Pie series film American Pie Presents: The Book of Love. Other credits include the Anthony Zuiker (CSI franchise) created thriller Level 26: Dark Revelations, as well as numerous television series such as American Horror Story, Rizzoli & Isles, Bones, The Glades and Rush Hour, among others. Sun Records marks her first series regular role, and she is excited to share the story of the real Becky Phillips, who was a strong, talented and driven woman. When not on set, Holland pursues her love of photography and writing, and stays very active by hiking, doing pilates or running. She also loves animals and is excited to start a mini-farm at her new home. Photo Credit: M a r c C a r t w r i g h t Hair: Lo ui s e Mo on M a k e - u p : B e t h a n y K a r ly n

Jennifer Holland actress:

www.instagram.com/jenniferlholland www.twitter.com/JennLholland

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From an audience perspective it’s unanimous that your portrayal of Becky Phillips in Sun Records is backed not only by your talent, but by a lot of research as well. What traits of Becky Phillips’ do you most enjoy portraying?

Well, thank you audience! Becky goes through a rollercoaster in the first season. In episode one, you can see how hopeful and supportive she is of the decision to uproot their lives to Memphis and put everything they have into this dream of Sam’s to open a recording studio. By mid-season you really start to see how Becky has pushed her own needs aside to keep Sam happy and healthy, and by the end of the season she really ends up in a completely different place emotionally than where the audience met her. I think that journey that she goes on of trying to find herself, who’s been lost while taking care of others, is the most enjoyable part about playing Becky. I really like that she begins the story very stifled, quite typical of where housewives were in stature in the 50s. It gives her so much room to grow, and that’s exciting to think about if we get more seasons.

The series takes place in 1950’s Memphis, and you portray a lot of the hardships women faced in society and the workplace. How influential was the message of women’s empowerment to you in pursuing the role of Becky.

Well, in any story, it’s really important to not get stuck thinking, “This is how I want to be perceived ,” but rather to be thinking about what the writer intended, and how your character fits into the story that everyone who’s involved in the project has come together to collectively tell. We are telling a story about what life was like in the 1950s, in the South. My character needs to show how timid and secondary most women still felt at that time in history. But it’s also exciting, like I said, to begin there. Becky was, in real life, quite strong, driven, independent, and successful. She was a talented singer and radio disc jockey. She ran Sam’s radio station WHER (W-her) the first all-female radio station in the country, which was so progressive for the 1950s. And even though Becky had a career as a radio personality starting in her teens, before she and Sam had ever met, having her start in our story as a less-empowered woman really makes her a much more colorful character to bring to life. A major part of your role in ‘Sun Records’ is to be the support system of your husband, Sam Phillips; who would you say has been your support system throughout your personal career?

Well, at the risk of sounding cliche, I would say that I have been my own support system, in my career and in my life. Because of my family dynamic and circumstances, I became very independent at a very young age. Much like my character Becky, I spent a lot of my life taking care of other people, emotionally and financially. So in many ways, the character of Becky and I have had the same journey. Finding ourselves, and learning ways to take care of our own needs and desires, and learning to make ourselves as important as we make other people. That said, I currently have an amazing group of friends and a very supportive boyfriend who have been championing me through this leg of my journey. I feel very lucky! What was it that initially inspired you to follow a career as an actress?

I had found that I loved performing for an audience at a very young age as a competitive gymnast, and in middle school and high school I began acting in plays and short films, which fulfilled the creative itch I had to scratch. I was also running away from my childhood, to a certain degree, and becoming an actress 2000 miles away from home seemed to be as far away from my childhood as I could get. I love telling stories and I love making people laugh. And sometimes, I get to do it for a living. What’s better than that? What has been your favorite experience working with CMT and the cast of Sun Records so far?

We’ve become a family! We hang out with each other outside of the show and we’ve all become very

close. I can’t imagine a better group of people to spend months and months with in the Memphis humidity. We had barbecues and played darts and had movie nights and just really enjoy each other’s company. We have a huge ensemble cast of awesome people. We got so lucky. And CMT has really welcomed us into their family as well. We are CMT’s first original scripted drama, so that has the potential to feel very stuffy and carry a lot of pressure. But, CMT has really made us feel welcome and supported, and it’s exciting to be a part of this transformation that CMT is going through with their original content. We all know that you are an animal lover, but do you have any pets of your own? Tell us about them!

Yes! We’ve got a dog named Lola. She’s an alien puggle who looks like a baby sea-lion. She’s fantastic. We’ve got a mutt named Von Spears. He’s a 13 year old puppy with the biggest, roundest eyeballs you’ve ever seen. And, of course Emily, the alley cat turned feline princess who gets whatever she wants, or she’ll take it herself. They have hashtags on social media if you want to ogle their cuteness. #Lolaisapuggle #vonstinkerton #vonspears and #emilymonster With your career quickly rising, are there any roles that you have yet to check off your bucket list?

Oh, so many. Hopefully my career is just beginning, so most of the roles I have to play are still ahead of me. But, I don’t sit around and think about what roles I’d like to play so much as how much I just want to continue telling stories. And hopefully do some comedies and make people laugh. That’s definitely forever on my bucket list. www.MOST mag.com ||

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Photo Credit:

DCProStudio

I n t e r n at i o n a l A u t h o r a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r

Ioana lee

www.ioananitobelee.com www.facebook.com/ioananitobelee

orn in Romania and raised during Communism, Ioana Lee has bridged the cultural divides of many countries and is now living in Washington, D.C. She is an accomplished author, having completed her fourth book. Her European publisher is launching her latest book in the spring of this year. It will be featured in her home country as well as several other European cities. All her books are written in at least two languages. Ioana speaks seven languages and because of this talent she is an active cultural liaison with people from dozens of countries. She is on the Embassy circuit in Washington D.C. where she regularly organizes cultural events for the University Club and participates in dozens of other embassy activities. She is a two-year member of the Club’s prestigious International Committee. She has cultivated relationships with numerous Ambassadors who regularly seek her counsel.

Ioana is a long-time media personality. She created and hosted her own multi-cultural television program for three years in Romania. So successful was her program, she was invited by several officials to visit their countries and produce television stories about them. Her following on Facebook and other social media is extraordinary, with thousands of followers from around the world. She is now a spokes-model for a fitness company – and works very hard to maintain her health and youthful appearance. Her university degrees are in Japanese and English languages from Spiru Haret University in Bucharest. She studied cross-cultural communications at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, also in Bucharest. She resides in the Georgetown area of Washington D.C. with her husband and two puppies.

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actress:

Netflix Stranger Things & CW’s Riverdale

Shannon Purser www.instagram.com/shannonpurser www.twitter.com/shannonpurser Q & A By: R a c h e l G r e i n e r

hannon Purser burst onto the scene last year with her scene stealing, fan favorite role of “Barb” on the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.” She has not stopped working since, booking a recurring role on the highly anticipated CW series “Riverdale” for Greg Berlanti, being hand-picked by Melissa McCarthy to work alongside her in her upcoming film Life of the Party, a lead role in BroadGreen’s next potential franchise, Wish Upon opposite Joey King and most recently the title role in Sierra Burgess is A Loser.

Photo Credit: Hair/make-up:

M a rc Ca r t w r i g h t. Blondie/Exclusive Artists

Born and raised in Georgia, Shannon’s love of the arts started at a young age. Her family had a love of watching films together and she was also a passionate reader. Her love of reading combined with the her love for film convinced a young Shannon that acting was something she would like to pursue, She started out doing plays at her school and with her church and then as a teenager graduated to musical theatre in her community. At 15 she was discovered by her agents when she performed in a showcase with The Atlanta Workshop Players. When she is not on set, she spends her time reading, singing and engaging in all things “geek.”

Despite it being a minor role, you’ve won hearts the world over as the witty and outspoken ‘Barb’ on Netflix original series ‘Stranger Things’. Can you tell our readers about your initial take on the character, and how relatable she was to you?

I really knew nothing about Barb when I first read the scripts, but I got attached to her pretty quickly. She and I are similar in a lot of ways. We both highly value our friendships and take everything with a grain of salt. We’re both nerdy and like to focus our energy on things we think are really worthwhile and we’ve both certainly been the third wheel. I love how confident she is in what she believes and that she speaks her mind. I’d like to be a bit more like that. 106 ||

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Photo Credit: Hair/make-up:

M a rc Ca r t w r i g h t. Blondie/Exclusive Artists

Who is your favorite character on ‘Stranger Things’?

That’s difficult. Everyone in the cast did such a beautiful job portraying their characters. I think I was really drawn to Hopper and Jonathan. David did such an excellent job portraying the change Hopper undergoes through the season and he’s incredibly talented. I feel like I also relate to Jonathan as a person and I think Charlie was really great at channeling all the intense emotions the character goes through by losing his brother.

so many actors and actresses I adore: Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, and Viola Davis, to name a few. Here’s one celebrities always seem to go one of two ways on: Watching yourself on TV! Enjoy it or avoid it?

I’ll almost always watch the things I’m in, but not for myself. I want to support the other actors and the team behind the project, but I’m not a huge fan of watching myself act.

What would you say has been the most challenging for you in regards to adapting to newfound fame?

Who would you give credit to for being your main support system while transitioning in your acting career?

Honestly it’s still a bit weird to hear myself referred to as famous. I never would’ve imagined the way Barb would take off. I think the hardest part is realizing that your life isn’t completely your own anymore and that you have a bit of a responsibility to the fans to make good choices.

I’m lucky to have the support of my family and my close friends for my career. I don’t think I could handle all this without them. They keep me grounded. My significant other has also been a tremendous support for me.

Is there a celebrity crush that you hope to meet, or anyone you’ve looked up to that you have goals to work with in the future of your career?

I would love to work with Jake Gyllenhaal someday. I think he’s so talented and you can pretty much rely on him giving an emotionally authentic performance. There are

What are some aspirations that you hope your acting career will lead you to in the future?

I just really adore this job. I’m always on the lookout for great scripts and I’ve already met some incredible visionaries. I wouldn’t change a thing and I hope I continue to get the chance to be a part of projects that move and inspire me.

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Actress

Isabella Amara www.instagram.com/isabella.amara

Photo Credit: M a r c C a r t w r i g h t w w w. m a r c c a r t w r i g h t . c o m

Unlike most teens, veteran actress and vocalist Isabella Amara has spent most of her time over the past couple of years in front of a movie camera. Most recently she was seen as Michelle Darnell, the teenage Melissa McCarthy, in Universal Pictures’ The Boss directed by Ben Falcone and in Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life. Up next Amara stars opposite Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern in Wilson, which hits theaters on March 24th. She has also joined the cast of the hit CMT show “Nashville” in a recurring role and will co-star in SpiderMan: Homecoming, which comes out in July. She will also reunite with Dern on another film, The Tale, which also stars Jason Ritter and Common. Past film projects include Kyle Newman’s Barely Lethal starring Samuel L. Jackson and Hailee Seinfeld and director Todd Graff’s Joyful Noise opposite Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah and Jeremy Jordan. Amara’s love for acting and singing was discovered when she was 4 years old and with the support of her family, she began auditioning at age 10. Over the next several years, she was cast in leading roles in community theatre, independent films and performed with national Broadway tours. In between filming projects in her teens, Amara attended a performing arts high school, focusing on acting and music. A classically trained singer, Amara has performed in Atlanta and surrounding areas in a variety of styles and venues including as a lead singer for a collaborative band. In 2015, she returned to the stage as Tracy Turnblad in the hit musical Hairspray, one of her favorite roles. Amara was born on October 9th in Atlanta, Georgia and recently relocated to Los Angeles. She continues to 108 ||

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study with a vocal coach for recording artists. Her love for singing is matched only by her passion for acting and story-telling through performing arts. Describe your favorite and most challenging aspects of your job?

My favorite part of my job is getting doing what I love...acting, singing and storytelling through the arts. There are some perks like travel, meeting new people, learning/understanding different walks of life, the therapeutic benefit, and being able to move and touch people emotionally. There are so many rewards and challenges too. The most challenging part is having my insecurities/flaws pointed out on film for the world to see. Craft wise, tapping into intense emotions take after take after take takes its toll and drains me both physically and emotionally. Also, I basically skipped my last two years of “traditional” high school and needed to complete my high school classes online. I love being around people and find on-line school very isolating for me. I miss the social interactions of my friends, classmates and teachers but not the drama of high school. You just worked with Laura Dern and Woody Harrelson who are two of the greatest actors of their generation. Did you ask them for advice on your career or just sit back and take them in?

I asked them both Woody and Laura for advice during filming and after but for the most part I learned a lot from observing them and soaking everything in I could. We spent the summer together in Minnesota and had incredible times both on and off set. Laura taught me some cool breathing exercises we would sometimes do before our scenes together. Laura is truly one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met and so

open and caring. She’s like truly a second Mom to me and even wrote a reference letter for my college applications. She gave me advice on so many things like Moms do including career, training, tattoos, high school and college. Woody tips were more personal than professional. I asked for acting tips and he told me “you don’t need any.” I’m always wanting to learn to improve my craft as both an actor and singer. I learned tons from observing Woody, he’s simply the coolest dude I think I’ll ever know. With Woody I learned we work similarly on set and I respect him so much. I learned from “The Woods” how to enjoy your breaks and now understand why he takes naps when he can at base camp. Some of my favorite breaks were singing with Woody and his buddy playing guitar back at base camp. I was a vocal major at my performing arts high school so I found those times so relaxing and fun. I’m still not sure if Woody was joking or not but when I asked him specifically on his advice on my career he told me to “run away while you still can” and gave me his mischievous chuckle.

teachers kept pushing my Mom to get me training outside school. When my Mom and I went to NYC for the ‘Annie’ tour auditions at my vocal coach’s insistence, I made it to the final 35 out of hundreds of girls. I knew I was competitive then after Martin Charnin told after making it as a finalist “you’ve got IT girl and you need to keep training to be ready when it’s your time.” I took his advice and have been training consistently with top vocal and acting coaches for ten years on both coasts. I’m a classically trained vocalist with close to a 5 octave range and work training with my contemporary styling coach working in all genres to be ready for whatever my next audition needs. How did it feel the first time you got to watch yourself on TV or in a film?

Weird and uncomfortable and fulfilling all at once. Do you generally like to watch your performances or do you try and avoid them?

How does it feel to be part of the Marvel universe?

Being part of the Marvel Universe is an unbelievable and an amazing experience! The security is crazy strict and the sets are massive. They are so great with story-telling and creating amazing special effects. I learned so much about doing stunts and special effects too. Another great part of being in the MARVEL Universe was meeting one of my best friends, Tiffany, on set as we spent a couple of months together. Now, we literally live one street over in Los Angeles and that’s fabulous! If you were a superhero who would you be and why?

Wow, okay I’m going to exclude Marvel superheroes from my answer so I don’t get in trouble with Marvel security. I would love to be Violet from the INCREDIBLES. Violet is edgy, quiet, and complex and has a lot of confidence issues until she learns to use her powers to be invisible and creates force fields. I would love to have those powers to protect people. What is it about acting and performing that makes you feel alive?

Acting and singing are such intense passions of mine as long as I can remember even back to when I was a toddler. I get this intense adrenaline rush when I perform on stage and the larger the crowd the more comfortable I am. Singing makes me so happy! I feel so privileged being an actor. I love finding the honesty and uniqueness of each character to bring to life. Being able to tap into a wide range of characters and emotions in a safe environment is actually very therapeutic for me and really a fantastic creative outlet. Having great scene partners like Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Cheryl Hines, Margo Martindale, Jason Ritter and Elizabeth Debicki in the past couple of years has been an incredible honor and so much fun too! How did you know that was what you were meant to do?

I try to avoid seeing myself on screen these days unless I need to for work. I’ve heard Johnny Depp doesn’t watch his movies and I totally get that. I personally enjoy the creative process and the art of my craft which is critical I’m in the moment. Watching my work is something I tend to be more critical of than enjoy. What are your future plans or personal projects on the way?

I plan to go to college focusing on film studies after taking a gap year living in LA honing my craft. There are some of the best acting coaches and studios in the world here and I plan to embraces the opportunity too. Melissa McCarthy and Cheryl Hines both highly recommended a specific place for me to train for improv and sketch comedy so I’m starting that next week. Super excited! I have two films due out this year, The Tale with Laura Dern and Spider-Man: Homecoming and another film I can’t disclose yet. Also, I’m so excited to be doing a recurring guest star role on CMT’s “Nashville”. I’m an entertainer and storyteller through the arts and my plan B is to learn to direct, write and produce. Is there a specific role or type of character that you have been craving to portray?

I love watching horror films so much! I like to play different types of characters to challenge me and also I learn so much prepping for a new role. Personally, I strongly endorse real and believable acting, not slapstick or over the top. I love playing complex or screwed up characters and tapping into the psyche of the character to help facilitate the storytelling. The genre isn’t as important but a good “laugh, cry” is always good with me. I would LOVE to do a role combining acting and singing for TV, film and hopefully Broadway one day. I really love doing comedic roles too and I think after doing a dark drama a comedic role would be an awesome follow-up.

As a kid, my pre-k and charter elementary school both had a strong performing arts program. The

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Photo Credit:

B r i a n H a m i lt o n

Actor & Writer

Kevin Claydon www.instagram.com/kgclaydon  www.twitter.com/kevclay1

evin is an actor from Toronto, Ontario. From an early age Kevin’s passion for cinema was undeniable. After making his first short films in high-school, Kevin found himself at the University of Toronto where he graduated with Honours from the Cinema Studies program. Though he had never acted before, Kevin started studying at The Professional Actors’ Lab during his third year of undergrad. From that point on, his career path changed dramatically. Kevin has quickly built a successful and promising acting career. He has just finished shooting a lead role in CBC’s much anticipated new series 21 Thunder premiering in the summer of 2017. Since booking a role in his first ever audition (Kevin landed a part on the hit ABC show Flashpoint) Kevin has had the privilege of working with some of the best and brightest minds in the industry. Kevin recently worked alongside actress Riley Keough (Mad Max: Fury Road) with a recurring part in the Golden Globe nominated show The Girlfriend Experience (Starz). Some of Kevin’s more recent credits include roles on NBC’s Heroes Reborn, Rogue (TMN), American Gothic (CBS), and Nikita (CW). Kevin will also be featured in the upcoming season of the critical SYFY hit The Expanse and in the much anticipated film State Like Sleep (2017) starring Michael Shannon and Katherine Waterston. Kevin has received praise for his acting talent at every juncture of his career. In 2013, Kevin was singled out and selected to be one of a handful of students accepted into the world renowned Actor’s Studio in New York at Pace University. Kevin has also written three short films that have been produced, one of which (On The Fringe) won multiple comedy awards at film festivals in Canada. Kevin also produced his first short film (Contingent) in 2015 with another currently in production. Kevin currently resides in Toronto where he continues to push the boundaries of his work everyday

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You have quite a few cool projects you have worked on that are coming out, can you tell us a little bit about each one?

Well I guess the biggest project I have coming out is 21 Thunder. It will air this summer on CBC and is an eight-episode drama about a U-21 soccer team in Montreal. It’s about competitive sports, sex, drugs, money and relationships. Doesn’t get much better than that. I play one of the main characters in the show and having the opportunity to live with a character for three and a half months of shooting was probably the most interesting part of the entire process. It was such a large scale production. Although that can be distracting, the cast and crew were so phenomenal that it was probably the best shooting experience of my life. We all became a close family and I am so lucky to have had that experience. I also shot a couple of episodes of The Expanse that air this spring. It is in its second season on SyFy and is set in a future world where humans have colonized the Solar System. I don’t want to say too much about the character I play because of his role in the story, but I can tell you that being on that set was a whirlwind. They have an amazing cast and crew and have created this amazing futuristic world. It’s an incredibly large and impressive production and I am not surprised at all that the show is getting the great reviews that it has. I was very fortunate to get to work on it. I also worked on a film titled State Like Sleep starring Katherine Waterston and Michael Shannon which opens later in the year. I am quite excited to see it. It is a strong character piece and getting to work with someone like Katherine Waterston is always a great way to learn. She’s incredible. What inspired you to want to become an actor, was there an actor or a film or a play that made you say, “I want to do that?”

The truth is, I never really thought about being an actor when I was a kid. I was always into cinema but thought I was going to be a writer or a director. I went to school and studied cinema, but from a theoretical perspective more than anything. I didn’t even take drama

in high school. In my third year, I had to write a paper on shifting acting techniques in the Twentieth Century, which may just be the most boring thing imaginable to most people, but I found it fascinating. I had to read a lot of the prominent literature on acting and I just couldn’t get enough of it. The thing I like about it the most is that you are never good enough, you can always be better. I hate being satisfied or complacent. I need to be driving towards something. Since you can never really master acting, it’s like you are chasing this thing that you will never quite be able to get a hold of. I love that. I need that. Plus, everyone tells you not to do it because it is too hard to build a career out of. So that just means that you’ve got to do it.

What kind of characters do you hope to portray in the future? Do you have a dream role?

I don’t really know. I have been cast quite a few times playing somebody who carries a burden or some significant pain. I suppose it would be fun to play someone who is a little more relaxed in their life. It is a part of me that I haven’t really had much opportunity to show and could be fun. Truthfully, I just like playing characters that I don’t know much about. It means I can learn and explore. I can go somewhere new. That’s the stuff that fascinates me. I am curious about people, especially people that I don’t understand. Photo Credit:

B r i a n H a m i lt o n

How did it feel the first time you got to watch yourself on TV or in a film? Do you generally like to watch your performances or do you try and avoid them?

To be honest, I really don’t like the experience of watching myself very much. I know that is a total loseractor thing to say, but I’m not being a false modest. I really don’t like it very much. I’m super critical of myself and never really think I figured out what the hell I was doing up there. I suppose that is good as it keeps pushing me, but its never pretty to watch. You are also going to naturally concern yourself with which takes the director chose or how the performances were shaped in the editing room which is just about the dumbest thing you can do as an actor. You have no control over it, your opinion is more than likely useless because you are in it so you lose all objectivity, and, oh yea, it’s not your job! I’ll watch things because I am curious about how the entire project turned out, but I usually don’t get a ton of satisfaction watching myself.

As you are from Canada, what is a place that you would recommend that everyone visit if they have a chance?

I know people like warm weather and sunshine but I think everyone should experience a place like Muskoka in the winter time. Cottaging in Northern Ontario in the winter is unbelievable. There is nothing quite like it. It is quiet, lakes are iced over, and the night is lit up by the reflection of the moon in the snow. Plus, you can chill you beer on the deck. And this is coming from a guy who doesn’t even have a cottage.

What are you currently reading, listening to and watching?

I just finished reading ‘Shoe Dog’ the autobiography of Phil Knight, the founder Nike. It’s a pretty crazy story. I don’t read much fiction because I do enough of that reading scripts while working or auditioning. I like to return to the real world when I read. I am currently watching Mad Men, simply because I can only watch The West Wing so many times, and my playlists are just loaded with girl pop. I make no apologies for the fact that I spend most of my time singing at the top of my lungs to Natasha Bedingfield, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift. Right now I am listening to a lot of Selena Gomez. It’s the truth. Deal with it.

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