Source: Topsail Voice
Published in February 2007
Getting to
Know... Le Ann Cherí
By Lindell Kay
Onslow County resident Le Ann Cherí is living out her dreams -- one role at a time.
She was cast in a small part for the blockbuster film "Armageddon" in 1998 and explained that she knew that acting was what she wanted to do with her life.
Of course, she admits when she found out that her husband Trent, a US Navy diver, had been re-stationed at Camp Lejeune, she had no idea she was moving into the third largest filming industry in the nation.
It did not take her long, however, to take full advantage of her new locality -- she signed up for acting classes, hired three highly-recommended acting coaches, and began hitting auditions.
"My family is very much behind me," she said. "My husband is very supportive of me. He helps me with my lines."
Her first chance to acto in screen in North Carolina with an appearance on the CW television network's hit teen drama "One Tree Hill." She has also appeared in music videos from artists as varied as Martina McBride to Wyclef Jean.
And now she has roles in four pictures currently in production -- two feature films and two independent movies.
Cherí landed a supporting role in a short film that is being edited this week to be submitted to a reality show created by the TV programming mastermind behind Survivor, Mark Burnett. The winner will receive a $1 million development deal from producer Steven Spielberg.
She also has a role in an upcoming, as yet untitled spy movie that will be filmed in Wilmington.
In March, she will be playing a vampire in a feature film. Parts of the film were shot at the Surf City Police Station over the weekend.
She explained that she was glad to have helped establish the location.
In April she will be playing the role of Jas Weldon, a reporter, in "The Darkest Heart."
She says that as the roles come in, the challenge grows.
"These scripts are so well written," she said. "As the roles get bigger, I have to dig deeper."
She explained that she has had the opportunity to work with gifted producers and talented actors, and has learned a lot from the acting community in Wilmington.
"I want to remember to thank God continually for all of my blessings," she said.
Cherí explained that young women with the dream of being an actress have to be determined.
"You can't be too sensitive," she said. "I learned from a casting director's assistant that you cannot go into an audition with the weight of the world on your shoulders."
She advises aspiring actresses to get a strong background in theatre, take acting lessons, and select the right acting coach.
"You never know when you'll get a big break," she said, "so you have to work at it. Independent films lead to bigger acting roles."
(Getting to Know... is a weekly feature in Topsail Voice. Each week we will profile a portion of someone's life in our community. If you know someone with an interesting story, e-mail Topsail Voice at topsailvoice1@aol.com) |
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