by Tim Nydell

 

Odessa:  When I was nine I went into gymnastics.  When I was thirteen I made National Development Team - which are the girls that are training to go into the Olympics.  But I just wasn't into it anymore.  So I went to New York to visit my aunt and she took me to "Cats".  I fell in love with it.  So I started dancing instead.  I danced every night throughout high school.  One day a casting director came to see us because he needed dancers for a project.  I was chosen for one of the dancers.  Then I met this guy who invited me to acting class.  I was in acting class for about six months - then I auditioned to get an agent.  So that's how it all began.

 

Do you have any movie roles coming up?
Odessa:  It's really slow in Vancouver right now.  I'm only going to about one audition a month.  It's really slow - so when you try out for a lead everyone and their dog comes out to audition.  (laughs)  I did try out for the show "Tru Callings" for a role - but they were looking for an older New York style girl. 

 

How do you choose what movies to act in?  I noticed that you've been
in a couple horror movies... is that by choice or did you just fall into
it?
Odessa:  Fell into it.  I can't lie... when you're a Canadian you sort of take what comes.  I've auditioned for so many different types of roles... I just seem to get this type of roles.  I keep trying to get away from them... I'll go into an audition and try out for this innocent sister and they'll say "can you come back in and audition for the evil sister? Or the bitch or the slut..", you know what I mean?  (laughs)  I even walked in one time with no makeup and my hair up... and they said that they don't see me as this and tell me to come in with red lipstick and put my hair down.  There's times when I auditioned to be a doctor and they ask me if I can come back for the stripper role the next day.  So I just go with it.  I'm only young for a while... so I wont be getting these roles much longer.

Did you study the old Friday the 13th movies before you did your scene?
Odessa:  It happened so fast.  I got a call on a Tuesday and the audition was that Thursday.  So what I did was... I happened to have my acting class the night before the audition and it happened to be camera class.  Once a month they put all of our scenes on camera and they pick them a part... tell you what you could have done better.  I did it three different ways and the class chose which way they thought was the best.  I think that really helped me get the part.  It's funny because when I auditioned there was not supposed to be any topless scene at all.  It was just supposed to be my bum from far away.  Then after I book it - they realized for the label that it's not enough.  They said they wanted her to get out of the lake topless - and the girl right next in line behind me was willing to do it.  So I did it, but the role just kept getting worse.  I was supposed to be innocent then they changed my lines.  Then they cut scenes out.  I was upset at first, but I'm over it now. 

 

Odessa:  No, I was happy to get a part.  I didn't even get an opportunity to get a bigger role - those were cast far before I was given a chance. 

 

Odessa:  This is so cheesy.  My very first inspiration besides Cats - it was actually "Flashdance".  (laughs)  And I also loved Janet Jackson.  For acting - I love Sally Fields, Bette Midler, and Dolly Parton.  I love that type of acting.  The women are so funny and entertaining - not boring at all.  But I would die to be on "Six Feet Under".  I guess that's what I have to do to be on there.  (laughs)

 

Odessa:  I'm actually phasing out of doing that.  That's another part-time job that I had where we book people to do promotions.  A lot of actors and models who need part-time work - they book people to do promotions.  I'm phasing out of it because I don't really need to be doing it any more.  But I book big dance shows - so someone might call me and say that someone is having a big party and they need twenty dancers to do a Vegas show.  So I would actually audition and book the dancers - choreographer the show - costume the show.