The Trenches of Show Business

In the Beginning

I dreamed of being in show business since I was five years old and my grandmother took me to see Annie Get Your Gun at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro.

At one point during the show, the actors came roaring on stage riding motorcycles and in that moment I realized I needed to be in show business. I had to be a part of this exciting, magical world.

Army Brat

I'm an army brat and was born in Tokyo, Japan. I went to high school in Germany and lived on military bases throughout the south and Kansas. We moved every couple of years, so I had to learn to adapt.

First rule of Show Business

I went to kindergarten in Greensboro, NC because my father was sent to Iran to protect the Shah, so my mother, brother, and I moved to Greensboro because that's where my parents were from. When my kindergarten teacher announced we would be doing a play, I was thrilled. My dream of being an actress was about to come true. I was thin and cute so assumed I'd be cast as the princess but my teacher had other plans. She cast me as an elephant! Not only that, I had to make my own elephant costume out of paper bags. I was humiliated and horrified but I learned my first show business lesson.

Things don't always go the way you want them to.

I had to suck it up and play my part.

Showbiz, ah the glamour.