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taken by her performance |
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soap opera magazine (nov. 10, 1998) |
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After winning raves as the teenage Reva clone, GL wasn't about to let Joie Lenz slip away. GL's Joie Lenz (Michelle) made her debut as the teenage version of the Reva Clone. When GL execs saw her performances, they decided to keep her in mind for a more substantial part. When actress Rebecca Budig chose to leave the role when her contract expired in November, they gave Lenz a call. "At the end of the week, when they had taped the clone scenes, GL had talked about rehiring me to play Rusty's or Roxie's long-lost daughter,"explains Lenz (whose first name is pronounced Joy). "I would have been involved in the Lewis family, but the writers changed their minds. Then several months went by, and they called back and said, 'Would you like to play Michelle?'" But Lenz isn't overly concerned about stepping into another actress' shoes. In fact, she's had a little help from Budig herself. "I didn't really watch GL other than the two weeks that I was on, so I didn't see much of Rebecca's work. But there was nothing weird between us," Lenz says. "She chose to leave, and she was great while she was on. She told me I could call her anytime if I had questions. Taking over the role was a little nerve-racking at first, but once I got to know everyone and once I got into reading the character, I got comfortable." Although she's a senior in a private Christian high school in New Jersey, Lenz is already an experienced actress. She says the acting bug bit when she was just 7 years old, while she was playing the role of Scout, Atticus Finch's precocious daughter in a community theater production of To Kill A Mockingbird. She's also done several commercials, filmed three sitcom pilots and was featured in the Stephen King film Thinner. "I started out in commercials in Texas. I found out that Ryan Brown (Bill) and I went to the same elementary school, and I lived in Arlington, Texas, for five years, which is where he is from. He and I freaked out when we found that out," she admits with a laugh. When the family relocated to New Jersey, Lenz suddenly felt a great opportunity literally with arm's reach. "When we moved to New Jersey, we were so close to New York City I figured why not check it out?" After she finishes high school and her stint on GL, Lenz says that she plans to go on to college - but she admits those plans may change for the right role. "I think I'm going to take one year off of school. I have two years on my GL contract, with the third year optional," she explains. "I'm looking at UCLA or Pepperdine and want to major in English lit. But there's always a possibility I'll major in acting. And if I do, I'd like to go to London for the three-year program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, because that's really my dream." — L.B. |
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