*Interview With Marisa Ramirez from ABC.Com

Interview With Marisa Ramirez

(From ABC.COM's Face To Face)

" Being in this industry, everyone thinks you have an outgoing personality, but I'm very shy. "

Q: Is this your first time on a soap?
A: I had done some day player things, but this is my first contract role.

Q: What was your audition like?
A: It was actually quite funny because I had broken my big toe a few days before. I had just gotten off crutches because it was a really bad break. I had this stupid little foot shoe on and all these painkillers in my system. I went in not even thinking I would ever get a callback. But, they called me back a few more times so I guess something worked! I auditioned with Mark Teschner, the casting director, and for the screen test, I did a scene with Jacob (Lucky).

Q: Who was the first person you told when you got the job?
A: My boyfriend was in the room with me when I was given the news. He got on his cell phone and called all of his family and then I got on my cell phone and called my mom and my friends from high school.

Q: What was the first day like?
A: Different. It was quite interesting. It was the day when Gia was in the alley picking up the money when she was blackmailing Emily. Jacob (Lucky) and Coltin (Nikolas) grabbed me. I went home with bruises all over my arms from these struggling scenes because they were trying to find out who I was. They were really into their characters I guess, because they were grabbing hold of my arms pretty tightly!

Q: Did you splurge on anything extravagant with your first paycheck?
A: Oh no. I'm not like that. I'm very practical.

Q: Are you getting recognized on the street yet?
A: When I was working for MTV, kids would come up to me and that was cute. Now, older women and men are coming up to me. It's different because you never know what people are really thinking. It's cool.

Q: A quiet evening at home or a night out on the town?
A: A quiet evening at home, definitely. Especially in L.A. because it's so hard to find a good place to go out and have fun. Some of these places out here, you just never know what you're going to get when you get there. Everybody has their little pretentious attitudes and stuff. I'd rather stay at home and bake some cookies.

Q: What would be your idea of the perfect date?
A: Wow! I don't know! I haven't been on a date in a long time. Perfect date? I have no clue!

Q: Are you and Gia similar in any way?
A: There is a side of her that I've always wanted to bring out in myself. It's helping me be more honest with people. It's helping me with my personality because I'm always very shy and I stay away from having an attitude. I went to an all girls school and it was hard to overcome peoples perception of me. People thought I was stuck up, but I was really shy and I wouldn't say anything. I would always try to be overly nice to people. I like how Gia has an attitude. It's a lot of fun. I like that she's feisty.

Q: How did you get started in show business?
A: I started modeling when I was about 13 or 14. I did a lot of modeling, commercials and music videos. Then I started travelling all around the world. I went to Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, Italy and then I really didn't want to model anymore. It wasn't for me. It wasn't my thing. My personality started to grow a little and people said that I should try acting. I read for a guest spot on something and I booked it. That opened my eyes. It was more fun because you get to use everything about yourself.

Q: Last book you read?
A: That's funny. A friend of mine gave me a little book called, "I Wear Sunscreen." They also made a song about it. It's just all the things you need to know about your life and just how to look at everything and be happy about everything. Before that, it was "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger" or something like that. I read that to my little brother the other night.

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A: Just that I am very, very shy. I stay to myself a lot, probably more than I should. Being in this industry, everyone thinks you have an outgoing personality, but I'm very shy. I don't talk to people a lot unless I have to (laugh). Sometimes that isn't such a good thing, but hopefully I'll overcome that someday.

Q: What is one store you always feel compelled to stop in when you're out shopping?
A: There's two stores! It's a tie between them. The first is the Hello Kitty store. You'd think I'd be out of that stage by now but I'm not (laugh). The other is the Puma store. I'm not into high heels and boots and all that. I just wear tennis shoes all the time.

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