You’ve seen her as the innocent victim in “Friday the 13^th”, the sexy chick with massive firepower in “Bitchslap”, you’ve even seen her naked gracing the cover of Playboy, but there is so much more than meets the eye with America Olivo.  This multi-talented Juilliard graduate sat down with us and broke down her thoughts on nudity, being boxed and the real roles she yearns for.  

Words and Photography by:  Kate sZatmari -  www.kszphotos.com

You've starred in several horror and thriller movies. What drew you to play these roles?

I think most great careers start in horror but doing these films are the toughest as they're usually low budget, long hours, contain a lot of blood, stunts, mistakes, and lot of people wearing different hats.  If you can make it through these shoots, other set experiences are going to be a breeze. Personally I also love the absurd.  Horror, comedy and action movies are so over the top and out of the box, that it makes all the tough work enjoyable. You always become close to your cast and crew when working on horror and thriller films because of the struggles and everyone having to a be a sport to get them done. These movies are never for the money but for the fun of teamwork and the experience in making them.

You've also starred in several action movies where you've played the sexy vixen role.  What drew you to play those characters?

I'm never drawn to sexy vixen roles, they are always offered to me.  Don't get me wrong, I love playing the tough girl and bringing the strength of a female character to screen, but I get tired of it being demonstrated in a "sexy" way. I don't even think of myself as very sexy. I'm quite a big goofy dork so it always surprises me that it's my casting.  I would love to show strength without having to show skin. Sometimes I wish to play the girl next door, but it never happens. Everyone has their acting essence, and mine, so far has been sexy, based on the first few roles I landed.

After completing "Bitch Slap" you posed for Playboy nude, shot by Terry Richardson.  What made you decide to pose?

Do the math: Me, “Bitch Slap”, cover for Playboy plus Terry Richardson equals, too good to pass up. That was a no brainer!  

Honestly, as an actor, our body is a costume. It's tough to be a versatile flexible actor while tugging at your clothes worried about what's showing (unless the role calls for it, of course). The freedom to have your body truly be a blank canvas nude or dressed in any way the character calls for is so freeing. I have spent many years concerned about my body and it was getting in the way of fully committing to the roles I was playing. This was a great opportunity to give up the body issues once and for all. 

Do you find after posing for Playboy more acting doors have opened or have you found yourself boxed in?

Absolutely!  Now a lot of topless roles come my way but I turn them all down.  After showing my breasts in “Friday the 13^th” and my whole body in Playboy, I feel it's time for something new. I will do nudity if it is an important addition to the character not simply for the sake of a gratuitous sex scene.  Disney has also decided to wait on casting me in anything family related due to the shoot which I find to be a double standard. There's an actor who was naked through a pretty graphic scene in “Borat” who has had nothing but a fantastic jolt in his career since that film.  He was on boards on almost every sitcom being produced for major networks for family programming, and yet I had to run up against certain networks claiming “I'm not right for the family audience anymore”.  Why is that?  

You're releasing several movies in 2010 playing various different characters?  What would be the ultimate character you'd like to explore?

I would love to play any role that Sandy Bullock has done. They’ve been quirky, funny roles that had charm rather than sex appeal. I also like roles that radiate elegance and would love to play Maria Callas in her life story.  I am an opera singer as well and I've always felt so connected to her and her story.  I’ve heard that either Anne Hathaway or Eva Mendes may play the role, so it seems I might have missed the boat on that. I would also love to play Maddy Hayes in a revival of the series “Moonlighting”. There are so many fun characters and roles out there that would be a blast.  I am definitely trying to break the sexy vixen mold.