Being part of a theatre ensemble called The Rainbow Company and starring in plays at the Spring Mountain Ranch, Vincent went into high school with plenty of acting experience. Vincent also took theatre as a class her freshman year and was in Durango’s play, “The Sound of Music,” which she believes was a big confidence booster.
“The hardest place to perform is in front of your peers,” says Vincent. “And believe it or not, I was pretty shy.”
When Vincent graduated she packed up, moved to Los Angeles, started college and wanted to give acting a real shot.
“I came out to L.A. with no expectations,” Vincent stresses.
Working hard and staying focused, Vincent’s career path basically paved its own way, however.
“It just sort of happened for me,” says Vincent. “I was in a theatre class at Marymount College and the second week of school a Hollywood agent came to speak in my class. They seemed interested and before I knew it I was running around L.A. going to auditions, doing TV appearances and films.”
The 29-year-old Vincent has since appeared in films such as “Not Another Teen Movie,” “Cabin Fever” and “Everyone Wants to Be an Italian.”
Since it all happened so fast, however, Vincent had to eventually drop out of college. It was a sacrifice she chose to make. Vincent dove straight into working, which cut out most, if not all, of her “carefree” time.
“If you wake up in the morning and don’t feel like working on your career, your career will stop working,” says Vincent, referring to being “selfemployed.”
Vincent attributes the lack of financial stability as the hardest part of being an actress for a career.
“Now that I am older, I see things a little differently. You can’t stop your life for this business because this business won’t stop for your life,” says Vincent.
Facing big decisions such as what roles to take, whether to accept a role that might include nudity and how to promote new books she and friend Jodi Lipper have written (“How to Eat Like a Hot Chick” and “How to Love Like a Hot Chick”), Vincent always remembers to stay true to herself and not overwhelm herself.
“I do at least one thing everyday that’s just for me,” Vincent explains. “I don’t want to miss my life and I spent too many years not having enough fun!”
Vincent is happy with her career thus far and hopes to continue the line of books with Lipper, continue writing for the newspaper The Huffington Post, keep acting in fun and creative roles and hopefully one day have her very own talk or radio show.
“And…um, and I’m getting old! So marriage and babies are definitely in my future,” Vincent adds.
Vincent is a perfect example of where hard work, dedication and determination can get you. As a Durango graduate, her story can inspire all students who have dreams and goals for after high school.
“I hope that all of you reading this are enjoying this time in your life and appreciating Durango because what they say is true: ‘It only gets tougher,’” says Vincent.