Lia Lando-Reynolds This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Corning Leader

   www.the-leader.com/articles/20 - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/6/2003   Last Visited: 10/6/2003

   NEW YORK | When Corning native Lia Lando-Reynolds hears the words "Lights! Camera! Action!" a spark of ambition swells up inside her.
   
   She's already one step closer to a recently developed dream of becoming an actress. Lando-Reynolds currently is dipping her toe into the pool of stardom by playing the part of "Janelle" on ABC's "One Life To Live."
   
   Janelle is a manicurist, or "nail-tech" in politically correct terms, Lando-Reynolds said. She works in Foxy Roxy's, a new hair salon in the soap opera. The fact that Janelle is pregnant works out well for Lando-Reynolds, who is 8.5 months pregnant, expecting a boy in mid-November.
   
   Lando-Reynolds said her character currently is in the category of "five-lines and under" on the soap, but hopes to one day be promoted to a full-time, contracted role.
   ...
   "The fans have a lot to do with it - decisions are really viewer-based," Lando-Reynolds said.
   
   Five-lines and under means what it says - right now Janelle - or Lia - is allowed just five lines or less an episode, the latest of which will air on ABC Oct. 15.
   
   Lando-Reynolds began her television career at Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications, acting in television, radio and film productions while earning a bachelor's degree in television, radio and film.
   
   People in the Corning area likely recognize her through her maiden name as a broadcaster on WETM-TV Channel 18 in Elmira, or maybe from her small-stage acting career at West High School.
   
   She is a 1995 graduate of West High and the daughter of Donald and Chylene Lando, part-owners of Lando's nightclub on Bridge Street in Corning.
   ...
   Watching the towers fall to the ground that morning, Lando-Reynolds knew she couldn't take her agent's advice about accepting a job in Texas. Instead, she moved to the city to be with her fiance, and now her husband.
   
   "Something like that makes you put things in perspective," Lando-Reynolds said, speaking from her home in New York City. "I have come to believe that if you put the right things first in your life, then everything else is going to fall into place."
   
   Lando-Reynolds found work in New York City as a freelance reporter for News 12 in Westchester. She also worked selling wine and liquor.
   
   Acting evolved when she took classes with the casting director from "One Life To Live." A year later, she was asked if she wanted a small part on the show.
   
   "I came home that first night and said to my husband, 'that is all I want to do for the rest of my life,'" Lando-Reynolds said. "Everyone was so nice. The set is amazing - it is like walking into a huge, life-size doll house."
   
   Lando-Reynolds said she will continue to act, especially on soap operas, regardless whether her character is promoted on "One Life To Live." She is taking a class with the casting director of "All My Children," a soap on ABC, and hopes to land a role on that show as well.
   
   Lando-Reynolds said being pregnant has meant slowing down a little, but once the baby is born she hopes to pick up the pace again and continue to pursue small acting roles, maybe even bringing her baby into acting as well.
   
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