It’s not every day that dancing at a restaurant leads to a job in show business.
But that was the case for Alexandra DiNovi — a Hinsdale native — who was approached about a dancer role for a movie set in Chicago while still in high school.
“He said, ‘I think you’d be great for this dancer role in this movie,’” DiNovi, 23, said. “I thought he was joking. He then asked what I did. I said I wanted to be a lawyer, but I really wanted to be in the movies.”
A week later, DiNovi was on set of “The Break-Up” dancing with Vince Vaughn.
“It was crazy,” DiNovi said. “It was really surreal. Some scenes got deleted and I didn’t have a speaking role. I got asked to do the strip poker scene and I said no.”
Before moving to Los Angeles to pursue her entertainment career, some of DiNovi’s favorite activities in Hinsdale included Hinsdale Central football games and dining at Jade Dragon.
“[Jade Dragon] is a really good Asian place,” said DiNovi, who was the captain of the poms team in high school. “One of my favorite Hinsdale spots. Really good food.”
While growing up, DiNovi took to the arts because of her father.
“My dad is so creative,” DiNovi said. “He’s a storyteller. My dad would always make up stories and tell them at night and come up with a whole fairytale of a story he would weave.”
After her performance in “The Break-Up,” DiNovi has appeared in a number of television series and starred in multiple shorts.
She points to winning Best Actress in a Short Film for “Purity” at the New York International Film Festival in 2010 as being the breaking point in her career.
“It changed everything for me in LA,” DiNovi said. “I felt like I was part of the young Hollywood world. I was getting invited to all kinds of interesting events, films and premieres.”
DiNovi is excited about her upcoming opportunities.
“There’s a film shooting in West Hollywood this summer,” DiNovi said. “I’m in talks with the writer. I fell in love with the character. It’s something that’s never been done before. It’s a view of Hollywood that only a cab driver could have.”
In addition to acting, DiNovi plans to explore her writing more thoroughly.
“I’m writing a book,” DiNovi said. “Over the summer, I had 263,000 hits on my blog in one day. I thought I should publish some of my writing. It will be notes on love in LA, New York and Chicago.”
To be closer to her family, DiNovi now splits time between her places in Chicago and West Hollywood.
“I miss my family and spending quality time,” DiNovi said. “When I first moved to LA, I would only come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s nice to see some people.”
DiNovi attributes much of her success to the Beverly Hills Playhouse and Allen Barton.
“It’s a place where working actors can go and truly help each other,” DiNovi said. “Los Angeles has been really kind to me. That is a place where I feel really comfortable.”
In addition to show business, DiNovi — a graduate of Loyola Marymount — said her dream of being a lawyer like her father might still be in the cards.
“I’m considering going to law school,” DiNovi said. “I’m looking at a school in Chicago.”
And what about her work in the industry?
“One movie or project a year,” DiNovi said.
Latest Tweets
February 11, 2013 12:49 am
Excellent article! Alexandra, you seem like you have a very bright and successful future ahead of you.
February 11, 2013 11:11 am
I went to high school with you. Stop lying about your age. You are not 23
February 17, 2013 11:44 am
It’s not every day someone gets an article written about them being an uncredited extra in a movie from 2006. Kudos to the writer on the big scoop!
February 17, 2013 5:50 pm
If you know of people from the area doing noteworthy or exceptional things, please email mschwerha@suntimes.com. Would be more than happy to share the things people have going on.
Thanks,
Matt
February 18, 2013 3:10 pm
I have a hamster that stayed on his wheel for 2 hours! I put it on Youtube and got 67 hits! Let me know if you want an exclusive!
February 17, 2013 11:59 am
I was once a stand-in for Bernie Mac when they shot “Mr. 3000″! Contact me if you would like an exclusive interview. Oh the stories I could tell!
February 17, 2013 12:10 pm
Second City would like to congratulate our stage alumni, Alex DiNovi on all her success! We’re not totally sure when she was on one of our two resident stages, but her website says she “graced the legendary stages” here for two whole years! Don’t know how we missed her!
A great idea for an article would be a piece about young actors and the frequent mistakes they make while attempting to appear more successful than they are. A young actor should not be ashamed of just taking classes at Second City, or just being an extra in a movie, or working hard and making her own short YouTube videos. When that actor grows up a little, gets more experience and starts performing and earning some LEGITIMATE CREDITS, that actor may look back on the lies and exaggerations with embarrassment. She should not be ashamed of the work she is doing on her way up her career. But lying on your resume diminishes the work you’re doing, and honestly, makes you a big joke. When a casting director looks at an IMDb page full of “shorts” and “uncredited” roles, they are going to move on to the next page very quickly.
February 17, 2013 2:07 pm
As a BIG TIME Hollywood casting director, I am constantly on the lookout for actors who are uncredited dancers in a flop of a movie from 7 years ago to put them in my BIG Hollywood movies and make them famous! Thanks to the LaGrange for the tip on such a hot, young Hollywood talent!
February 17, 2013 2:24 pm
Dear Mr. Schwerha,
My name is Ronald J. Pulitzer and I would like to inform you that you have won the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism for this piece on one Ms. Alex DiNovi. Admittedly, this award is a long time coming, as your interview with a Mr. Bob “Sir Jokes-a-Bunch” Tonent, the featured stand-up comedian at the Zanie’s Comedy Club in Tallahassee, FL was a masterpiece. Your ability to delve deep into your subject’s psyches and report their otherworldly delusions as if they were facts is unparalleled.
Congratulations on the award and we look forward to seeing what your future brings.
Sincerely,
Ronald J. Pulitzer
Head of the Pulittzer Foundation
February 19, 2013 11:55 am
This chick is wack, son. Check it, I WAS IN THE DEER HUNTER, yo.
P.S WHERE BROOKLYN AT!?
(Edited for explicit content.)
February 19, 2013 5:41 pm
The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFAVF) is still up and coming but still has a lot of good films and videos in it.
The NYIIFAVF goes back to 2001 and not only that, but it’s not just in NY! in ’05 the NYIIFAVF had awards in Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles (again and just celebrating the month of September) and then back to New York for November! Man! These guy are everywhere! You may think that having 6 different awards shows would cheapen it or make it stale. But if you thought that you would be a complete nincompoop. Like partying in Wrigleyville, awards shows get better every time you do it! The NYIIFAVF is no exception. Plus if you have them six times so many more people get to win! Which is really what its all about.
Alexandrea now stands aside some of the past winners of the NYIIFAVF like Oksana Lada and Sarah McGuinness.
http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/
May 6, 2013 2:48 pm
Hi All,
I don’t typically respond to any sort of negative energy, haters, or unhappy people. However, I’d love to clear up a few things and after this, I will not be reading any responses, so if you have any other negative energy bottled up, I suggest you share it elsewhere.
*My tax returns continue to list “The Second City” as one of my past long-time employers. I worked for The Second City Chicago, as an actor. Thanks. You can ask my longtime friend Kevin Farley, if you don’t believe me. Or ask anyone else who worked with me there. Thanks, carry on.
*I won Best Actress in the New York International Film Fest and Best Film Noir in Beverly Hills. Google it. Call my agent and leave me alone. The New York International Film Festival is extremely elite, exclusive and yes, I won Best Actress in 2010. It changed my life and energy in Los Angeles. I became bi-coastal and was constantly traveling back to New York as a result. I am so grateful for that festival and everyone who is a part of it.
*Of course I studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. This is the best acting school in the world and I’m only sad that I studied many years and wasted my talent with far too many people and places before I found this secret gem. BHP is the real deal.
*My age: I am so flattered by this because people tell me I look much younger than I am. I usually get 20 or 21. I typically get cast in high school roles and I’m flattered. However, my parents both look extremely young, so I’m sure I get it from them. Either way, I love to keep people guessing!
*My life: I have everything and more than I’d every hoped for and dreamed could actually come true. I have a line-up of spectactular projects in the works for 2013-2014-2015. I have an amazing, loving, supportive family. I am surrounded by inspiring artists and truly the cream of the crop in LA. I have a life in LA and life in Chicago and a strong network of close friends and colleagues in New York. What more could a girl want? A husband? Kids? Maybe someday, but I’m not sure that’s what I want or need. Either way, I’m on this journey, doing what I was born to do and feeling so much gratitude for my life. I’d like to enjoy this and just ride the wave.
As they say, “Haters are going to hate.” Leave me alone and stay out of my way. Find something you love and try doing that. Thanks, carry on.
-Alex DiNovi