Find out what this “Army Wives” actress is up to.

By Morgan McMurrin

Name: Katelyn Pippy

Age: 17

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Best Known For: Her role on  “Army Wives.”

As “Army Wives” gets ready to start filming its newest season, actress Katelyn Pippy dishes to American Cheerleader about her role on the hit show. Check out what she said below.

AC: You’ve been acting since you were nine. What made you want to pursue that career?

Katelyn: I loved musical theater as a child and that turned into a love of acting in general. The idea of putting on a show and telling great stories always appealed to me. There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with working hard on something and then getting to perform it for other people and brighten their day.

AC: What would you say was your big break?

Katelyn: I’m not sure if I’d say I’ve had a big break yet but I’m really grateful to have been able to work on “Army Wives.”  I’ve been on the show through the majority of my teen years, and have basically grown up on. It’s has been a great place to learn and transition into a young adult.

AC: When you auditioned for the role of Emmalin Holden on the hit show  “Army Wives” did you think you’d got the part?

Katelyn: I knew I’d done a good job and that I’d been able to portray what Emmalin was going through in the scene that I read for. But with auditions it’s always a gamble. You never know what’s going to happen, even if you have a hunch about something.

AC: Once you found out you got the gig, who was the first person you called?

Katelyn: I think I called my dad. He was very proud and happy for me. I remember my mom telling me I got the part and I did a little happy dance.

AC: That’s great! What are some similarities that you and your character share?

Katelyn: It’s kind of crazy how many there are actually. We’re both around the same age, which is unusual for TV so, as I becoming an adult on the show, I was in reality as well. Emmalin and I both just graduated and are going through a lot of changes and transitional things as we get ready to go off into the world on our own.

AC: Do you have a favorite episode?

Katelyn: I think my favorite episode was the one where I first came back from a leg injury and started training with my dad General Holden (Brian McNamara). I was actually having a tough time in my personal life and going through some things, but I was proud of the way I was able to not let that affect my work. It actually came out really well.

AC: How would you describe a typical day on set?

Katelyn: It’s a dream. I go in my PJs or sweats and go to hair and make-up where they get me ready to work. I hang out in my trailer and study lines until it’s time to go on set, where we rehearse the scene and then wait for it to be lit before we actually film. When we begin filming we do scenes and they’re shot from a ton of different angles. It’s fun. The cast and crew are great and we all work hard but we try to keep morale up and have a good time simultaneously.

AC: Everyone on our staff is obsessed with “Glee” are you?

Katelyn: Yes, I’m such a gleek! It’d be a dream to work on the show, especially because I come from a musical theater background. I think it’s amazing that they’ve been able to incorporate that genre into a show and that it’s become so popular. It’s turning more people into musical theater geeks, and I like it!

AC: You were recently accepted to Cornell University, congratulations! What are you planning to major in?

Katelyn: Thanks! I’m planning on majoring in theater arts, for obvious reasons, (laughs). However, I’m also going to get a concentration in nutrition, because I’m really passionate about healthy eating and I want to learn more about it so I can help educate others on making better food choices. People don’t think about it but the foods we eat are some of the most personal choices we make because it’s something that we’re actually putting into our bodies.

AC: We heard that you play hockey. That’s a pretty intense sport. What’s your favorite thing about it?

Katelyn: My favorite part is the team aspect, when your whole entire team comes together and wins a game that you didn’t think you had a chance of winning. It’s such a special feeling and I like being a part of that.

AC: Has anything interesting have happened on the ice?

Katelyn: I’m a goalie so I’ve had my fair share of bumps and bruises but the stories I remember are the ones where my team was the underdog and we stuck it out for the win.

AC: Are you playing for the women’s team at Cornell?

Katelyn: Yes, I’m already committed to their team, they recruited me and I looked at a bunch of different schools before choosing. I’m very happy with my choice and that I’l be a part of their team.

AC: Do you think you’ll continue to act while you’re taking college classes, or will you put acting on hold while you concentrate on your education?

Katelyn: I’ll be studying it while I’m at college, so I’m happy about that and I think I’ll finally have some time to do musical theater again. As far as acting professionally, if I’m in the summer or whenever I have free time, I’d love to. But, I did make a commitment to getting an education and I take that seriously, so that’s what I’ll focus on while I’m there.

AC: What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?

Katelyn: I love reading, dancing, singing with my friends in my car, and watching classic movies. Whenever I meet somebody I always ask them what their favorite movie is and I have a list of them that I want to watch. I also love baking! I always have but I’m a vegan now, so I’ve had to tweak a few ingredients.

AC: Do you have any other projects in the works at the moment?

Katelyn: I’ve got a few things in the works right now but I’ll have to see how everything pans out. I’ve been in Los Angeles the past few months auditioning and meeting with different producers and casting directors. “Army Wives” starts filming again soon and then I’m going to head home for the holidays.

AC: Speaking of the holidays, what’s on your wish list?

Katelyn: I was really hoping to adopt a puppy, but I don’t know if it’s going to work out with me going back to set and then school. But, if I can’t get one I’m making sure to tell everybody that if they’re getting somebody a dog, to adopt one instead of buying from a breeder. Check out petfinder.com to find cute adoptable pups in your area!

5 fun facts about Katelyn

1) She’s a vegan for nutritional and ethical reasons, but mainly because she loves animals.

2) She’s learning to play the guitar.

3) She’s really tall, but has like 30 pairs of high heels, she loves them!

4) Her Grandmother is from Thailand so she’s 25 percent Thai.

5) Whenever she’s sad, the only thing that’ll cheer her up is movie marathons and apple pie. When she went through her first big breakup she lived on that stuff. She even perfected her apple pie recipe and says it’s even better now because it’s vegan.

Photo cred: integrated-pr.com

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