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www.MOSTmag.com // CELEBRITY MAGAZINE // 59QUEEN OF SCI-FI DEFIANCECOVER STORY // ACTRESS SYFY%u2019SBy Denise Smithes, Julie Benz is just as cool as you think she is. The star of hit shows such as Defiance, Dexter, Desperate Housewives, and Angel. MOST Celebrity spoke with the actress about her love for the fans, meeting Jack Nicholson, and her latest project, Circle.Julie grew up in the warm community of Murrysville, a small suburb of Pittsburg. Along with her brother Jerry and her sister Jennifer, they spent most of their childhood on the ice. Training for their ice skating, eight hours a day, the siblings would travel to and from Detroit, Michigan to train with coaches. Although they spent most of their young lives in the rink, it was important to Julie%u2019s parents, that the kids regularly attend school and have normal childhood experiences such as attending school dances.At the age of thirteen, Julie suffered a stress fracture that would force the young talent to retire from the sport. Once ranked 12th in the United States in ice skating, she soon lost her love for the sport. Julie would then go on to channel her desire to perform into acting. With her unique blend of quirky cuteness, the actress would set her sights on a career in film. YPhotography by JOE PUGLIESEwww.joepug.com %u00a0The aspiring thespian attended New York University, studying with the Tisch School of the Arts. Nestled in the heart of Greenwich Village with New York City as her campus, Julie embraced her time in college learning her craft and taking part in student films. One of the few students, auditioning and acting professionally, she would gather real time experience as well as technical training while at Tisch. After completing college, Julie made the move to Los Angeles and started landing various film and television roles. This drive and determination would lead her to a small partas a receptionist in the Academy Awarding winning film, As Good As It Gets. Directed by the talented Jim Brooks, starring with the incomparable Jack Nicholson, as well as Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding Jr., she recalls one of her first encounters with the movie legend, saying %u201cI was trying not to be nervous, he%u2019s just an actor, it%u2019s not a big deal, be cool, don%u2019t be a dork, be cool, and in walks Jack and he%u2019s like %u2018Hi, I%u2019m Jack.%u2019%u201dA consummate professional, she introduces herself and prepares to rehearse what will become one of the most iconic scenes in the film. Swiveling in her chair with nervous energy, the director encouraged her to use her energy in the scene. Recognizing that she is undoubtedly not cool, at all, she stands up mid-scene, %u201cThe room starts to spin and there is this bright light on Jack and I couldn%u2019t remember my next line and all I could say was, %u201cOh my God, you%u2019re Jack Nicholson.%u201d All goes silent on set, Jack lowers his gaze and says, %u201cYes, honey, I am.%u201d