So Hood Magazine SoHood.com: Lions Gate is set to release Trapped Ashes DVD on July 15. What do you remember from your time working on Trapped Ashes that you enjoyed or learned from your experience on the set?
Rachel Veltri: I learned so much from working on Trapped Ashes.  I worked with two amazing director’s, Ken Russell and Joe Dante.  I learned so much from both of them and they allowed me to trust my own creativity and create an interesting character out of Phoebe.  I’m very proud of my work in Trapped Ashes and I think people will truly enjoy my segment and the entire movie.

So Hood Magazine SoHood.com: I watched American Pie: Band Camp a while back, I must tell you it's a funny film. How was it like working on the set of American Pie: Band Camp?
Rachel Veltri: It was actually a lot of fun.  I met a bunch of good friends that I still hang out with to this day.  We actually shot in Malibu in a beautiful area so it was a great time and we laughed A LOT!!!!

So Hood Magazine SoHood.com: I read that you were once a flight attendant. Do you miss the travel of flying on a daily basis?
Rachel Veltri: I never miss the “traveling on a daily basis” aspect of the job.  Being a flight attendant actually turned me into a homebody because I got tired of traveling so much.  I had a lot of great times as a flight attendant though.  I do miss seeing all my flight attendant friends on a regular basis, but that’s pretty much it.

So Hood Magazine SoHood.com: Is it true that you were in over 60 romance novels covers? If so, which cover did you like the most?
Rachel Veltri: Oh gosh, that’s a blast from the past.  Yes, I used to do romance novel covers when I lived in NYC almost 10 years ago.  I actually don’t remember any of the names of the top of my head but it was cool to be on the covers.  I remember always thinking those women on the cover looked so beautiful when I was younger and then to be one of those women was a really cool thing.  
 
So Hood Magazine SoHood.com: On the reality TV show For Love or Money in which you were great on Season 3 and 4. Would you consider doing another reality show if they approach you to do one?

Rachel Veltri: Up until about last year I would have said, “No way!  Reality TV type casts people.  I have moved on and want to only be recognized as a serious actress.”   However, I don’t think that’s necessarily true anymore, I have done very well since my days on For Love or Money and it seems like everyone has reality shows these days so I wouldn’t mind doing another one.  But I don’t really believe you can find love on a reality show.  Heck, I can’t even find it in my own life so I’m definitely not going to find it on a 4-week reality show.  It’s just not going to happen.  I actually recently got approached to do The Bachelor.  The casting person assured me, “He would love you.  He would pick you for sure!”  But I told her if she wants to set me up with him outside of the show, that’s great, but I refuse to do another “dating” reality show.  I would do a reality show if they wanted to follow my life or something like that, but no more dating shows.

So Hood Magazine SoHood.com: What's next for you Rachel, do you have any upcoming projects that your fans should be looking out for?
Rachel Veltri: I am not currently working on anything in particular.  I am just auditioning and currently finishing my bachelor’s degree.  It has been a goal of mine to finish my bachelor’s degree for sometime now and I never had the time to do it, so I am happy to finally be graduating this December.  I think is good to have a life outside of the acting world.  It helps to keep me grounded and serves, as a reminder that there is a world outside of Hollywood otherwise it can become quite a consuming industry.

-Inteviewed by Mario Diaz So Hood Magazine SoHood.com
-Special Thanks to Janine McGoldrick for making it happen!