I’ve changed my country of residence 5 times. I’m fluent in 4 languages. There are 3 places in the world I call home.

I grew up in a small town in Bulgaria.

My mother is from Russia.

New York City is my home of choice now.

For a few years I lived in Bologna, Italy.

Math was my favorite subject in school.

I don’t like meatballs, but I credit a meatball with saving my life.

I decided to become an actress and move to the U.S. on July 31, 2000.

I didn’t tell my parents or ask for their advice.

I was a very patriotic child and yet I left my country.

My one regret in life is that I didn’t stick with piano.

My first dream was to be a ballroom dancer.

I had a pen pal in middle school and we’re still good friends.

I lean slightly authoritarian.

I didn’t experience culture shock when I first moved to America.

When I was five I staged a play in our living room. I played the old man and had a paper mustache.

For a while I quit acting and wanted to study International Relations.

My favorite chore as a kid was making the bed.

My birthday is on New Year’s Eve.

I came to New York for the first time to get a free can of Pepsi.

I fell and broke my front teeth when I was seven.

I’ve seen Armageddon over forty times.

I’m terrified of sharks, alligators, and volcanoes.

I watched Twin Peaks as a kid and named my barbie doll Maddie. 

In times of trouble I read Chekhov.