Adrienne Janic broke out as a model, after several successful acting appearances, she is now hosting some of the biggest car shows on national television. Here she discusses how she has crossed over from modeling to acting and how she is flourishing professionally and personally.
JB: So you have a new show, Hot Import Nights, coming out that you're hosting. What's the premise?
AJ: It's on the Speed Channel and it's a fun automotive show. It's not just imports. It's a traveling car show and it goes from city to city across the United States and people come out and enjoy cars from, of course, your imports, like your Hondas and Toyotas. We do Euros: your BMWs, Audis, Mercedes, Lamborghinis, to even modern muscle cars. We do a lot of American muscle cars. We're across the board with this stuff. There's a little something for everybody. It's a lot edgier and sexier than my other show Overhaulin' was. It's got a different vibe to it.
JB: It sounds like it's a little different than what you did early on.
AJ: Oh yeah.
JB: I understand you were acting and dancing since age 6, was this professionally?
AJ: You know, that was kind of a school thing. I always loved performing. I put on shows for my parents. My brother and I would get up with the video camera, rehearse and then record ourselves and then have a movie night. I just loved performing in front of people and that's how I got my start. I performed in high school and through college and I thought, "Wait a minute, I could probably get paid for this." So it started at an early age.
JB: Coming from a Yugoslavian and Mexican background, that's pretty unique.
AJ: It's quite the mix because no one can figure out what I am. "Oh, are you South American?" I've gotten Russian. People can never guess what I am. So it's kind of fun.
JB: How has that shaped your life?
AJ: You know, they're two completely different cultures. Of course, the food... My mom would make her Mexican dishes and my dad would make his famous Serbian food as well. But you know what? I've never really thought about it. Growing up for me was just normal. I think it definitely affected my life and my brother's life, in that we're very open. Open to all cultures, all religions, and all different kinds of people. Our parents are from two completely different countries. So definitely, we were raised as accepting to all people.
JB: How many siblings do you have? Is it just your brother?
AJ: Yes, he's my little big brother. He's 6'8", he's the athlete in the family. He's a professional basketball player. I am not athletic or coordinated at all when it comes to sports.
JB: So you just stick to the stage and being on camera?
AJ: Yeah, he's the one who's camera shy. He just loves his basketball. He tried to teach me how to play, but I just don't have that hand-eye coordination when it comes to a ball and just throwing it in the basket. I'm just better off on the sidelines cheering him on.
JB: On your show, Overhaulin', you pulled pranks on unsuspecting victims. Would you describe yourself as someone who enjoys pulling pranks or practical jokes on people?
AJ: You know, I'm a jokester, but not to the point where I have to do something every day. I mean, for the show it was fun and it was more about improving and kind of seeing what I learned in acting school and also in theater. You have one shot to get it right and sometimes it doesn't go the way you think it's going to go. So you got to think of something really quick. But it was fun. I had a great time pranking people and pissing them off. But at the end of the day, I was just doing my job and it was fun.
JB: What do you prefer: improvisation or scripted acting?
AJ: Improv is fun, but sometimes it's going to work and other times it's not. I do like scripted. I love being a character or somebody else. I'm kind of in the middle because improv can be fun because you can create your own scenario and your own character. But scripted, I like. I just like to perform. I like to make people laugh, cry and stir up emotions. I love entertaining.
JB: Do you think you've gained a better knowledge or appreciation of cars after being in the motor world?
AJ: Definitely. When I first joined Overhaulin', I knew nothing - and you can put nothing in big bold capital letters - about cars. I was very honest with the network production team about that. I was modeling and acting at the time, and they hired me to pull pranks on the show and that was pretty much it. I was offered the role of co-host and I thought it was cool, but then I thought, "Oh no, I know nothing about cars." There's no way I can do this job. But they were like, "Don't worry, you'll be the voice of the people who don't know cars and you can ask the questions that they would normally be asking at home." So I figured, why not. I ended up catching the buzz. As far as cars go, on Overhaulin' I totally got what the excitement was about. I used to date this guy who was obsessed with cars and it drove me nuts and it got to the point where we ended up breaking up over it. And I'm thinking, "Oh no, he's probably watching me now on Overhaulin' thinking, "What a bitch." He's probably saying, "She used to give me all kinds of crap for working on my car and now she's working on a car show." But I get it now and I actually love it.
JB: Do you have a particular dream car?
AJ: Yes, it's the 1968 Firebird. I helped design and build one on a show called Hot Rod TV for the Speed Channel. I decided, "Hey you know what? I've been on Overhaulin' for a couple years. I think I should have my own muscle car." So I felt that the Firebird was the best because it was both masculine and feminine at the same time. The reason I say masculine is that this car… I want people to see this car on the road and be like, "Oh let me get out of the way!" But then it has curves. I knew that the Firebird was for me and I collaborated with a company called Year One and it's my dream car. I'm getting her in November, so I'm excited.
JB: You deal with a crowd of car enthusiasts. I would think that that crowd can get rowdy at times. What's the worst that's ever happened?
AJ: For the most part, everyone is very, very respectful. And people think, "Oh these car guys are rowdy." Or they're kind of crazy like the NASCAR fans. But I would have to say car people are the nicest people I've ever met. But there was one guy though, in Canada, and he kind of got mad at me. This was at an autograph signing and apparently I met him the year before. I meet a lot of people. So he comes up to me and says, "Hey, you remember me?" And I'm thinking, "Oh my God." I look at him and go, "You know what, I'm sure I've met you in the past. I meet so many people, but please forgive me if I don't remember your name." And then he goes, "What do you mean you don't remember? I brought the pictures for you to sign and then we talked about this and how we…" And I thought, "Wow, this guy's crazy." He really got upset with me for not remembering him. But I would say he's the only one that has been a little bit on the rude side or kind of scary. He just got a little upset.
JB: It seems that a show like Overhaulin' can be quite time consuming. What do you like to do in your free time to unwind?
AJ: When I was on Overhaulin' we worked year round. We had, like, no breaks. So when I did have a couple of days off just being at home, sleeping in my own bed, having my own bathroom, even just a walk around the neighborhood was relaxing. The same goes for Hot Import Nights because I do travel. Like, every other week we go somewhere for the show. Basically just hanging out at home with my friends, going out to a restaurant for dinner is relaxing.
JB: Besides modeling and hosting gigs in the car world, what would be your ultimate career?
AJ: I would love to do films. The only thing about films is, because I've done so much television, I move at a faster pace. On a film, you probably do one scene in a day, where I'm used to shooting several scenes in a day. So that's probably the biggest drawback of film. I get really impatient. I just want to go like, "Okay, do we have a shot? Let's go! Let's move onto the next one." So that would probably be the only thing I wouldn't like about film, but I think it would be a good experience, so we'll see. Maybe I'll have some big screen opportunities in the next few years.
JB: Do you have any influences or roles models you idolize?
AJ: I would have to say my parents overall in life. They both immigrated to the United States at a very young age and pretty much came to the U.S. with nothing. And they worked hard and have very good work ethics, so they definitely instilled that in my brother and me at a very young age. Nothing's for free. Don't take any handouts or anything. You have two arms, two legs, you're healthy, so you work for everything that you want. So I would definitely say I'm a hard worker. I have a hard time accepting gifts because I feel like, "Oh gosh, what did I do to deserve this?" I like to work for things and it means more because I can say that I earned that with my hard work.
JB: What do you like better: acting or modeling?
AJ: I go back and forth. Modeling is fun because I love all the hair and the makeup and the clothes. And I always say I should have modeled in the 80s because that was like the peak of the big hair and the makeup and lavish clothing. But acting is so much fun because of the character work of it and you can really dissect the character and be that person. So I don't know, I go back and forth because sometimes I'll be acting or doing TV and I have a photo shoot and think, "I don't miss modeling." I have a lot of fun, but when I'm doing a photo shoot I think, "Oh gosh, I want to be in a movie or doing this show." So I'm all over the place.
JB: Where do you see yourself in, say, ten years?
AJ: Hopefully still working in Hollywood because it's definitely a tough industry. I would have to say ten years is open because there are so many crossovers from, you know, actors becoming hosts and hosts becoming actors, so I think now there's so much crossover that it's just easy to be a working energy, a TV personality that goes 'zing', so I would like to continue working as an actor.
JB: Halloween is right around the corner. Do you have a costume picked out?
AJ: That's how busy my schedule is. I have no idea. I knew Halloween was coming up, but I didn't really think about it until I was out in a store, actually yesterday. Everyone was in their costumes and I'm like, "Oh no, I don't have a costume and it's this Friday." So I don't know what I'm going to do. Probably concoct something. Maybe I'll just wear all black and put a red hourglass on my stomach and be a black widow. I just have no idea. I honestly thought Halloween was a week or two away and I had time, so I'll think of something.
