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Movie premiere is close to home for local actress
(by Sue Reid - December 23, 2008)
Movie premiere is close to home for local actress
By SUE REID
True to her hometown roots, former Bainbridge resident Haley Higgins, who has a speaking role in the upcoming movie "Marley and Me" starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, will watch the premiere this Christmas Day when it opens nationwide right alongside her family at the Chagrin Cinema.
In fact, the 21-year-old model and actress who resides in South Beach, Fla., missed the star-studded Los Angeles premiere last month because she had a psychology exam. A marketing major in her junior year at Miami University, Ms. Higgins said, completing her education has always been at the forefront.
"I was so bummed out I did not go to the movie premiere," she said. That didn't stop fellow co-star Owen Wilson from texting her that day, Ms. Higgins said with a laugh.
"I was getting texts on my phone during my exam from Owen wondering where I was," she said. She has also maintained a relationship with Jennifer Aniston since wrapping up her role in the movie in July.
"It's nice to have friends like that," Ms. Higgins said. "It is awesome."
Ms. Higgins, who attended St. Joan of Arc School in Chagrin Falls and was a 2005 graduate of Notre Dame Cathedral Latin, began modeling at the age of 14. She said that "Marley and Me" is the biggest production she has ever worked on. In the film, which is based on the book by John Grogan, she plays a character named Shannon. Shannon is friends with a married couple played by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. Marley, who is a yellow Laborador Retriever, is a puppy when her character first meets the couple, Ms. Higgins said.
Ms. Higgins said she is extremely excited to watch the film on Christmas Day. "I can't wait," she said. Ms. Higgins said that, after wrapping up exams, she could not wait to head home to the Chagrin Valley to spend a relaxing week.
"I decided I'm going home for a week," she said. After the new year, Ms. Higgins siad, she will begin "hitting it hard," in terms of her career, reviewing scripts and other acting and modeling opportunities. "I'm not signed to any specific project right now," she said.
Ms. Higgins did complete a test shoot with Victoria Secret, she said, but first must decide the correct path she wants to take in her career.
"My career is so critical," she said, "because I can go the modeling way or acting. I've had a lot of major decisions to make." Ms. Higgins said that accepting one role may result in not being looked at for other things.
"I have to really watch myself right now and decide what kind of path I could go down."
For now, she said, she plans on enjoying the Christmas holiday at home. "I love being here," she said, especially at Christmastime. She has spent time this week shopping in downtown Chagrin Falls and taking her little brother snowboarding.
She was also able to celebrate her father Mick's birthday with him this past Sunday. He is a 1976 graduate of Chagrin Falls High School.
"Everyone is really proud of me," Ms. Higgins said. "It feels so good to be here."
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