Jennifer Stackpole

Project: 'Vacationland; an indie film

Role: Mandy

Jennifer Stackpole had no idea she would eventually pursue acting after graduating from New York's Bard College. The 26-year-old earned a degree in history after switching majors many times (from liberal arts to film to biochemistry), but she soon found her niche as an actor. She saw a casting notice for the independent film Vacationland in a September 2005 issue of Back Stage East and hoped it would be the opportunity to christen her screen career--and she was fight. Her debut film premiered Feb. 16 at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The Maine native says she enjoyed working on the project, calling it a unique opportunity because it gave her the chance to go home. "I grew up in Maine, and the director is also from Maine, so it was nice to be a...