For three days, Grace Rex sat at the long dinner table, waiting for her chance to steal the moment from Vince Vaughn's character by piping in during his anniversary-dinner speech in the recently released movie "The Dilemma."
Finally, on the fourth day, Rex had her chance. As Cousin Betty, Rex exchanges lines with Ronny (Vaughn) about the importance of "similar interests" and the relevance of second cousins — a moment captured in the film's trailer.
"This was one of those totally random, lucky things," Rex said about getting the part in the weekend's No. 2 movie in America.
Rex, a 2008 Ball State graduate, said she auditioned for the part while visiting Chicago. She didn't hear she had been given the role until a few months later.
"They called me, and I had no idea what they were talking about. I didn't even remember," Rex said with a laugh.
Rex said she filmed her scene for "The Dilemma" in July in Chicago, where the movie is set.
The opportunity to work on a big production was intimidating while also exciting, Rex said, but Rebecca Spence, who played Jackie in "The Dilemma," had a great piece of advice for her.
"It's not about you, in any way, shape or form," Rex said about the tip. "Your job is to learn and observe.
"That was really helpful to me, because it is really overwhelming as you're kind of being thrown around everywhere."
Working with an all-star cast, including Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connolly and director Ron Howard, was a rewarding experience.
"There were a bunch of super-famous people in the room, which is kind of surreal, because they were just being normal people — asking questions, trying to figure out what they were doing," Rex said. "It was cool to just sort of watch at how everyone did their thing."
Vaughn would do run-throughs of the scene sticking to the script, Rex said, then Howard would let Vaughn ad lib for a few takes.
"It was incredibly hilarious and sometimes kind of horrific, the things that came out of his mouth," Rex said.
Before Rex took the part, her agent told her this would be a fun experience, and the prediction was correct. Rex said the atmosphere on the set was more laidback than some she had been on.
"I think the director really sets the tone, and Ron Howard is very efficient," Rex said. "But he's also having a good time."
Along with Rex's Ball State tie, the characters also have a Ball State connection. In the movie, best friends Ronny and Nick met at Ball State and the university is referred to a couple of times.
Rex said she didn't know how the Ball State reference made it into the movie, but she thought it was an amusing coincidence as the film uses many references to the Midwest.
She hasn't seen the movie yet, but Rex said she was grateful to be included in the previews for the film.
"I was so happy to just be in the trailer at all," she said. "I've definitely been cut out of movies before and that's a not-so-fun thing. It was a huge honor to be in [the trailer]. I think I got a lot of press just from it]."
While at Ball State, Rex developed a strong professional relationship with assistant professor of theater Karen Kessler. The two worked together in a pair of productions at Ball State. Kessler directed Rex in "Polaroid Stories" and they acted together in "The House of Yes."
"She was someone that, since I've graduated, that I've stayed very close to," Rex said.
Kessler had nothing but high praise for Rex, adding that Rex has a "Bohemian spirit."
"She's an extremely talented young lady," Kessler said. "More than that, more than the fact that she's got just a natural talent as an actor, her work ethic is terrific.
"She loves the work. She loves the art of acting."
Kessler called Rex one of her favorite students at Ball State. She said acting with Rex in "The House of Yes" gave them a special bond.
"Acting with somebody is even different than directing and acting," Kessler said. "When you're on stage with somebody and you're acting, you just get to know in a whole different way."
Rex and Kessler, who continue to stay in touch through Facebook and texting, also collaborated at the Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago for the play "Pumpgirl" in the spring of 2009.
The fact that professors in the Department of Theatre and Dance have a career outside of the university is one of the strengths of the program, Rex said.
"It's one of those cool things about the department that there are a lot of professors that still direct professionally or act professionally," she said.
Since graduating, Rex has made appearances in both comedic and dramatic roles, including a guest role on "E.R." and "State of Romance," a comedy show pilot she filmed for NBC.
Rex enjoys acting in both comedies and dramas, she said. She wants to get roles in various genres so she can't be typecast as an actor.
"I tend to do comedy. That's sort of the thing I get pushed for more often," she said. "People really do type you, though. I don't want to lose the ability to do drama, because it's just as fun and interesting."
Rex's next film is an independent feature called "Say When" she filmed over the summer. The movie tells the story of a man and woman lost in their 20s and 30s who develop a friendship.
"It was very low budget. It was very collaborative," she said. "[It's] equally as exciting [as "The Dilemma"] in a totally different way."
"Say When" will do the festival circuit in the spring, Rex said.
For more on Rex's career, check out her website at gracerex.com.
To view "The Dilemma" trailer, go to thedilemmamovie.com.
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