Becki Dennis

Becki Dennis is best known for her roles as Amy Adams nanny friend in American Hustle (2013), directed by David O. Russell, and as the receptionist in Ted 2 (2015) with Mark Wahlberg and writer/director Seth MacFarlane. These recent career breakthroughs are a result of her many years of hard work, determination, and perseverance. Becki Dennis grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, as the only daughter in a household with three brothers. Although her mother and father - a teacher and an accountant respectively - weren't in show business, both of her grandmothers were singers and one was also a professional pianist. Born with her grandmother's genes, Becki began entertaining audiences as a young child at restaurants, holiday gatherings, dance recitals, and even while on board a cruise ship during a family vacation at the tender age of three. As she developed into a highly creative and self-motivated teen, she took her craft seriously, studying theatre, voice, and dance over fifteen hours per week, whilst performing in her school musicals, choral concerts, and talent shows; dancing and competing with a pre-professional Youth Dance Company at places such as Disney World and in a touring cast of "The Nutcracker"; and writing and directing an original play for her senior project at Andover High School. The highlights of her high school years were dancing on MTV's Total Request Live (1998) and playing Madame Thenardier in a production of "Les Miserables," both of which attracted her a lot of attention. It was the latter that sealed her fate as an actor. Becki knew early on that she wanted to be a performer, and at one stage she was seriously considering a career as a professional dancer. When it came time to apply for college, though, she decided that she wanted to major in musical theatre so that she could be a well-rounded entertainer, and ultimately, a triple threat. After auditioning for several theatre programs, she was accepted to and attended Point Park University's prestigious Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, where she earned a B.A. in Musical Theatre in just three years; supplementing her training with courses at Emerson College, Berklee College of Music, and Improv Asylum. While a college student, she found employment acting, singing, dancing, and choreographing for semi-professional theatres, and teaching performing arts classes to youth. Upon graduation, Becki returned home to the Boston area, where she was determined to use her degree to make a living doing what she loves, and she did. Some of her first paid acting jobs were interactive murder mystery dinner theatre shows, standardized patient work, Christmas caroling gigs, and historical reenactments at the Salem Witch Dungeon Museum. Additionally, she and a friend formed a theatrical singing group called "The Stiletto Singers" and the off-shoot children's musical "The Three Singing Princesses," with which they entertained appreciative crowds of all ages at various venues. She simultaneously directed and choreographed over twenty productions for youth theatre companies, high schools, and community theatres. These jobs supported her while she auditioned for, and subsequently performed at, highly regarded professional regional theatres in New England such as the American Repertory Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Palace Theatre, and the Boston Center for the Arts. It was during this time that Becki began transitioning into the film and television mediums; first working as a background actor in major motion pictures, and then segueing into speaking roles in short films, commercials, and industrials, for companies like Staples and Dunkin' Donuts. In order to prepare herself for the adjustment from stage to screen, she studied on-camera acting technique with Sundance award-winning filmmaker and TV director, Jan Egleson, at Boston University's Film School; Casting Directors Carolyn Pickman and Maura Tighe at C.P. Casting and Maura Tighe Casting (now known as Christine Wyse Casting); and writer/director/actor Kevin Lasit at Plymouth Rock Studios (now known as Lasit Talent.) Her first significant booking came in 2007 when she landed a principal role in a long-running national commercial for Boys Town. Soon after that she was selected to be a Top 20 finalist in the acting competition TV show, Casting Call: Spring Break '83 (2009), with celebrity judges Morgan Fairchild, Joe Piscopo, and Adrian Zmed. But, like many television pilots, it never aired. This setback didn't deter her from following her dream, though. She continued to pursue her passion, and has since acted on the set of over sixty films, television shows, and commercials. One of Becki's proudest achievements to date has been playing the lead role in, and being a producer of, the independent feature film Spin the Plate (2016), which is based on the award-winning novel of the same name. The character she portrays in this drama, Jo, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being sexually abused by her father as a child; and as such, this project has stretched her range and challenged her to become a better actor. When not on set, she still continues to hone her craft by participating in Film & TV intensives with many well-known casting directors at the Actors Connection, the Actor's Green Room, the Actor's Key, and Connect Studios in Los Angeles and New York City. She is also currently receiving improv training at the renowned Second City in Hollywood. While finding her way in the business, Becki has dabbled in many different areas, both in front of and behind the camera, including producing, directing, writing, casting, filming, editing, acting coaching, voice-over, stand-in work, and print modeling - all of which have allowed her to understand and appreciate the many facets and sides of the industry. In addition to the aforementioned Spin the Plate (2016), Becki has produced and/or directed music videos and the films Mildred's Millions (2013) and last (2012); the former having been accepted into five film festivals. As a writer, she has recently written her first solo film script "Time to Go," and she freelances for Imagine Magazine. She also worked as an office production assistant on the Adam Sandler movie Grown Ups 2 (2013), and she has recorded voice-overs for such clients as D'Angelo's and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. One of her other greatest accomplishments was creating and starting her own business, Talent Tools, which provides marketing tools and services to performers. The most important lesson that she has learned from trying these different avenues in the entertainment industry is that acting is her ultimate joy and purpose in life, and one that she cannot live without. It is this realization that prompted her to relocate to Los Angeles, where she is committed to pursuing her acting career. She is represented by the Entertainment Lab in LA, 90210 Talent in LA & NY, and the Andrew Wilson Agency in Boston. On a more personal note, Becki enjoys spending time with her husband Justin Buchman, with whom she has been with since 2008 and married to since 2011. They love to listen to live music, eat great food, and vacation by the water, mountains, or just about anywhere, as long it's together. Becki's likable and professional demeanor, persistence, and talent, are the main factors that have contributed to her success. Her versatility and varied background bodes well for longevity in this business that she loves, and she looks forward to having many more extraordinary experiences throughout her journey. Show less «