Valerie Azlynn has a big heart – her love for her dogs, acting and those affected with congenital heart disease knows no bounds.
The 34-year-old actress, from New London, Conn., moved to New York City when she was just 17 to pursue her passion. However, it wasn’t until she moved across the country to Los Angeles that things really started picking up for her.
Azlynn’s first big break was on “The Joe Schmo Show,” where she played Piper the Bachelorette. She then had a long string of minor roles in major television series including “CSI: NY,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Castle," as well as movies ike “Tropic Thunder,” “Bewitched” and “Poseidon."
From 2012 to 2014, she played Melanie Sutton, an EMT in working-class Pittsburgh who spent all her free time hanging out at the local bar with her childhood friends. The series ended just as her character was about to finally find love.
Azlynn’s new film, “Dark Awakening,” hits theaters on July 17. The horror flick – about a couple who buys a new house and then finds out the spirits of dead children haunt it – co-stars Jason Cook and Lance Henriksen.
When she’s not working, Azlynn spends a great deal of time doing charity work as the national spokesperson for Mended Little Hearts, a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that helps patients afflicted with congenital heart defects and their families. It’s a cause Azlynn knows all too well, as she was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect when she was just 11 years old. Two years later, at 13, she had open-heart surgery to repair it. Part of Azlynn’s efforts for Mended Little Hearts is to champion the organization’s #RockYourScar campaign.
The actress, who is married to actor/producer Matt Levin, recently chatted with HNGN exclusively about her two adorable dogs, Lady Guinevere Von Darlington and Lady Radha Von Darlington. Here’s what she had to say…
HNGN: Tell me about who we photographed today.
AZLYNN: Today, you shot Lady Guinevere Von Darlington and Lady Radha Von Darlington. Those are their “Downton Abbey” names – their everyday names are Guinevere and Radha.
How did they come into your life?
They came into my life as a present for the anniversary of my open-heart surgery. My husband took me to a rescue group shelter in Long Beach, Hearts for Hounds, and said I could pick out a new buddy. I was set on getting a boy dog and walked about five of them. I didn’t feel like any of them was the right fit. Then, the woman at the shelter brought out Gwenny. She was only 6 pounds at the time – she is now 13 pounds – and she leapt out of the woman’s arms and into mine. I took her for a walk and looked down at her and said, “Guinevere?” She looked up at me and coughed like a honking duck. I said, “OK, I’ve found my dog.” When we went to pick Gwenny up, they brought out her kennel-mate, Radha, to say goodbye to her. They told us she had been returned twice. We took one look at her and thought, “Well, they say having two is the same as having one,” and that’s when we adopted Radha. She turned out to have a serious problem. She was missing a rib and her heart was exposed. The doctor was amazing and had a steel rod made to replace her rib. That’s when we thought of her name, it’s pronounced Rod-a.
Which dog is closer to your personality type?
Gwen and I are kindred spirits, both goofy and quirky. It’s funny, Gwen loves people more, and Radha definitely likes other dogs more.
Who demands more attention?
Gwenny. If she wants to be pet, she will run up to me, hit me with her paw and essentially demand to be pet. She has tons of energy. Radha is perfectly fine sleeping in her bed all day. She’ll wake up, gently walk into the living room, make sure everything is cool, and then go right back to sleep.
What are some of their favorite things?
My older brother gave them a toy that is a stuffed carrot. They love it! They may be trying to tell me they’re vegan!
What do they do that makes you smile or laugh?
I love that Radha will show any visitor at our home where her treats are. She leads them right to the cabinet and barks until you grab her one – it really cracks me up.
Do they ever watch you on television?
They only know me as that woman who gives them kisses and treats. I like it that way.
Do they ever go to work with you?
I wish I could take them to work, but no dogs allowed.
If they could tell us one secret about you, what would they say?
They would tell you that I dance in my bedroom with headphones on, and they look at me like I’m crazy!
What have you learned from having these two dogs in your life?
They’ve taught me about always living in the moment, and the true meaning of unconditional love.
What do they really mean to you?
They are my world! I think about them all the time!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Please, please adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue. There are so many amazing dogs and cats at shelters everywhere. If you are even thinking about getting a pet, rescuing is definitely the way to go. Trust me – one of them will pick you!
For more on Valerie Azlynn, connect with her on social media: Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
