You may not know her by name but chances are her face looks familiar to you.  Charlene Amoia's credits are numerous with parts in "The Young & the Restless", "Seven Pounds", & "90210" but you probably know her mostly from her role as Wendy the Waitress on the CBS sit-com "How I Met Your Mother" (HIMYM).  We at Breakout magazine think Charlene is on the fast track to being bumped up from guest starring roles on hit TV shows,  to having her own starring role on her own hit TV show.  At that point you'll probably say she was an overnight sensation, but that wouldn't be accurate.  When she does receive her own starring role, it will be because of years of hard work and many life experiences that have molded her into the actress that she's become today.

Where did you grow up Charlene?

I grew up in Buffalo, NY and I left there when I was 15 to move to Las Vegas, my father was living there at the time, but my roots are in Buffalo.

People recognize you from your role on How I Met You Mother, was the role written as a recurring role or was it something that became a recurring role?

It was a one time thing that turned into a recurring role. It was the third episode and I had auditioned for a couple different characters, none of which were Wendy the Waitress and they called and said I got the part and I asked which part and they said the waitress and I was like... I didn't audition for a waitress. I always knew that the character would be set in a bar and had the chance of coming back.

So they liked your performance so much that they they decided to bring you back. That says a lot about your talents.

Aw thanks! or it could mean I didn't go and screw anything up. I think the more I was on set, the more I became part of the family and we all got along well.

Charlene states that the cast and crew of HIMYM makes this set one of the best sets to work on in Hollywood and she is always surprised and happy when she gets the call to come back and shoot another episode.

You did an episode of another mega hit TV show called "Glee". Tell me about that?

That came about very last minute. I got a call from my manager at 2pm on a weekday, who said you have an audition today at 4, which is very unusual. So I just downloaded the material and went over there. Usually I have a chance to look at the material and really think about character choices and prepare. I did the audition and they put it on tape with like 10 other girls and sent it off to producers and I got chosen from that tape.  I didn't know that I would be singing at all, so that was a cool little bonus when I got there.

A show like Glee is obviously a big show, so being that you didn't have time to prepare for it, were your more nervous going in?

I wasn't nervous, I didn't think about it because I never really thought I had a shot because they use such big celebrities or young kids, so when this came about I don't know if I necessarily put my eggs in the basket.

It's funny, I hear other actors say that it's the roles that they don't feel they are right for or don't prepare for,  that they end up booking and the ones that they really prepare for, they never book.

Yea, you definitely know what you're talking about. There have been roles where you really invest your life into a roll and have a kick-ass audition and then you never hear anything.

I'm gonna go all Barbara Walters on you right now but you don't have to answer this next question if you don't feel comfortable.  Your bio says that your parents had some sort of addiction.  What affect did that have on the actress that you became?

I think that I saw what drugs and alcoholism can do to a person. I witnessed a lot as a young person and seeing what can happen. It kind of made me really clear on the path that I wanted in my life. I think because I lived it in so many ways, I can take that and bring it into so many characters. The thing I learned from all of that is that I can persevere through all of that.  I shifted through the darkness and found the light.

Do you keep a diary that maybe you'll write your story one day?

I don't keep a diary, I know the story, I just have to find the time and put the energy into writing the story and figuring out what parts of it that I want to share.

I know that was kind of a personal question, but thank you for answering it with such honesty. Let's lighten it back up. What kind of person is Charlene? Are you a girly girly or are you a tomboy?

I think I'm a tomboy who likes to be girly maybe one night a week.  I'm definitely a jeans and Converse girl.

What do you do when you're not working?

I love to see live music and I like to play my guitar.

Oh so you're a musician as well?

Well, I don't know if we'll call me a musician but I like to play guitar.  I find music to be extremely meditative and therapeutic.

Who are your favorite bands?

I like Radio Head, Pink Floyd, The Beatles... I like Eric Clapton. I like Soul Jazzy music as well.  Like Otis Redding.

You have a old school heart!

Totally old school. I listen to newer stuff as well but I find myself going back to the old school.

So who would be your dream leading man? You got a love scene to do with anybody, who are you praying for on the other side of the love scene?

(laughing) I love this question!  That would be James Franco please!  I could probably pick a handful but he's the first person to come to mind for sure.

I can see you blushing through the phone. I always end with this question. What's your biggest fear?

I have this fear, every time before I go to work, that I won't wake up.

Well if that's all you fear, I think you're doing well.  Charlene, thank you for taking the time to talk to us here at Breakout magazine. We wish you the best in your career and look forward to seeing more of you, not only on HIMYM, but also on your very own hit show soon.