Jennifer Hudson Show / YouTube Ariana Madix
Competing on Vanderpump Rules opened many doors for star Ariana Madix, but reality TV wasn’t her original plan.
During a November 13 appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Madix opened up to host Jennifer Hudson about her childhood dreams and why she still took the risk to be on the Bravo show 10 years ago.
“It’s crazy. I was a theater student, I was a theater kid, I always wanted to be on Broadway,” Madix said. “I lived in New York for a while, and when I moved to LA, that just wasn’t the case [coming together]. I took acting classes but it was hard, I’m starting from scratch, I didn’t know anyone, I had no connections, nothing.”
Although she found it difficult to get cast in projects and find her big break, Madix continued to take classes and try to develop as an actress. She said: “It was actually my acting teacher who said, ‘You know, if Martin Scorsese isn’t knocking on your door to try to cast you in a film, you have to say yes to the opportunities that come your way.’ Make of it what you can.’”
Ariana Madix reacts to the Vanderpump Rules Season 11 teaser
When Madix had the opportunity to join the cast of Vanderpump Rules in 2013 (first in a recurring role in the show’s second season), she listened to her acting teacher’s advice. Looking back, she told Hudson she’s glad it did because “it’s been 10 years, which is crazy to think about, but it’s opened so many doors.”
According to Bravo, Madix originally worked as a bartender at Lisa Vanderpump’s now-closed West Hollywood restaurant Villa Blanca. She was transferred to SUR just in time for the second season of Vanderpump Rules. At this point she was already friends with her colleague and co-star Tom Sandoval. Fans of the series followed the two as they entered into a long-term relationship, which ended in season 10 when it was revealed that Sandoval was having an affair with fellow cast member Rachel Leviss behind Madix’s back.
In the series’ upcoming 11th season, the cast will process their emotions following the explosive revelation and subsequent media frenzy. A first look at the season was shown at BravoCon 2023 as part of the “Vanderpump Rules” panel.
Hudson asked Madix what she thought about seeing the new trailer for the first time, and Madix replied, “It was the first time ever.” [the cast] had seen it, along with all the fans. And of course it’s very intense and it was a really hard summer [when the new season was filmed]. So seeing that with everyone else was an added level of intensity.”
Ariana Madix is releasing a cocktail book
In addition to her current appearance on the 32nd season of “Dancing With the Stars,” another door is opening for Madix: she is becoming an author. After writing a book called “Fancy AF Cocktails” during her relationship with Sandoval, Madix is releasing a solo book called “Single AF Cocktails” on December 5th.
In her original announcement, Madix described the book as her version of a “breakup album, the story of our relationship and the betrayal that ended it all, told through drinks.”
To celebrate the release of her book, Madix will be hosting live shows in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. Tickets for the early December shows are on sale now.
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Henry Sinnott is an entertainment reporter who covers HGTV, The Voice, American Idol and Teen Mom for Heavy. Henry lives in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Binghamton University. He loves everything related to comedy and reality TV. More about Henry Sinnott
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