There comes a moment in everyone’s life that defines them. When thinking of Jerry Yang, one would assume his winning the main event at the 2007 World Series of Poker would be the moment Jerry most cherished. However, the moment that changed his life—the one moment that he holds most dear to his heart—is the moment his family was allowed to leave the refugee camps in Thailand. Knowing the promise of opportunity in United States, Jerry Yang took full advantage.

Jerry overcame all the obstacles in his way and beat all the odds—from life as a young boy in Laos, to later obtaining a Master’s degree in psychology, all the way to the final table in Las Vegas. He truly exemplifies what a person can do when following a dre...

Philly born actor and rising star Gregory Michael from the hit show Greek has come a long way into his career. His passion for entertaining was evident at a young age; from theatre to music, Gregory began to come more into his own craft. At the age of 18 Gregory found himself not only performing at the legendary House of Blues but also touring with two of today’s biggest music icons John Mayer and Howie Day. Gregory hails the success of the two musicians that have come into their own craft but never regrets sticking to acting. “Bite the bullet,” says Gregory Michael whose had his list of problems like most struggling actors. “There’s no security for an actor,” but as Gregory can tell you, persistence and determination can be rewarding. This young heartthrob, believe it or not wasn’t always the “heartthrob” you see before you. “I wasn’t popular in high school” remarks Gregory. Being part of the theatre club didn’t help him climb the social ladder but it did help him hone his talent. Many actors typically recognize a family member for their overwhelming success, why would Gregory be any different? In fact Gregory’s mother a former actress herself wanted nothing more for Gregory to stay away from acting. But...

Would you leave the life you’ve always known to try your luck in Hollywood, if you believe you have the talent? That’s exactly what young actress Suzette Tomlinson did. She drove more than 2 days westward from her home in Chicago to LA with her dog, and it appears that her exotic features and talent were just what Hollywood was looking for. Mateo Magazine caught up with Suzette Tomlinson as she dishes on current projects, and what it's like to be an up and coming actress in Hollywood.

Mateo Magazine: Ms. Suzette Tomlinson, it looks as though you’ve had an amazing start to 2010.
Suzette Tomlinson: There has been a lot of activity in my career this year. I feel like a very lucky girl! There's nothing like starting the year off with a movie and having the opportunity to work with amazingly talented people.

Canadian actress Rahnuma Panthaky has a lot on her plate these days.  This beautiful South Asian actress is lighting up both the stage and the screen with her contagious smile and alluring eyes.  Having played opposite actors Chris O'Donnell in The Company; Tony Shaloub in Monk; and Jon Voight and Lou Gosset Jr. in Jasper Texas, to name just a few.  Fresh off shooting the new NBC series, The Bridge, Rahnuma is co-founder of two Toronto-based theatre companies, BANG Productions and Maya Theatre. She is also in development of her very own TV Pilot, Way Past Curfew.

Rahnuma is no stranger to giving back.  She is actively involved in the Stop Racism Campaign and has been a facilitator and team leader at the International Youth Conference Against Racism in Hanover, Germany.  We are definitely watching out for you Rahnuma...just take a second to breathe.

To most Canadians, Tonya Lee Williams is best known for her role as the beautiful Dr. Olivia Winter on the popular daytime drama The Young And The Restless—a role she played for 20 years and for which she received two Emmy nominations and two NAACP awards (plus a recently announced 2010 nomination).

But before the years of playing opposite hunky on-screen husband Kristoff St. John, this Ryerson grad was also recognized for her work on another popular daytime show, albeit for a totally different demographic. (Okay, I’ll guiltily admit that I still like watching it in reruns.) That’s right, kids—she was a host on the hit series The Polka Dot Door. In reality she only did three weeks of the show, but it aired so often that people think she was on it forever.

It’s been a long journey since those days of constantly missing Polkaroo, and Williams has tackled everything from working on television and film to running the Publicity Group and the successful Reel World Film Festival, now in its tenth year.

Born is Surrey, England, Georgina Reilly began her professional career, at ten years old, as a singer on the popular BBC Children’s series, Time.

Today Georgina has blossomed into a beautiful young actress making waves in the television and movie industries here in Canada. Seen in such films as A Hindu’s Indictment of Heaven, which opened in the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, and in television shows Valemont on MTV and How to Be Indie on YTV, Georgina is slowly becoming a force to reckon with in Hollywood North.

Georgina is currently working on the feature film Sons 2 The Grave, which is being shot in Toronto. She plays the role of Nicole Ryan.

Make it or break it!  It’s a term often heard when every young starlet sets foot in Hollywood.  However, it is also the title of the successful ABC Family series about competitive Gymnastics.  For Canadian born actress, Chelsea Hobbs, “making it” in this town has clearly already happened.

Born in Vancouver, British Colombia, Chelsea is a refreshing change to the “young celebrities” of Hollywood.  Down to earth and very easy going, she represents a new face of Young Hollywood. 

I sat down with the lovely fellow Canuck in LA, to chat about her experiences as a young actress “making it” in Hollywood, and landing the role in the ABC new series, “Make it or Break It”.