Love is in the air for Riley Dandy.
The actress, who graduated from Yucaipa High School in 2011, recently got engaged and stars in a new rom-com that arrives on Netflix on Thursday, August 25.
“The trailer is really fun,” Dandy said. “This is the first full-length film in which I have been the lead.”
Dandy, who started acting as a child at the former Noble Hearts Theater in Yucaipa, stars in “That’s Amor,” with Isaac Gonzalez Rossi.
She plays Sofia, whose job and relationship explode on the same day – her 30sth birthday. With her mom’s help, she starts over and “meets a dashing Spanish chef who just might be her missing ingredient,” the Netflix trailer says.
“I loved the script because the main character was literally me,” Dandy said of what she likes most about That’s Amor.
“Most of the time when I read a script, I’m excited to find a version of myself within this character,” she said. “As Sofia, the main character of ‘That’s Amor,’ as I was reading it, almost everything she says is something I would say.”
“She’s very clumsy and has a dry sense of humor,” she said, mocking herself. “That’s me to a T.”
Dandy, who has appeared in several films and numerous commercials, took on the part of Sofia after losing several parts with the production company behind That’s Amor.
“I would get really close to projects they were working on and then they’d say, ‘Oh no, we’re going with someone else.’ I was a little discouraged,” she said. “Then they reached out to me and they wanted me to audition for this movie, which is ‘That’s Amor.’ I thought maybe I wouldn’t get it, but … it gave me something to do during quarantine.”
She was wrong. That all important phone call arrived.
The producer called himself and said: ‘Hey, you’re our Sofia. Congratulations,” Dandy said. “It was kind of fun. It was just a lot of work building up to this moment which felt really good after not working for a while.”
“That’s Amor” is just the beginning of Dandy’s latest work. She also has three other projects coming out this year. The indie film Rooted, a horror film making the film festival circuit, another horror film hitting theaters in December, and a Christmas movie for HBO Max, also out in December.
“It’s weird, I’ve worked the most in my life during the pandemic,” said Dandy, who appeared in “A California Christmas: City Lights,” also on Netflix in 2021, the 2018 film “City of Gold,” and Snapchat 2018. “Kappa Crypto” original series.
“It’s been a really exciting year,” she said. “With … ‘That’s Amor’ is kind of the first carpet to be rolled out for what the rest of the year holds.”
Perhaps the year will also include a wedding. Dandy recently got engaged to fellow actor Deniz Akdeniz, from HBO Max’s Flight Attendant. She says no date has been set, so who knows.
Whatever the rest of the year holds, Dandy hopes “That’s Amor” gets plenty of views on Netflix. And, she hopes she can count on some hometown support, just like she got for her other projects.
“It’s been a little overwhelming the response from Yucaipa to be honest,” she said of her latest film “A California Christmas: City Lights.” “Friends, teachers and hometown colleagues have been posting and showing their support and excitement for him.”
She recently published the trailer of “That’s Amor” on her Instagram account and after just one day it had about 24,000 views.
“I think most of the comments have been people from Yucaipa, which is really sweet,” Dandy said.
If the viewership for “That’s Amor” is strong, Dandy hopes it can turn into something more.
“Hopefully we can get everyone to watch it, because if it does well, then we might be able to do a sequel,” she said.
Dandy is also considering a Zoom viewing party or live Q&A on Instagram following the release of That’s Amor. She will announce details if it happens.
For now, though, the focus is on “That’s Amor” and getting everyone to watch.
“I recommend watching with a sangria in hand — and some food,” she said with a laugh.