Texas-raised Mandy Amano became "the face that launched 1,000 websites" after her Pepsi commercial premiered during the Super Bowl. This led to appearances in MAXIM, countless online magazines, blogs, and comic books -- most notably SHI and RONIN HOOD OF THE 47 SAMURAI.
A genre girl at heart, some of her favorite roles have been starring as "O," the ultimate modern femme fatale, in the neo-noir thriller PROXY KILL; the fierce and fiery fighter pilot “Oujo” in SQUADRON (still in production); and “Thalia,” the little but lethal Black Ops vampire, in BLOOD SOLDIERS.
She landed a pivotal role when Academy Award-winning writer/director Steven Ayromlooi cast her as “Princess Kyoko” opposite the mighty Evan Parke in film festival/comic con phenomenon THE SUN DEVIL AND THE PRINCESS, which racked up a show-stopping 20 awards -- including two Best Actress wins for her portrayal of the strong yet ethereal princess.
Next up is the dream role of “Minako” in two-time Golden Globe, five-time Emmy Award nominee, and legendary Broadway director Robert Allan Ackerman and Sohee Park's neo-noir dark comedy, KOREATOWN, which is being developed as a feature film directed by Steven Ayromlooi.
Described as "Audrey Hepburn ... who could kick your ass” by SHI creator Billy Tucci, Amano is very passionate about representation in media, particularly for her fellow Asian/Eurasian brothers and sisters. Frustrated with the lack of opportunity for Asian actors, Amano decided to take her destiny into her own hands and create her own projects.
Amano has written a streaming pilot called ULTIMATE GIRL & JO -- a superhero buddy story about two women, Sarina and Jo, who learn that friendship is the real superpower and that, sometimes, saving the world means saving each other.
Always having had a heartstring for those who embody the warrior spirit ~ and, taking great pride in her Japanese American paternal grandfather Robert Kiyoto Amano, a WW2 veteran who was part of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) ~ it made perfect sense that on September 12, 2014 at the “Cycle for Heroes” fundraising event for The Heroes Project (THP), a spark (more like a fire) would ignite within Amano for what would become one of her deepest passions... honoring and supporting the lives of our nation’s heroes when they come home. She continues to be as active as she can with THP and also holds dear several other veteran organizations: Final Salute Inc and their Ms. Veteran America Competition, Rock to Recovery, VME (Veterans in Media & Entertainment), Homes for Our Troops, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, Heroes & Horses, and VETPAW, to name a few.
