Why Mia From Vampire Academy Looks So Familiar

The late 2000s and early 2010s provided an explosion of Young Adult movie adaptations of beloved books. Every studio wanted its version of "Harry Potter" and "The Hunger Games," but it quickly transformed into an oversaturated market. Dozens of movies came out geared toward a YA crowd, and many of them failed to make much of an impression at the box office. One of those was the "Twilight" wannabe "Vampire Academy."

The film's now available to watch on Netflix, and it's quickly heating up the streaming platform's Top 10 Film list. The adaptation follows two best friends who try their hardest to get away from a mysterious boarding school, but they soon find themselves back within its walls. Plenty of students don't have their best interests at heart, especially Mia, played by Sami Gayle, who's a bit too clingy for her own good.

Gayle has acted for the better part of a decade now, and you've definitely seen her before if you're a fan of one specific police procedural. However, she has numerous other credits to her name outside of that. 

Many actors get their start on soap operas. A massive audience exists for these stories, as evidenced by the fact some of these shows crank out hundreds of episodes every year. It can make for a worthwhile avenue to get some experience for someone trying to break into the industry. A few famous faces who started in melodrama include John Stamos, Julianne Moore, and Sami Gayle. 

Gayle appeared in three episodes of the long-running soap, "As the World Turns." It's the first acting credit Gayle has on her resume, and she portrayed Hayden Lawson from 2009 to 2010. The latter year would serve as her big break when she landed a spot on "Blue Bloods." 

She's not the only member of the CBS procedural to pop up on a soap opera. Her co-star Vanessa Ray acted on "As the World Turns" from 2006 to 2010. Ray appeared in over 50 episodes of the series as Teri Ciccone, proving the soap-to-primetime pipeline is alive and well.

Of course, most people probably know Sami Gayle for her role of Nicky Reagan-Boyle on "Blue Bloods." When she first came onto the show, she was just a child and often wouldn't witness the seedy crimes the rest of the Reagans became exposed to as various law enforcement officials. For years, Nicky was always there for the traditional Sunday dinner scenes and offering words of wisdom from the mouth of babes. However, her role on the show has diminished in recent years. 

Nicky went to college and ended up getting a job in San Francisco, which means she's no longer in New York as often these days. She still pops by every so often to enjoy time with her family, but it's clear Gayle has taken a step back from the series. The character arc mirrors Gayle herself, who began appearing in fewer episodes when she also attended Columbia. The time away from "Blue Bloods" has also allowed her to pursue other projects. 

Netflix has played a significant role in reviving romantic comedies for the 21st century. While much of the attention has gone toward the likes of "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" and "Alex Strangelove," there's another rom-com that should be on your radar if you haven't seen it already.

While Gayle was in the supporting cast throughout "Blue Bloods," she shows what she can accomplish in a leading role for Netflix's "Candy Jar." The film sees Lona (Gayle) and Bennett (Jacob Latimore) struggle with being the best on their high school debate team. In a rush to both make it into the college of their dreams, they realize that they never really got the chance to really "live" while in high school. 

Gayle spoke about what she wanted audiences to get out of the movie to Hollywood Life, "I think oftentimes as teenagers transition into young adulthood, we're driven by expectations placed upon us by our parents and our teachers, and our peers, and we forget about our own interests." One thing's clear from all of this: Sami Gayle successfully transitioned from a child star to a well-rounded adult.