Talented and beautiful, Emmanuelle Vaugier has all the markings of a rising star. Her passion for acting is as intense as she is, and although she has yet to reach the pinnacle of her career, she’s driven and ambitious, leading us to think that she’ll get to where she ultimately wants to be. Find out where that is and what she’s currently working on. We’re sure you’ll be intrigued

It’s late on a Saturday night and cover girl Emmanuelle Vaugier is in the midst of a game of Blackjack with friends in Las Vegas when I call her for our planned phone interview. Having jetted off to the legendary city from her home in Los Angeles for the day, she politely excuses herself and walks outside of the bustling casino and into the stifling desert heat, explaining that she doesn’t mind the distraction because she’s hardly an avid gambler. Incredibly upbeat, the sultry actress has a voice that’s full of warmth and enthusiasm right from the start.

Turning heads everywhere she goes, this model-turned-actress has a bevy of credits that trail her name, which include (but are not limited to) a role in the WB comedy My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, and most notably in the film 40 Days and 40 Nights, opposite Josh Hartnett. She’s also graced us with the starring roles she’s had in three independent films, including Suddenly Naked, in which she plays a Latin pop sensation, Mindstorm, a sci-fi thriller, and Ripper, a psychological thriller about students that mysteriously disappear after enrolling in a class about serial killers.

Currently, she’s been devoting much of her time to filming the upcoming season of CSI as Detective Flack (Eddie Cahill)’s new partner, Detective Jennifer Angell. As well, she has a role in an independent movie called Mysteria, on which she doesn’t divulge too much information, but says that it’s a psychological thriller, a genre she especially enjoys.

Vaugier’s passion for acting began in her formative years when she first made her début in elementary school plays. And for Vaugier, the personal growth that she experiences with every role that she takes on is especially meaningful. She muses that acting has provided her with the capacity to experience a range of emotions that always teach her something about the human condition, and the propensity to want to connect with oneself and with others in a profound way. “I’m constantly blown away by everything that I’ve learned throughout my acting career about human sentiment. At times, when I thought I had it all figured out, I experience life through a new character and it becomes apparent how complex we really are as people, and in terms of what we want.”

Vaugier’s observations about the human condition have also been heightened as a result of her travels around the world. She explains that she loves to delve deep into a people’s culture by immersing herself in any given environment she finds herself in. The Vancouver native who speaks fluent French (her parents are from France) is especially fond of Asian culture and feels especially connected to Japan and Korea due to the time she’s spent travelling and living there. And if she could learn any language right now, she’d choose Italian. “It’s such a beautiful language and I’d love to be able to communicate in it one day. When I had visited Italy in the past, I wasn’t able to speak the language, and I think it would be satisfying to try.”

With a love for culture that’s only grown over time, Vaugier fed her insatiable curiosity about Egypt by delving deep into the country’s history with the high school projects she was assigned. As such, she developed a keen interest in the lives of the Pharaohs. Asked where she’d go if she suddenly decided to pack her bags and go on an impromptu trip, she’d choose Egypt in a second. “I find the country’s history incredibly fascinating and I’d definitely love to experience Arabic culture.”

While Vaugier admits that she has yet to reach the pinnacle of her career, she’s determined that she’ll reach new heights with every role that she takes on. In fact, she’s constantly pushing herself to embark on new challenges to get to where she ultimately wants to be. Today, her most coveted role involves something she’s long been aspiring towards that’s unlike anything she’s done to date. “I would absolutely love to do a movie such as The Matrix or Tomb Raider, where I’d have to undergo a rigorous training regimen for several months to a year before the film would actually be shot. I think it would be incredibly satisfying to see what would transpire physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

While Vaugier admits that her hours can be grueling – a typical day starts with her getting up and going to the gym in the wee hours of the morning and ends 14 to 18 hours later after a seemingly endless day on the set – she’s up for the challenge. In her heart, she knows that she’s fulfilling her acting ambitions and growing as a person – always pushing boundaries on the human experience, which she’s always valued.

And while many people fantasize about becoming actors, it’s only natural that those in the business dream about working alongside those they’ve long admired. Vaugier’s no exception. “I would love to work with Angelina Jolie. She’s got such sex appeal and such a presence about herself. Meryl Streep’s no exception. She makes acting look so effortless such as in The Devil Wears Prada and I’d be honoured to work with both of them one day.”

And while she retains an element of mystique about herself by not disclosing her age, and remaining elusive about whether she’s actually single (gentlemen, you’ve got to hand it to me for trying), she does open up about what she’s looking for in the opposite sex. “He’s got to have a great sense of humour, be goal-oriented, and be a lot of fun – essentially a guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously.” But in terms of support, Vaugier feels greatly indebted to her family and friends. “They’ve always been very supportive of me and it means so much to me that they’ve been around to share in my success.”

Asked how she would define la dolce vita, she’s imaginative. “It would mean being able to pick and choose the projects that I’d like. As well, it would be me at the French Riviera staring out into the sea with a friend or a lover sipping a double espresso and just being content day after day.”