Staff Writer

Nine-year-old Amy Overton has at least two personalities she can use to help her become successful in acting.

The most prevalent at the moment, says her mom Rebecca Overton, is the "quiet, shy, soft-spoken" honor roll student at Fayetteville Elementary School. The other is the poised, confident aspiring actress who "really belts out her lines" when she has a part to play, Rebecca adds.

Amy confirms that she likes and thrives on "the serious part" of acting. On the movie set of "Letters from a Wayward Son" recently, she said the best times for her were when she was actually called on to "do something" in a scene.

"I had to pretend to be talking to some other children," she says, "and another time I had to run and play tag with two boys."

The children were in the background for the real action between the principal actors, Harry Connick Jr., Patricia Carlson and Pete Postlethwaite. The movie was filmed in Newton County for Avenue Entertainment.

It was Amy's first acting experience, but she fervently hopes it won't be her last. She has had pictures taken for an audition for "American Girl" magazine and is represented by Atlanta's Young Faces. Rebecca says they hope for some work in commercials soon.

Amy did the Newton County movie because of her friend Evan Barron, already an experienced performer. They met "at the football field," because their little brothers, Colt Barron and Andy Overton, played on the same team. Evan's mother, Beth Barron, noticed a resemblance between her son and Amy, and talked to Rebecca about promoting the two for "brother-sister" ads or roles.

Oblivious to any plans for a starry future, Evan taught Amy how to yo-yo, and the two became good friends while "hanging out" at the football games, Amy says.

The multi-talented third grader also cheers for the Fayette County Blue Devils football team, takes piano lessons, is active in Brownie Girl Scouts and enjoys clogging with Rachel Ferguson in Peachtree City. She took tap and ballet lessons for five years, but had to give up dance for cheerleading. That could contribute to being able to say lines clearly on stage, or it could be the vocal workout she and Andy get from the Joyful Noise Choir at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church.

Amy's dad, Gary Overton, transferred here just over seven years ago from Richmond, Va., with the Lorillard Company. Rebecca has a part-time job with Eckerd Drugs on Ga. Highway 85, "and they kid me that I only work when I can fit them in around Amy's and Andy's schedules," she says.

Amy does the typical little-girl things like collecting Beanie Babies and Barbie dolls. But she also collects stamps, says her favorite school subject is English, and considers herself pretty normal even if she is "really different on stage," according to her mom.

Amy says she would eventually like to be as well-recognized as "Mary Kate and Ashley," the Olsen twins who have been on television programs since they were toddlers. But right now, she can't imagine stardom would go to her head.

Replying to a question about whether she would change if she became famous, Amy asked, "Change what?"

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