Trivia

A self-proclaimed 'homebody' that takes great delight in gardening, cooking and entertaining her friends at home. She is well known among her closest circle of friends for her 'Southern Slush'.

Proud to hail from the Mississippi Delta having grown up in Hollandale, Mississippi (town name was derived from her family name of 'Hays' and 'Holland'). She has two children and two sisters. Her four grandchildren call her 'Honey'.

After graduating from Deer Creek School in Arcola, MS (Class of 1976), she received her B.S. Agriculture & Life Sciences, Mississippi State University in 1980 majoring in Merchandising and minoring in Public Relations/Theatre. It was at Mississippi State that her love of acting was ignited after watching a childhood friend, Steve Fisher in his performance of Mousetrap. Julie Ann was a member of Phi Mu Sorority at State.

Worked as Traffic Coordinator at WXVT-TV in Greenville, MS (where Hoda Kotb made her big break) after graduating from college. She was promoted to Programming Director and did a daily 5 minute program announcing local events in the community. She moved to Memphis in 1982 and continued in the broadcasting field at WLVS-FM which at that time was owned by Sam Phillips (owner of Sun Records and known for assisting the launch of Elvis Presley's career).

At age 51 she answered an open casting call for extras in Kathryn Stockett's number one bestseller turned movie "The Help". After working on the set for just one day she remembered her fondness for acting. Coincidentally the Assistant Director for this film, Don Sparks (whom she met while dining alone at The Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood, MS) also had family from Hollandale, Mississippi and another Delta friendship was launched.