The Rise and Resilience of the National Floors Direct Girl - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

Trunk ADventures By Adrienne LaValley

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For those of us immersed in pop culture, commercial actors are often just as recognizable as Hollywood A-listers. Yet, we rarely get a glimpse into the lives of these performers who captivate us in 30-second spots. Trunk ADventures aims to change that by shedding light on the familiar faces and voices that infiltrate our lives through commercials. Today, we turn the spotlight on Adrienne LaValley—an actress who has graced our screens in commercials for Pizza Hut, Ferguson, Kit Kat, and, most notably, National Floors Direct.

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TrunkSpace: Can you share with us how you became one of the most recognizable commercial faces and voices in New England, especially through your work with National Floors Direct?

LaValley: Oh, absolutely! National Floors Direct primarily serves the New England area, although there have been some sightings in the tri-state area as well (laughter). I started working with them several years ago, shortly after I entered the acting industry. When I joined the union, they expressed interest in using me again. I agreed, but only if it could be a SAG project, which can be a bit complicated. However, they were insistent on working with me, so they made it happen. It’s been a great gig. We shoot multiple commercials in one go, allowing them to be aired for several years. It’s always amusing to see commercials that were shot three years ago still being broadcast today.

TrunkSpace: It seems like the shelf life of these commercials outperforms most national spots.

LaValley: Absolutely. That’s absolutely true.

TrunkSpac: When did you shoot your first campaign with National Floors Direct?

LaValley: I believe it was about seven or eight years ago when I first started working with them. We recently reshoot a couple of months ago as well. After working with them for two to three years initially, I had to put it on hold when I joined the union. The commercials kept running during that period. They can air them for up to three years, but then they need permission to continue using them. So, we decided to reshoot instead, considering the new deals and seasonal campaigns.

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TrunkSpace: Have the new commercials started airing?

LaValley: Yes, they have! I’ll be in your living room soon, if not already (laughter). It’s funny because I have family in the New England area, and they love the commercials. They feel like I’m having coffee with them every morning.

TrunkSpace: Your spot becomes a part of their daily routine.

LaValley: Exactly! I used to receive messages, although you never know what to do in those situations. I’ve received a lot of private messages and friend requests on Facebook. I created a professional page where I direct people if they want to connect because, personally, I feel that Facebook should be for friends and family. I have pictures of my wedding there, and it’s not something I want to share publicly. I don’t want to appear rude, but that part of my life is private.

TrunkSpace: Unfortunately, people don’t always respect those boundaries on social media.

LaValley: That’s true. I’ve received interesting messages, including marriage proposals and such. It’s sweet, and I appreciate that people are following my career and wishing me well.

TrunkSpace: Marriage proposals are typically reserved for people you actually know.

LaValley: Exactly! Especially in this day and age (laughter). There was one incident though that really touched me. A woman sent me a picture of her two-year-old son kissing the television whenever my commercial came on in the morning. It was incredibly sweet, but I had to direct her to my professional page (laughter).

TrunkSpace: Commercials have a unique way of reaching people. While Person A may watch a different show from Person B, both may recognize the actors from the commercials that air during those shows.

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LaValley: That’s exactly it! When I started doing commercials, it was eye-opening. When you’re new to acting, you’re eager to say yes to everything to pave your way. But you have to be careful about the companies you represent because your face becomes associated with them. As much as I received lovely emails, I also received horrible messages, often from disgruntled customers. Unless the company is truly terrible, there will always be differing opinions. Some people will love the service, and some people won’t.

TrunkSpace: It’s probably safe to say that people assume you work for the companies in the commercials you star in.

LaValley: Exactly! I worked for this car company, which represented various dealerships in New England. People would call the dealership and ask for “the woman in the commercial” to sell them a car. The dealership would have to explain that I couldn’t do that (laughter).

TrunkSpace: Commercials, more than scripted TV, make people perceive the actors as real people rather than actors reciting lines. It makes you more approachable to them. Not everyone realizes it’s still acting.

LaValley: That’s so true! It’s a strange disconnect, especially when it comes to internet bullying. When you first start acting, you’re more likely to say yes to everything. I have whole blogs dedicated to making fun of my appearance. People can be incredibly cruel. As many people say lovely things about me, there are just as many who—well, it’s unbelievable, the things they come up with to mock someone.

TrunkSpace: The internet has become a breeding ground for bullying, unfortunately. Although bullying is not a new phenomenon, it does seem to be more prevalent nowadays.

LaValley: It’s fascinating to me that people have time to watch a commercial and then go online to tear apart the person in it. There are so many better ways to spend your time. People argue that actors open themselves up to this by being in the business, but they don’t consider that many of us start as kids with dreams of acting. Doing commercials is part of that journey. It’s important to remember that behind the faces they’re mocking are good people.

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TrunkSpace: How about in real life? Do people recognize you on the streets or at the gym?

LaValley: Yes, I’ve been recognized a few times. When those commercials first aired, I was stopped midway in New York by a woman who had just come from Boston. She immediately recognized me and exclaimed, “I saw a celebrity!” I remember thinking, “Do we consider me a celebrity?” (laughter). It was a lovely encounter, and I signed her piece of paper. I also had another series of commercials running in New England at the same time, so I knew I was on people’s TVs morning, noon, and night. When I’d go to a bar, people would stare at me from across the room. It’s something that will never feel normal. You don’t know if you should address it or seem like a jerk (laughter).

TrunkSpace: You recently starred in a film called “Hell’s Heart,” which was released on Amazon. Can you tell us a bit about it?

LaValley: It’s a fantastic film. The trailer makes it feel like a horror movie, but it’s actually a thriller centered around a family drama and a love story. I play Lisa, a mother who was murdered 20 years prior. The film starts with her murder and then jumps forward 20 years. The boy who witnessed the murder was living across the hall from Lisa’s family and became entangled with them. He ends up marrying one of Lisa’s daughters, but there are some twists as well. I come back, not as a haunting presence, but as a spirit inhabiting this guy’s body. Everyone gets confused about where he ends and where I begin. Initially, the family doesn’t believe him, but eventually, they do. In a way, it’s the most romantic exorcism film you’ll ever see (laughter).

TrunkSpace: That sounds intriguing! Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us, Adrienne. We look forward to seeing more of your work, both in commercials and on the big screen.

LaValley: Thank you! It was great chatting with you.

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