Former "Deal or No Deal" Cast Member Anya Monzikova Consults on the "Iron Man 2" Set

On the now-canceled television game show "Deal or No Deal," contestants would select one of 26 sealed cases, hoping to find $1,000,000 inside at the end of the game. Inside Briefcase #10, however, Anya Monzikova, an actress and one of the models on the show, found her own stepping stone into the upcoming movie "Iron Man 2" and hopefully a career as an action star.

Stumbling upon "Deal or No Deal"

Born in Vologda, Russia, Monzikova moved to Florida at the age of 8, relocating to Los Angeles years later to further her dreams of becoming an actress. "I kind of stumbled on 'Deal' as an accident, and I modeled as way to make ends meet because, as a working actor, you just don't know when things are going to be slow," Monzikova told Associated Content via telephone. "I learned a lot from it (the show)-it was a great stepping stone. It got me out into the public."

Calling "Deal or No Deal" a really fun show, Monzikova said she and the other models were surprised when production was cancelled. "We were looking at the ratings, and we had the highest ratings for that timeslot. To us, it was a big surprise. It was a popular show, and I get a lot of fans saying that they wish we were still around," she said.

Consulting on the "Iron Man 2" set

Speaking of surprises, Monzikova said her experiences on the "Iron Man 2" set also were unexpected. She appears in a scene with Robert Downey, Jr., but director Jon Favreau also asked Monzikova to do some Russian dialect coaching for actress Scarlett Johansson. "Her character is Russian in the film, so Jon tossed around a few ideas and asked me to translate a few things, which I did," Monzikova said.

Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff, the very agile Russian who uses the code name "Black Widow." "For me, it was a really cool moment because I studied film in college. To have the director ask my opinion about something, it was a real surreal moment. It felt really rewarding-I felt like I was in the right spot at the right time," Monzikova said.

Looking for that empowering, kick-ass chick flick

Monzikova said it would be an amazing career choice to do action films, but it is a matter of finding the right role for her. "I love the action genre. I would like to be able to do my own empowering, kick-ass woman/chick flick," she said.

To keep in top form for that future role, Monzikova practices Wushu, a form of Kung Fu and one of the oldest martial arts. "It's almost like a rhythmic martial art. Karate is very short form, but it (Wushu) flows better. It translates better onto film, especially in the female form."

For now, it is pilot season in Hollywood, and Monzikova is involved in a pilot presentation called "Nat & Olga." "I get to use my Russian accent, and I get to play this kooky character of Natasha who comes over to the United States to try to make it in Hollywood. It's kind of like a 'Laverne and Shirley.' We're going to shoot the teasers for it, and hopefully it will pique some interest in the networks," she said.

"Iron Man 2" opens nationwide on May 7, 2010.