‘Tulsa King’ actress who plays Stallone’s daughter is a former Marine lieutenant married to a Green Beret

nypost.com:

Tulsa King,” but in real life, is a former Marine lieutenant. The actress, who stars as Tina, the daughter of Sylvester Stallone’s character, Dwight, a New York Mafia capo exiled to Oklahoma, said her veteran status helped her land the role. “I did the [audition] tapes and sent them in and literally within the next few hours, they said, ‘Sly wants to talk to you,'” Zappardino, 35, told The Post ahead of Veterans on Nov.

11 and the series’ Season 2 finale on Nov. 17.Stallone had already seen her on screen — in the NewDay USA veteran home loan commercials she starred in — which were frequently on television in 2019 and 2020.“Sly saw my commercials . . .

and he loved them,” said Zappardino, who was a public affairs officer in the United States Marine Corps for four years. “Apparently he’s like, ‘If she can make something that boring interesting, she must be a good actress.'”Zappardino said Veterans Day is a time for “remembering those who’ve sacrificed for their country and celebrating their bravery.”“I am proud to be a veteran and wish my fellow veterans health, happiness and the chance to spend the holidays with the ones they love,” she said.

The San Diego native joined the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps while attending Jacksonville University, upon the suggestion of her stepfather, a Marine recruiter.“I just wanted to go straight to Broadway,” she said. “And he’s like, ‘Why don’t you go to college through a Marine Corps scholarship, get a degree in theater, serve your time, and then go do theater.'”Zappardino said military discipline helped prepare her for the acting world. “You wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning to work out, then you go to your classes,” she said.