Lauren Tewes was still fairly new to the entertainment industry when she was cast as Cruise Director Julie McCoy in the hit sitcom, The Love Boat.

During an interview with the Toronto Star, Tewes revealed that although she had a love of performing, she had previously worked waiting tables to pay the bills.

"I started out as a waitress when I was 16," said Tewes. "Mother wanted me to take up typing. But I refused. I knew if I learned how to type, I'd spend the rest of my life at it instead of acting. I knew my waitress work would be temporary. I wasn't going to make it my career."

Watch The Love Boat on MeTV!

Sundays at 5 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

But once she had achieved celebrity status on The Love Boat, fans and critics everywhere immediately recognized Tewes' skill and ability on the screen. Many compared her talent to another talented woman in comedy, Mary Tyler Moore. Though Tewes was flattered by the compliment, she was determined to succeed in her own right.

"Mary is terrific," said the actor. "I like her style and admire her work. It's nice to be compared to her, but I want to be me."

Luckily, working on The Love Boat was a wonderful place to achieve success, as an actor was surrounded by costars who wanted nothing more than to see them succeed.

"I'm surrounded by a wonderful professional cast," said Tewes of her fellow Love Boat castmates. "They're all veterans who have gone through what I'm going through now — the first big part  — and they're really helping me."