Dania Ramirez, one of the stars of the film “American Reunion,” says that her experiences growing up poor in the Dominican Republic help her develop her characters in movies and on television.

“I’ve had a life of many adventures, a hard life but good at the same time, and all that helps me because to be honest I can identify with every character I play,” said the actress, who plays Selena Vega in “American Reunion,” in which characters from the successful comedy “American Pie” meet up again 10 years later.

Ramirez said that having had a hard life doesn’t “make me cry,” but rather “I use it to forge ahead.”