American Pie actress' big NZ gamble

An actress best known for her portrayal of a scantily clad foreign exchange student in the movie American Pie is heading to New Zealand to play poker.

Shannon Elizabeth has entered the main tournament at the $500,000 New Zealand Poker Championships and will compete in the Celebrity Poker Challenge for Charity in April, Christchurch Casino spokesman Stephen Lyttelton says.

Elizabeth, who was named one of Maxim magazine's hottest women in the world, last year won the first Nicky Hilton Caesars Palace New Year's Eve poker tournament.