Charlotte Ayanna
| Charlotte Ayanna | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charlotte Lopez September 25, 1976 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Other names | Charlotee Roldan |
| Occupation | Film and television actress |
| Years active | 1995-present |
Charlotte Ayanna (née Lopez; born September 25, 1976) is an American actress and former Miss Teen USA.
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Early life [edit]
Ayanna was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but moved to Vermont at an early age. She had a troubled childhood, spending sixteen years in foster homes after her mother, Emma, was judged to be mentally unfit to look after her children.[1] In 1994, at age 17, she was adopted into a foster home.[2][3] She has since become a spokeswoman for foster children.
Career [edit]
Her first national exposure was in 1993, when she became Miss Teen USA.[4] Charlotte co-authored a book titled Lost in the System, published in 1996, detailing her childhood and subsequent rise to Miss Teen USA. She later changed her last name to "Ayanna", meaning "blessed" in Cherokee.[5]
Following her pageant victory, she made guest appearances on television shows including Weird Science and Entourage. She also appeared in the music video for fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martín's hit She's All I Ever Had. She also starred opposite Martin Freeman from The Office in the Parisian band, Ilya's music video, Bellissima.
Her film roles include Jawbreaker (1999), The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999), Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), Kate & Leopold (2001), Training Day (as Ethan Hawke's wife), and Love the Hard Way (2003) with Adrien Brody. She also starred with Sean Patrick Flanery as the sexy vampiress in the horror-made-for-DVD movie The Insatiable (2007).
Filmography [edit]
Film [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Trojan War | Nina | |
| 1998 | Telling You | Allison Fazio | |
| 1999 | Jawbreaker | Elizabeth 'Liz' Purr | |
| 1999 | The Rage: Carrie 2 | Tracy | |
| 2000 | Dancing at the Blue Iguana | Jessie | |
| 2001 | Stealing Time | Samantha 'Sam' Parkes | AKA, Rennie's Landing |
| 2001 | Love the Hard Way | Claire Harrison | |
| 2001 | Training Day | Lisa | |
| 2001 | Kate & Leopold | Patrice | |
| 2002 | Spun | Amy | |
| 2005 | Once Upon a Wedding | Margarita | |
| 2006 | Push | Lisa | |
| 2006 | The Push | Macey | |
| 2006 | No. 6 | Mila | Short film |
| 2007 | The Insatiable | Tatiana | |
| 2010 | Errand boy | Candi | Short film |
| 2010 | Rain from Stars | Nora |
Television [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Weird Science | Annie | Episode: "Dead Can Dance" |
| 1996 | Weird Science | Jessie Wendy |
Episode: "Puppet Love" Episode: "Phantom Scampi" |
| 1996 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Beth Rawlings | Episode: "Here We Go Again" |
| 1996 | The Steve Harvey Show | Jody | Episode: "Pool Sharks Git Bit" |
| 1996 | The Secret World of Alex Mack | Hannah Mercury | Episode: "The Understudy" |
| 1997 | The Secret World of Alex Mack | Hannah Mercury | Episode: "Without Feathers" |
| 1998 | Profiler | Kristen | Episode: "Cravings" |
| 2004 | Entourage | Joanne | Episode: "Date Night" |
Awards and nominations [edit]
In 2002 she won the Best Actress award at the Valenciennes International Festival of Action and Adventure Films for Love the Hard Way (2001) tied with Kajol for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001).
Won best actress of the season, at The Equity Dorset Summer Theater Festival for her role as Brook Ashton in the farce, Noises Off.
See also [edit]
Further reading [edit]
- Lopez, Charlotte (1996). Lost in the System. Fireside. ISBN 978-0-684-81199-4.
References [edit]
- ^ "CNN - Former foster child 'Dancing' with Daryl Hannah - January 27, 2000". CNN.
- ^ Charlotte Ayanna Biography (1976-)
- ^ TIENDA BORICUA, Antojitos y más
- ^ "Charlotte Ayanna. (Man at His Best).(actress)(Brief Article)". Esquire. July 1, 2003.
- ^ A Woman We Love: Charlotte Ayanna by Peter Martin - Esquire.com
Diane Sawyer Turning Point Documentary, The Charlotte Lopez Story "Can Dreams Come True" for ABC.
Aug 1993 USA Today
Good Morning America with Joan Lunden, August 1993
Today Show, August 1993
External links [edit]
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