Charlotte Ayanna
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Born |
Charlotte Lopez September 25, 1976 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Film and television actress, beauty queen |
| Title(s) |
Miss Vermont Teen USA 1993 Miss Teen USA 1993 |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss Vermont Teen USA 1993 (Winner) Miss Teen USA 1993 (Winner) |
Charlotte Ayanna (née Lopez; born September 25, 1976) is a Puerto Rican American actress and former Miss Teen USA.
Early life
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
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
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Trojan War | Nina | |
| 1998 | Telling You | Allison Fazio | |
| 1999 | Jawbreaker | Elizabeth 'Liz' Purr | |
| 1999 | Rage: Carrie 2, TheThe 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 | Push, TheThe Push | Macey | |
| 2006 | No. 6 | Mila | Short film |
| 2007 | Insatiable, TheThe Insatiable | Tatiana | |
| 2010 | Errand boy | Candi | Short film |
| 2010 | Rain from Stars | Nora |
Television
| 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 | Steve Harvey Show, TheThe Steve Harvey Show | Jody | Episode: "Pool Sharks Git Bit" |
| 1996 | Secret World of Alex Mack, TheThe Secret World of Alex Mack | Hannah Mercury | Episode: "The Understudy" |
| 1997 | Secret World of Alex Mack, TheThe Secret World of Alex Mack | Hannah Mercury | Episode: "Without Feathers" |
| 1998 | Profiler | Kristen | Episode: "Cravings" |
| 2004 | Entourage | Joanne | Episode: "Date Night" |
Awards and nominations
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
Further reading
- Lopez, Charlotte (1996). Lost in the System. Fireside. ISBN 978-0-684-81199-4.
References
- ↑ "CNN - Former foster child 'Dancing' with Daryl Hannah - January 27, 2000". CNN.
- ↑ Charlotte Ayanna Biography (1976-)
- ↑ TIENDA BORICUA, Antojitos y más Archived February 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Charlotte Ayanna. (Man at His Best).(actress)(Brief Article)". Esquire. July 1, 2003.
- ↑ A Woman We Love: Charlotte Ayanna by Peter Martin - Esquire.com
External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Jamie Solinger |
Miss Teen USA 1993 |
Succeeded by Shauna Gambill |
| Preceded by Lisa Robie |
Miss Vermont Teen USA 1993 |
Succeeded by Christel Marquardt |
