Joanna García

Infobox actor

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birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1979|8|10
birthplace =Tampa, Florida, U.S.
birthname =Joanna Leanna Garcia
emmyawards =
spouse =

Joanna Leanna García (born August 10, 1979) is an American television and film actress. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery on The CW sitcom "Reba", her leading role as Hope on the short-lived series, "Welcome to the Captain", and as Megan on the new CW drama "Privileged".

Biography

Early life

García, was born in Tampa, Florida, where she was raised by her mother Lorraine, a Spanish-American homemaker and former elementary schoolteacher, and her father, Cuban Jay García, a gynecologist. [ [http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/en/articles/0,22490,1717409,00.html www.peopleenespanol.com Joanna Garcia Biography] ] [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/63/Joanna-Garcia.html Joanna Garcia Biography (1979-) ] ] [http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/01/Floridian/_Reba__has_a_touch_of.shtml St. Petersburg Times Online: Floridian, " 'Reba' has a touch of Tampa" by Eric Deggans, February 1, 2002.] ] [http://www.superiorpics.com/joanna_garcia/ Superiorpics.com, Joanna García] ] She has one brother, Michael García. She first started performing at the age of 10 when she auditioned for a local theater production and landed the lead. Her parents put school first and she continued to feed her passion by acting in local plays. She was the homecoming queen at Florida's Tampa Catholic High School.

In high school, she was discovered by Nickelodeon and starred for two seasons as Samantha on "Are You Afraid of the Dark?". She had to commute from Florida to Montreal, Canada, where the show was filmed. She then attended Florida State University for a year before dropping out to pursuing acting full-time. Joanna is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Acting career

While in Florida, García guest starred in "seaQuest DSV", "Second Noah" and "Superboy" and several movies of the week.

After leaving college, García moved to Los Angeles, California she was casted in a recurring role on the acclaimed drama series "Party of Five", playing the character Hallie. She had a recurring role on "Freaks and Geeks" (1999-2000) portraying the character of Vicki Appleby the popular freshman cheerleader who spent 7 minutes in heaven with the ultimate geek, Bill Haverchuck (Martin Starr). She has also appeared on "Family Law", "Providence", "Dawson's Creek" and, while guest-starring on "Opposite Sex", became close friends with Allison Mack, who later would star on The WB's "Smallville". The character she played on "Boston Public" was caught performing oral sex in the school hallway in an effort to influence a school election. She also guest starred on the show, "What I Like About You" as Ben's secret wife.

García went on to portray the character of Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery, Reba's (Reba McEntire) oldest daughter on The CW sitcom "Reba" (2001-2007). Most recently, she was featured on the CBS comedy "Welcome to the Captain."This fall she will star in the new CW series "Privileged" (originally known as "How to Survive the Filthy Rich"). On the big screen, García was seen in the feature comedy sequel "American Pie 2" and the comedy spoof "Not Another Teen Movie". She has also appeared in the original television movies "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) and "Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder" (1997). She also guest starred in a controversial role as student "Susan Potter" in a 2000 episode of "Boston Public". She also appeared in the ABC Family original movie "The Initiation of Sarah", which premiered in October 2006. She also was in Reba McEntire's music video "Every Other Weekend" with Reba costar Steve Howey.

Garcia is currently acting in the 2008 "CW" Drama "Privileged", where she plays Megan Smith. She is also to appear in the 2008 movie "A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride", playing Roxanne.

Personal life

García speaks Spanish fluently.

When she's not working, Joanna, who currently resides in Los Angeles, volunteers teaching English as a second language to children in Los Angeles, California. [http://www.tv.com/person/12025/summary.html TV.com, Joanna García.] ] She is also involved with the organization "Make the Commitment" [http://www.makethecommitment.org/] , whose purpose is to raise awareness about cervical cancer. [http://www.maketheconnection.org/docs/press_chicago_20051118.pdf MakeTheConnection.org, TV Star Joanna Garcia Brings Nationwide Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign to Chicago (2005) (PDF)] ] [http://www.maketheconnection.org/docs/press_miami_20051202.pdf MakeTheConnection.org, TV Star Joanna Garcia Brings Nationwide Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign to Miami (2005) (PDF)] ] [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-113813430.html Highbeam.com, "Actress spreads awareness of cervical cancer at U. South Florida-area event", October 4, 2005.] ] She has an organization called "We Reach". The goal of this charity is to assemble an advisory board in the entertainment industry to work with girls around the country to organize charity events in their hometowns. The charity also has the goal of empowering young women. She dated Tennis doubles star Bob Bryan in 2004. García is currently engaged to Trace Ayala. [ [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20207716,00.html JoAnna Garcia of Reba & Trace Ayala Get Engaged] ] They have been dating for two years. Ayala, Justin Timberlake's friend since their childhoods in Memphis, Tenn., is partners with the singer in New York City's Southern Hospitality restaurant and the William Rast clothing line.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2006/12/28/from_lucy_to_reba_a_look.htm Interview With Joanna About Being Cuban]
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* [http://seat42f.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1534&Itemid=9 Interview With Joanna @ Seat42f]