Born August 29, 1971 in Sarasota, Florida, Carla Gugino is an American actress. She is known for her roles of Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch, Lucille in Sin City, Amanda Daniels in season 3, 5 and 7 of Entourage, Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids film trilogy, and as the lead characters of the television series Karen Sisco and Threshold. Her feature film work includes appearances in Son in Law, Night at the Museum, Race to Witch Mountain, American Gangster and Faster.
Carla moved with her mother to Paradise, California when she was just five years old. Her father is an orthodontist of Italian descent and her mother is of English-Irish descent described as Bohemian. During her childhood, they moved many times within the state. Her parents separated when she was two, after which she would travel between her father and half-brother Carl Jr.’s home in Sarasota and her Paradise, California home. However, she remained a straight-A student throughout high school and graduated as valedictorian. A major modeling agency discovered Carla in San Diego and sent her to New York to begin a new career when she was 15. New York was more than she could handle at that young age, so she returned to LA in the summer, modeling and enrolling in an acting class at the suggestion of her aunt, Carol Merrill, known from “Let’s Make a Deal” (1963). During her free time, Carla enjoys yoga, traveling and spending time with her friends in Los Angeles.
Gugino’s television work during the late 1980s and early 1990s includes appearances on Saved by the Bell, Who’s the Boss?, ALF, Doogie Howser, M.D. and The Wonder Years. Gugino co-starred with Pauly Shore in the 1993 romantic comedy film Son in Law. She subsequently appeared in the video to Bon Jovi’s 1994 song “Always”.
Gugino first gained notice in a supporting role in This Boy’s life (1993) with De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, and later became a temporary cast regular on ABC’s Spin City (1996). Over the past few years, her appearance in films like Snake Eyes (1998) and the Spy Kids trilogy, and the title role in TV’s Karen Sisco have increased Gugino’s profile not to mention her part in one of 2009’s hottest flicks Watchmen as well as The Unborn and a reoccurring role on the guy-centric HBO hit Entourage.
Gugino appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company play After the Fall opposite Six Feet Under’s Peter Krause. In late 2006, she appeared in an Off-Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’ Suddenly Last Summer opposite Blythe Danner. In 2009, the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) honored Gugino. During the Foundation’s 34th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C., she received NIAF’s Special Achievement Award for Entertainment, presented by her close friend, actress Connie Britton.
In 2011, Gugino appeared as Madame Vera Gorsky in Zack Snyder’s action-fantasy film Sucker Punch alongside Abbie Cornish and Emily Browning. Gugino sang a duet with co-star Oscar Isaac, which appeared in the end credits and in the film’s soundtrack. She also played Henry “Hank” Moody’s Attorney and Love-interest for the 4th season of Californication on Showtime.
In addition to her acting credits, Carla Gugino has a budding career as a producer. She co-produced the 1998 feature Judas Kiss, which co-starred Emma Thompson and herself, and she’s constantly playing around with ideas for future productions. This talented and beautiful woman also served as a L’Oreal spokesmodel in the late ’90s, for the company’s hair products.
Carla Gugino Photo Gallery
