Biography: Charlotte Ayanna

Charlotte Ayanna (born September 25, 1976) is an American actress.

Ayanna was born as Charlotte Lopez in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but moved to Vermont at an early age. She had a troubled childhood, spending thirteen years in foster homes after her mother, Emma, was judged to be mentally unfit to look after her and her two siblings. ^{In 1994, at age 17, she was adopted into a foster home. She has since become a spokeswoman for foster children.}

Her first national exposure was in 1993, when she became Miss Teen USA. ^{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.}

Following her pageant victory, she made guest appearances on television shows including Weird Science and Entourage as an obsessed fan of Vincent Chase who she sends a nude picture of herself. She also appears in the music video for her fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martín's hit She's All I Ever Had.

Her film roles including 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 (2006).

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).

Filmography

• Weird Science (3 episodes, "Dead Can Dance", "Puppet Love" and "Phantom Scampi", 1995-1996) .... Annie / Jessie / Wendy
• Beverly Hills, 90210 (1 episode, "Here We Go Again", 1996) .... Beth Rawlings
• The Steve Harvey Show (1 episode, "Pool Sharks Git Bit", 1996) .... Jody
• Trojan War (1997) .... Nina (as Charlotte Lopez)
• The Secret World of Alex Mack (2 episodes, "The Understudy" and "Without Feathers", 1996-1997) .... Hannah Mercury
• Telling You (1998) .... Allison Fazio (as Charlotte Lopez)
• Profiler (1 episode, "Cravings", 1998) .... Kristen
• Jawbreaker (1999) .... Elizabeth "Liz" Purr (as Charlotte Roldan)
• The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999) .... Tracy Campbell
• Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000) .... Jessie and performer of SEX A.M. and Amazing Grace
• Stealing Time (2001) .... Samantha "Sam" Parkes
• Love the Hard Way (2001) .... Claire Harrison
• Training Day (2001) .... Lisa
• Kate & Leopold (2001) .... Patrice
• Spun (2002) .... Amy
• Entourage (1 episode, "Date Night", 2004) .... Joanne
• Once Upon a Wedding (2005) .... Margarita
• The Insatiable (2006) .... Tatiana
• Push (2006) .... Lisa
• The Thirst (2006) .... Macey
• No. 6 (2006) .... Mila

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

Futher reading

• Lopez, Charlotte (1996). Lost in the System. Fireside. ISBN 978-0684811994. 

References

1. CNN - Former foster child 'Dancing' with Daryl Hannah - January 27, 2000
2. Charlotte Ayanna Biography (1976-)
3. TIENDA BORICUA, Antojitos y más
4. Charlotte Ayanna. | Esquire (July, 2003)
5. A Woman We Love: Charlotte Ayanna by Peter Martin - Esquire.com