Dinah Marler of Guiding Light

Background:

“Guiding Light has just been a dream come true as far as material to play, support from not only Ellen Wheeler our Executive Producer but our headwriter David Kreizman. It’s just been awesome. I’ve never felt so welcomed.” Gina Tognoni

Former beauty queen Gina Tognoni made auspicious acting debut playing Kelly Cramer on “One Life to Live” from 1995 to 2001, during which she nabbed three Soap Opera Digest nominations for her performance. She returned to the show to play Kelly Cramer in the early 2010. From 2004 to 2009, Tognoni became famous for her portrayal of Dinah Marler on “Guiding Light.” She won two Daytime Emmy Awards and a Soap Opera Digest nomination for her work on the series. The American actress has also guest starred in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “The Sopranos” and starred in the webseries “Venice the Series” (2009-2010).

Tognoni is married to Joseph Chiarello. She dated her then “Guiding Light” co-star Tom Pelphrey from 2004 to 2005.

Missouri's Daughter

Childhood and Family:

Gina Tognoni was born on November 28, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was raised in Syracuse, NY and Brisbol, Rhode Island. She attended a Catholic high school and was planned to continue her studies at Emerson College when she scored it big at her first beauty pageant in 1991. She then tried her luck in acting, after the suggestion of a judge of her second pageant.

On November 21, 2007, Gina was engaged to Joseph Chiarello, whom she known through co-star Beth Ehlers. They eventually married on May 16, 2009.

One Life to Live

Career:

In 1991, Gina Tognoni won the title of Miss Rhode Island Teen USA. She went on to compete at the Miss Teen USA Pageant in 1991, where she finished the top 12 in the country and won the title of Miss Photogenic. In 1993, she was named Miss Rhode Island Teen All-America. She was first runner up in the Miss Teen Alll-American Pageant.

Tognoni moved to Los Angeles to become a professional actress. Her first break arrived when she landed the original role of Kelly Cramer Buchanan on the ABC soap opera “One Life to Live.” She played the role from January 1995 to August 2001, and was nominated for three Soap Opera in the categories of Outstanding Female Newcomer (1996), Outstanding Younger Lead Actress (1997) and Outstanding Younger Leading Actress (1998) for her work on the show.

After leaving the series, Tognoni made her feature acting debut in “Pride & Loyalty” (2002), a crime/drama helmed and co-written by Ken Del Vecchio. There she played Stephanie. The next year, she guest starred as Gabriella in “Fastlane,” made her television movie debut with Carly Pope, Brian Austin Green and Sara Sue in “This Time Around” and portrayed Officer Claire in ABC's made for Tv film, “Phenomenon II,” directed by Ken Olin.

Tognoni's next big breakthrough came when she was cast as Dinah Marler on the daytime drama series “Guiding Light.” She appeared in a total of 367 episodes from July 2004 to September 18, 2009. For her bright performance, the actress was handed two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2006 and 2008) and received a nomination in the same category in 2007. She also nabbed a 2005 Soap Opera Digest nomination for Favorite Return.

In 2005, Tognoni played Officer Kristen Vaill in an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” called “Goliath.” the same year, she starred as Barbara in the short movie “Art.” In 2006, she portrayed Catherine Lipman in a “The Sopranos” episode named “The Fleshy Part of the Thigh.”

In December 2009, Tognoni began her role as Sami Nelson on the webseries “Venice: The Series,” where she rejoined former “Guiding Light” cast members Jessica Leccia and Crystal Chappell.

Tognoni returned to “One Life to Live” to reprise her role of Kelly Cramer starting in February 2010.

Awards:

• Daytime Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, “Guiding Light,” 2008

• Daytime Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, “Guiding Light,” 2006