Reba's Daughter

Background:

“My career didn't go into super-stardom when I got it. I've been able to grow and get better. Joanna Garcia

Teen Choice Award-nominating American actress of Cuban descent Joanna Garcia began acting on a stage production as a child before segueing to television, where she made her debut in an episode of Nickelodeon's hit show “Clarissa Explains It All” (1992). She is well-known to TV audience and picked up her nomination in 2005 for her portrayal of Reba's daughter Cheyenne on the WB's successful comedy show “Reba” (2001-present). Grace also has had recurring roles in the popular shows “Party of Five” (1998) and “Freaks and Geeks” (2000), as well as acted in the Emmy-winning miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon” (1998) and the excellent TV film “Holy Joe” (1999). Other TV shows in which she has appeared as guest star include “Dawson's Creek,” “Providence,” “Opposite Sex” and “Boston Public,” among others. Garcia 's movie credits include “American Pie 2,” “Not Another Teen Movie” (both 2001), “A-List” (2006) and “Parental Guidance Suggested” (2007).

In her spare time, the sparkling, flirtatious-eyed beauty volunteers teaching English as a second language to junior/high school students in Los Angeles. She has an organization called We Reach that will hopefully endow young women and make them trust they can do anything they put their minds to. Garcia is a fluent Spanish speaker.

Tijuana

Childhood and Family:

In Tampa, Florida, Joanna Leanna Garcia was born on August 10, 1979, to a gynecologist and a homemaker. She has a brother named Michael, who is now a medical student. After graduating from Florida's Tampa Catholic High School, where she was named the homecoming queen, Joanna spent a year studying at Florida State University before moving to Hollywood to become an actress. She is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Joanna, who is of Cuban ancestry, has a Chihuahua named Tijuana.

Not Another Teen Movie

Career:

Joanna Garcia had her first taste of performing as a 10-year-old when she auditioned for a local theater production and won the lead. She was immediately caught by the acting bug, but parents' emphasis on studies prevented the future star to subsequently turn professional. To feed her passion, she participated in local plays. It was in high school that Garcia was spotted by Nickelodeon. Following this, she alternated between her native of Tampa, Florida and Montreal, Canada to star in a two-season role as Samantha in the TV series “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” (1994-1996). Previously, she appeared in a 1992 episode of the popular series “Clarissa Explains It All” (also shown on Nickelodeon).

Garcia went on to make her TV movie debut in 1997's “Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder,” a based-on-true story starring Holly Marie Combs and David Lipper as two high school sweethearts who swear to always be together, and have a three-episodic part in the short-lived drama “Second Noah” (1996-1997). She also appeared as Julie Shepard in the acclaimed miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon” (1998), which won an Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries.

Upon arriving at Los Angeles, Garcia landed a recurring role on the popular drama series “Party of Five,” where she was cast as Claudia's (played by Lacy Chabert) friend at boarding school named Hallie. She also acted along side John Ritter and Meredith Baxter on the outstanding made-for-TV drama “Holy Joe” (1999) and landed guest spots in shows like “Dawson's Creek,” “Any Day Now,” “Pacific Blue” and “Providence.” In 2000, Garcia offered impressive recurring turn as Vicki Appleby, the well-liked freshman cheerleader who spent “seven minutes in heaven” with the ultimate geek, Bill (played by Martin Starr) on five episodes of “Freaks and Geeks.”

Next, Garcia found herself guest starring in such TV series as “Opposite Sex,” where she became close friends with Allison Mack, “Boston Public,” “Go Fish” and “ Going to California.” In the meantime, she made two motion pictures released in 2001: “American Pie 2,” a sequel to the 1999 box office hit American Pie starring Jason Biggs, and “Not Another Teen Movie,” opposite Chyler Leigh, Chris Evans, Jaime Pressly, Eric Christian Olsen and Mia Kirshner.

Garcia, however, is probably best recalled as the oldest daughter, Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery, on The WB hit sitcom “Reba” (2001-present), starring Reba McEntire as a Southern soccer mother with three children. Presently still working on the show, she was nominated for a Teen Choice for Choice TV Actress – Comedy in 2005.

The young actress kept herself busy by pursuing other projects. She played Fiona in an episode of the comedy series “What I Like About You” (2004), voiced Liddane for an episode of the cartoon series “Family Guy” (2005), had a supporting role on the comedy/drama film “A-List” (2006) and costarred with Mika Boorem and Summer Glau in the TV film “The Initiation of Sarah” (2006). In 2007, she was featured as Sweetie Pie in “Parental Guidance Suggested,” a sketch comedy film about the embarrassments and joys of teen sex. She also starred as Hope in a television series pilot called “The Captain” (2007). Among her costars in the show are Chris Klein, Raquel Welch, Jeffrey Tambor, Valerie Azlynn and Abigail Spencer.

Awards:
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