Sunset Beach

Background:

American actress of Costa Rican extraction Priscilla Garita is known for playing Gabriella 'Gabi' Martinez on the NBC soap “Sunset Beach” (1997-1999), from which she was nominated for an ALMA Award. She also portrayed the role of Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald on “Passions” (2004), as a temporary replacement of Lindsay Hartley (the original Theresa), and Lupe in “General Hospital” (2011). She has guest starred in television shows like “Ed,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “Charmed,” Ghost Whisperer,” “Law& Order: LA” and “CSI: Miami.” Her film credits include “Road Dogz” (2000), “212” (2005), “InAlienable” (2008) and “Overnight” (2010).

Garita is a fluent Spanish speaker. She loves watching and playing sports, and spending time with her relatives. She is active in the charities Equity Fights AIDS and Eastern Paralyzed Veterans.

Miss Connecticut Petite

Childhood and Fanily:

Priscilla Garita was born on March 15, 1968, in New York, New York. She was raised in Ansonia, Connecticut, and lived in Costa Rica for six months when she was 12 years old. She earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from the University of Connecticut and studied acting for two years at The William Esper Studio, under the tutelage of Maggie Flanigan.

At age 22, in 1990, Priscilla won the title of Miss Connecticut Petite Beauty Pageant.

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Career:

New York born, Connecticut raised Priscilla Garita started acting when she moved back to New York in 1992. She made her television debut in the NBC soap opera “Another World,” where she played Kathy Wolikowski in 1993. She went on to portray Anita Santos on the ABC soap “All My Children” in 1994 and Rita in the CBS soap “As the World Turns” in 1996.

Garita's big breakthrough arrived when she was cast as Gabi Martinez-Torres in the soap opera “Sunset Beach,” which originally aired on NBC from January 16, 1997 to December 31, 1999. She was nominated for an ALMA for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Soap Opera in 1999 for the role.

Garita made her film debut in “Bright Nights, Dark Days” (1999), which was directed and written by Charmaine Carvalho. In the following year, she worked with Clifton Collins Jr., Greg Serano and Jacob Vargas in the Alfredo Ramos film “Road Dogz,” where she played Lucy. Still in 2000, Garita landed a guest spot in an episode of the CBS medical drama series “Diagnosis Murder” called “Out of the Past” and played the role of Samantha Sanchez in the original pilot for the short loved soap “Titans.” She next appeared as counter girl Jenny in an episode of “Ed” called “Changes” (2001) and returned to film with “Undermind” (2003), an award winning crime/drama directed and written by Nevil Dwek and starring Sam Trammell, Erik Jensen and Susan May Pratt. During August to September 2004, she temporarily played Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald on the NBC soap “Passions,” replacing Lindsay Hartley (the original Theresa) who was on maternity leave.

In 2005, Garita landed the supporting role of Lana in the film “212,” which was written and directed by Anthony Ng. The cast also included Brian Gant, Ajay Naidu, Catherine Zambri, Johnny Sanchez, Michelle Luchese, and Lori Prince. The same year, she also appeared in an episode of “Charmed” called “Desperate Housewitches.”

Garita was cast as a reporter in the 2008 drama film “The Fall,” which was penned and helmed by John Krueger and starred Jimmie Akins, Gregory Beam and Cassius Bronx, and co-starred with Richard Hatch and Jett Patrick in the science fiction movie “InAlienable” (also 2008). She offered a notable guest appearance as Doctor Chase in a 2009 episode of “Ghost Whisperer” called “Birthday Presence.” 2010 saw the actress appear in the Valerie Breiman comedy film “Overnight,” starring Rachel Blanchard, James D'Arcy and Gbenga Akinnagbe, and guest star as Angela Cordero in the episode “Ballona Creek” of “Law & Order: LA.”

Recently, in 2011, Garita guest starred in television shows such as “Off the Map” (as Tica), “CSI: Miami” (as Dr. Galaway) and “Castle” (as Bridge Officer). She appeared with Brooke Burns, George Stults and David Moscow in the TV movie thriller “Borderline Murder.” From June to July 2011, she played Lupe in one of the longest running American drama in television in American history, “General Hospital.”

Awards:
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