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Charisma Carpenter Profile |
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Birth Date: July 23, 1970
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Birth Place: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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Birth Name: Charisma Lee Carpenter
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Height: 5'8"
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Biography |
Charisma Carpenter was born on July 23, 1970, and raised
in fast-paced Las Vegas, Nevada. Even during her childhood,
Charisma was very interested in the performing arts. At the
young age of 5, she was already studying classical ballet.
Although Charisma enjoyed living in Las Vegas, her parents
decided to move to Mexico when she was 15 years old. It was
at this point that Charisma decided to attend the School for
Creative and Performing Arts and do the one-hour commute
from Mexico to San Diego. After she finally graduated high
school, Charisma, like many other young women, decided to
tour Europe.
Upon returning to San Diego once again, she began working
odd jobs to support herself, such as video store clerk,
aerobics instructor and, in 1991, she even spent some time
working as a cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers.
Soon after that, Charisma moved to Los Angeles and took up a
job as a waitress on Sunset Boulevard. But she wasn't an
aspiring actress at the time; Charisma was saving money so
that she could return to school to become an English
teacher.
Her fate, however, was headed in a very different direction.
While she was working one day, a commercial agent discovered
her and recommended that she attend a variety of acting
schools. After sorting through all the schools and courses
offered, Charisma decided to attend Playhouse West, a
reputable acting school.
Because she quickly realized how passionate she was about
acting, Charisma remained there for 18 months to study the
techniques and drama. While she was still in school, she
began doing a multitude of commercials. After approximately
20 of them, she got her first real acting break on Baywatch
in 1994.
Almost two years after her guest appearance on the show,
Charisma landed a starring role on Aaron Spelling's Malibu
Shores. Unfortunately, the show, which also starred Keri
Russell, was short-lived and, once again, Charisma was left
without a solid acting job.
But Charisma's luck was finally about to change. Luckily
enough, her agent sent her out to audition for Buffy the
Vampire Slayer in 1997. Initially, she tried out for the
part of the lead character, Buffy, which ultimately went to
Sarah Michelle Gellar. But the producers asked her to try
out for the part of Cordelia and, lo and behold, she was
picked for the part instantly.
After two years on Buffy, Charisma was offered a co-starring
role opposite David Boreanaz on the spin-off show Angel, and
she eagerly accepted, even though she would continue to play
the same bratty, snobby character.
In the meantime, Charisma appeared in The Groomsmen (2001)
and the made-for-TV movie See Jane Date (2003). She also
made guest appearances on four episodes of Miss Match with
Alicia Silverstone, as well as on Charmed with Alyssa Milano
and Rose McGowan.
In June 2004, Charisma took it all off for Play..boy -- just
the kind of career move we admire.
Regrettably, this is a "look but don't touch" relationship,
as she married her boyfriend of five years, actor Damian
Hardy, in October 2002. They had a baby in March 2003 and
they currently reside in Los Angeles. |
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Other
Information |
Became good friends with Susan Ward after both were turned
down for the role of Maggie Cory on the soap "Another World"
(1964).
Was a cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers' football team.
Named by her mother after a brand of perfume
Auditioned for the role of Buffy on the TV show "Buffy the
Vampire Slayer" (1997), but got the role of Cordelia after
it was turned down by actress Bianca Lawson.
Lost out to Kelly Rutherford in Scream 3 (2000).
She has a tribal sun tattooed on her back.
Gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Donovan Charles Hardy, at
9:50 PM on March 24th 2003 at Cedar Sinai hospital in
Beverly Hills.
After 7 years playing Cordelia Chase, 3 years on "Buffy the
Vampire Slayer" (1997) and 4 years on "Angel" (1999),
Charisma left Angel at the end of the fourth season to give
birth to her son and spend time with him as he grows up.
[2003]
Will be reprising her role as Cordelia Chase in the 100th
episode of "Angel" (1999). The show is currently in its
fifth season without her, considering the Cordelia Chase
character is in a coma. [November 2003]
Is half Mexican and half Cherokee.
Has a rosary tattoo on her left wrist.
She held three state titles when she was thirteen years old
and placed top five for a ballet routine at an international
competition.
She tries to sign only personalized autographs so her
signature cannot be sold on EBay or elsewhere. She also
refuses to sign her MAXIM, FHM, or other revealing photos.
She is one of the only cast members from "Buffy the Vampire
Slayer" (1997) and "Angel" (1999) who refuses to charge for
her autograph at fan conventions. She does it for free.
Her guest spot on Lifetime's "The Division" (2001) as a
young woman attacked by an undercover police officer eerily
resembles a real life incident nearly ten years ago in which
Charisma and two of her friends were attacked by a former
police officer in Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego.
Charisma escaped unharmed, although one of her friends was
seriously injured. The police officer, who had been stalking
Charisma for almost a year, was sentenced to fifty years in
prison.
The role of Delilah in The Faculty (1998) was written
specifically for her, but she turned it down because it was
too similar to her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)
character, Cordelia.
Appears on the June 2004 cover of Playboy with a 10 page
layout inside.
The scars her character Cordelia got after a fall in Buffy
are actually real. As a young child, she fell into a swiming
pool that was under construction at her home, and was run
through by a piece of rebar.
After starring in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997), "Angel"
(1999), and guest-starring in episodes of "Charmed" (1998),
she has become the face of supernatural dramas on The WB.
Her character, Cordelia Chase, whom she had played for years
on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) and "Angel" (1999), was
killed off in the landmark 100th episode of "Angel" (1999).
It was her final appearance on the series, with the
exception of archival footage.
Her characters on both "Angel" (1999) and "Charmed" (1998)
could see into the future.
She is good friends with her See Jane Date (2003) (TV)
co-star Holly Marie Combs. In fact, it was their friendship
that prompted her to play Kira on "Charmed" (1998).
She has two half brothers, Troy and Kenny.
Was in a Unaired pilot called "Like Cats & Dogs"
She speaks Spanish, however she states that she's not
fluent, despite being of Mexican ancestry and spending time
living in Mexico as a child. |
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