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Tia Carrere Profile |
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Birth Date: January 2, 1967
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Birth Place: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Birth Name: Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo
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Height: 5'8"
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Biography |
Althea Janairo was born January 2, 1967, in Honolulu,
Hawaii. A mix of Hawaiian, Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino
ancestry, young Althea is the eldest of two siblings.
We know her today as Tia since her younger sister Alesaundra
had difficulty pronouncing Althea's name. Now with an easier
name -- Tia -- the aspiring singer changed her last name to
Carrera, apparently as a tribute to the actress Barbara
Carrera.
By the age of 11, Tia was taking voice lessons to fulfill
her dreams of becoming a singer, but fate played its part
and Tia was discovered by the parents of a film producer
while in a Waikiki grocery store, who thought she'd be
perfect for their son's film, Aloha Summer.
With a desire to take her new acting career further, Tia
headed to Los Angeles. While there, Tia had also begun to
develop a modeling career, while several bit parts came her
way. She appeared in popular television shows such as The
A-Team, MacGyver, but hit it big when she was cast in the
recurring role of nurse Jade Soong Chung, in the daytime
soap, General Hospital in 1985.
After her 2-year nurse stint, Tia's television resume was
gradually increasing, and included appearances in Tour of
Duty, Anything But Love, Friday the 13th, and Quantum Leap,
as well as credits in Made-for-TV movies such as Noble
House, The Road Raiders and Fine Gold.
Tia then made the leap to the silver screen with film roles
in Showdown in Little Tokyo (where she had a body double
appear nude for her) and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro
Man, both in 1991.
But it was after she co-starred with Mike Myers and Dana
Carvey in the comedy Wayne's World in 1992 (a role she chose
over Baywatch), that American audiences really took notice
of the Hawaiian beauty. As Wayne's dream girl, aspiring rock
star Cassandra, Tia made it clear that she's worthy of a
schwing or two.
Tia contributed several songs to the film's soundtrack,
which wasn't such as stretch for the vocalist. She had
musical experience as the former vocalist of a rock band and
a jazz orchestra. She even released her debut album, Dream,
which didn't end up doing too dreamily, expect for in the
Philippines.
Tia then joined Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes to star in
Rising Sun, and reprise her role of Cassandra in the 1993
sequel to the hugely successful Wayne's World. In 1994, Tia
appeared as Juno Skinner in the Schwarzenegger hit True
Lies, and appeared in the films Treacherous and Hostile
Intentions that same year.
By the time she starred in the comedy High School High in
1996, Tia had already completed at least 15 films, and she
was on her way to even more film and television roles. In
1997, Tia co-starred with Hercules star Kevin Sorbo in Kull
the Conqueror, and provided her voice for Disney's animated
television version of the film Hercules.
In 1998, she made a cameo appearance in the film 20 Dates,
for which she also served as executive producer.
Tia can presently be seen as Sydney Fox in the action
television series Relic Hunter, and starring in the film Shi
(a.k.a. Shi: The Way of the Warrior).
The talented "megababe" lives in Los Angeles, where she is
an active supporter of charitable organizations such as
Planned Parenthood. |
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Other
Information |
Was offered a role on "Baywatch" (1989) but turned it down
so she could audition for Wayne's World (1992).
Worked as a model. She is a singer. Released an album called
"Dream."
Heritage is "part Chinese, part Spanish, part Filipino."
Her little sister could not say "Althea", it came out "Tia."
Had a body double used in nude hot tub scene in the film
Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991).
As Cassandra in Wayne's World (1992), she performed all her
songs as the singer and featured on the soundtrack.
Was an acting contestant on "Star Search" (1983) in 1985;
she lost in her first round.
Has a recording studio at home.
Featured in Playboy Magazine, January 2003 edition
Named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by
people magazine (1992)
She ranked # 69 in FHM-USA's 100 Sexiest Women (2001)
Studied acting in the same class with actor Casper Van Dien.
Cousin of "Maria Antenorcruz" .
Daughter, Bianca, born 25 September 2005 in Los Angeles,
California.
Her husband, Simon Wakelin, is a British photojournalist. |
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