Carla
Gugino was born on August 29, 1971, in Sarasota, Florida. A major modeling agency
discovered Carla in San Diego, and sent her to New York to begin her career when
she was just 15. New York though, was more than she could handle at such a young
age. She returned to Los Angeles in the summer, modeling and enrolling in an acting
class at the suggestion of her spokesmodel aunt, "The Lovely Carol Merrill"
of "Let's Make a Deal" fame. She guested on such mid-80s shows as "Alf",
"Falcon Crest", "Who's the Boss?" and "Webster"
before making her film debut as one of the more spoiled members of "Troop
Beverly Hills" (1989). She played Winona Ryder as a teen in "Welcome
Home, Roxy Carmichael" (1990) before concentrating on TV work.
After a supporting role in the well-received coming-of-age drama "This Boy's
Life" (1993), she had her first lead, as Pauly Shore's farm-bred girlfriend,
in the less felicitous "Son-in-Law" (1993). More small roles followed,
including Sarah Jessica Parker's sister in the comedy "Miami Rhapsody"
(1995). In the animal tale "Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco"
(1996), she and sitcom co-star Fox provided the voices for two dogs engaged in
a romance. In 1996, she also had small supporting roles in Emilio Estevez's Vietnam-era
drama "The War at Home", the marital comedy "Wedding Bell Blues"
and Nora Ephron's angelic fantasy "Michael". In 1998 she played opposite
Nicolas Cage in the conspiracy thriller, "Snake Eyes", and then took
on the role of co-producer in "Judas Kiss", which she also stars. Carla
became a spokeswoman for L'Oreal.