Charisma Carpenter

Name: Charisma Carpenter
Birth Name: Charisma Lee Carpenter
Height: 5 feet, 7½ inches (1.71 m)
Sex: Female
Nationality: American
Birth Date: July 23, 1970
Birth Place: Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupation: Actress
Education: Gorman High School in Las Vegas; Bonita High School in San Diego; Chula Vista School of the Creative and Performing Arts (graduated in 1989); Playhouse West; Junior college in San Diego
Relationship: Damian Hardy (actor; together since 1997)
Father: Don Carpenter (salesman; divorced from Carpenter's mother in 1983, reconciled and remarried, divorced a second time in 1996)
Mother: Chris Carpenter (works in a bird sanctuary; born 1939)
Child: Son, Donovan Charles Hardy (born March 24, 2003; father, Damien Hardy)
Claim to fame: As cheerleader, Cordelia Chase in Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Facts: She has a birthmark on her jawline, a tribal sun tattooed on her back and a rosary tattoo on her left wrist. A cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers' football team who appeared on the June 2004 cover of Playboy with a 10 page layout inside.
Awards: She was nominated for Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films ‘Best Actress’ for Angel four times.

Filmography: Actress

• See Jane Date (2003) (TV)
• The Groomsmen (2001)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000) (Video Game) (voice)
• "Angel" (1999/I) TV Series
• "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) TV Series
• "Malibu Shores" (1996) TV Series
• Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 6, Last Battle for the Universe (1996)
• Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 1, Planet of the Dino-Knights (1995)
• Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 2, the Human Pets (1995)


Biography

Named by her mother after a brand of perfume, Charisma Lee Carpenter was born July 23, 1970 in Las Vegas, NV. Chrissy, half Mexican and half Cherokee, showed a passion for the performing arts even as a young child. At five, she was already studying classical ballet and joined the beauty contest circuit.

Her family moved a lot (in Las Vegas, Mexico, San Diego). She was a cheerleader in high school and toured Europe right after graduation. She briefly worked as a video store clerk, aerobics trainer and in property management before she became a cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers in 1991. The next year, she relocated to Los Angeles where more projects poured in.

Charisma attended Playhouse West, a reputable acting school. She made over 20 commercials and starred in several theater productions, like "No, No, Nanette" and "Welcome Home, Soldier." The 5’7 stunner proved to be natural on TV, appearing in Baywatch in 1994. She caught the eye of Aaron Spelling and auditioned her for the role of Ashley in "Malibu Shores" (1996) with Keri Russell. Charisma auditioned for the title role on the TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997), but got the role of Cordelia instead. Her character was well-received that she was transferred to a bigger role on the spin-off series "Angel" (1999) starring David Boreanaz.

When not working, Charisma likes rock climbing, horseback riding, roller blading, hiking, and even skydiving; at times, she likes writing poetry, too.