Carla Gugino

Born: 29th August 1971
Where: Sarasota, Florida

The former teenage model is probably best known as the Ingrid Cortez, the mother of the Spy Kids in three instalments of the series.

After a brief stint in New York as a model, she returned to her Los Angeles home to enrol in an acting class.

It wasn't long before she joined the cast of the long-running series Falcon Crest, then later in 1989, she landed her first screen role in the Shelley Long movie Troop Beverly Hills.

The following year, Gugino was tapped to play the youthful incarnation of the title character (played by Winona Ryder) in Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael.

Despite her ascending movie career, she agreed to co-star in a sitcom, playing the journalist girlfriend of a deputy mayor (Michael J Fox) in Spin City.

She left after a dozen episodes in what was reported as a mutual decision.

Returning to California, in the late 90's Carla found several roles in quick succession.

The War at Home and Lovelife did not exactly set box office records, but then she donned a blonde wig and gave an impressive performance as a woman with a secret in Snake Eyes.

Branching out into producing, Gugino debuted in 1998 with the caper drama Judas Kiss, in which she also starred as the leader of a kidnapping plot.

Returning to TV, she joined the cast of Chicago Hope in 1999 for its final season.

Next up was the role of Ingrid Cortez opposite Antonio Banderas in the hugely enjoyable Spy Kids series and its subsequent sequels.

Upcoming projects include the movie version of British playwright Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective with Robert Downey Jr and Mel Gibson.