Charisma Carpenter Biography

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Birthdate: July 23, 1970

Charisma Carpenter: Avon Girl

Named after an Avon perfume, Charisma Carpenter hated her first name while growing up. Peeps at school teased her by calling her "Chrissy," which she also hated. Charisma spent her early years in Las Vegas and then moved around a few times when she was a teenager. Charisma Carpenter and her family have lived in Mexico and then later to San Diego where she enrolled in a performing arts program at the Chula Vista High School.

Charisma Carpenter: Baywatch Babe:

In 1992, Charisma Carpenter jump right into an acting career by moving to LA where she was cast in over 20 commercials. Charisma Carpenter was also heavily involved in the theatre and performed in many stage productions. Her television debut came on an episode of Baywatch. Charisma later landed the role of Ashley in Malibu Shores and, despite the program's brief run, she got noticed and people said good things about her performance.

Charisma Carpenter is Cordelia Chase:

Next came Charisma Carpenter's audition for the show most of us know her from, Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Originally she tried out for the lead role, (and Sarah Michelle Gellar auditioned for Cordelia,) but Joss Whedon pulled the ultimate switcheroo. The show was a wicked success. And in season three, Charisma Carpenter's character of Cordelia Chase was spun-off onto Angel, where she got more screen time.

Charisma Carpenter: Fallen Angel

At the end of the third season of Angel, Charisma Carpenter stopped being a full-time cast member of the hit WB show. However, she did land another full-time gig - mom. She and her husband, Damian Hardy, had a son, Donovan Charles Hardy, in spring 2003.