AllMovie

A seemingly ubiquitous television presence in the later '90s and early 2000s, JoAnna Garcia has been appearing on the small screen since she made her debut in 1992 in Nickelodeon's popular Clarissa Explains It All. Later taking on a more substantial role on that same network with Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Garcia began her transition into film with the sequel to the popular teen sex comedy American Pie. A native of Tampa, FL, Garcia got her first taste of stardom when she landed the lead role in a local theater production at the age of ten. Developing an insatiable appetite for the spotlight following her debut, she was discovered by Nickelodeon while in high school and was soon making the notable commute from Florida to Montréal to appear in Dark. Though she would attend Florida State University for a year after graduating high school, the call of the Hollywood hills was too hard to resist and the aspiring actress dropped out to relocate after landing a role on the made-for-television movie Holy Joe (1999). Turning up in such popular shows as Party of Five and Freaks and Geeks (in which she turned in a memorable performance as popular cheerleader Vicky Appleby) soon after, Garcia also scored with distinctive roles in Boston Public, Providence, and Dawson's Creek. Returning to television for her role in Reba after her feature debut, Garcia could next be seen on the silver screen as a Tourette's Syndrome-inflicted cheerleader in Not Another Teen Movie. In the years to follow, Garcia would find increasing success on the small screen, starring on the series Reba, Better with You, Privileged, Royal Pains, Animal Practice, and guest roles on shows like Once Upon a Time (playing mermaid Ariel) and The Mindy Project.