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Actor in Sherman Oaks, California, United States

As a young child growing up in her hometown of San Francisco, Joanne had no problem keeping her family entertained. She displayed an early penchant for performing, when at the age of four, she climbed on top of her mother's piano in front of a roomful of guests and started playing with her feet. (Her mother enrolled her in formal lessons a few years later). Soon after, Joanne staged puppet shows behind the big sofa in her family's living room, acted in church skits, and gave her mother the worko... Moreut of a lifetime shuttling her between music and dance recitals.


That was as close to "show business" as Joanne's parents allowed her to get, so for the next few years, Joanne focused on school, piano lessons, and helped her mother teach Sunday School at their church.

After graduating from high school, Joanne attended a local casting call on a whim and was immediately invited to participate in an actor's showcase. She piqued the interest of a manager and several casting directors, but the harder task (perhaps the hardest task of all) was persuading her very reluctant father to allow her to sign up for acting classes and start auditioning for local projects. Joanne resorted to her early performing memories and put on a one-woman skit complete with music, dance, and commercial breaks in her parents' bedroom.

Either Joanne was very convincing or her parents just wanted to go to sleep, because they both agreed. Soon after Joanne started booking roles in independent films and music videos. Joanne's parents realized that a move to L.A. would one day be inevitable, so they braced themselves for the day when Joanne booked a flight to go look at prospective apartments. She found one within 24 hours, flew home, quit her part time job as an administrative assistant, and moved into her cozy new Los Angeles apartment.


Within a few months of acting in LA, Joanne landed a large supporting role opposite Corin Nemec in the Lionsgate film, "Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck" without having to audition. Other roles followed, including "Kinescoping Dr. Travis," "Street Kings" (with Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker), "One Child?" (2008 Cannes Film Festival Premiere), Dead End Falls, Blue Blood, and most recently a starring role in "Lily's Hope," a labor of love designed to raise awareness and help fight to end human trafficking.


In her spare time Joanne loves to go on long runs (preferably at the beach), take ballet and martial arts classes, and spend leisurely afternoons in bookstores with a latte or ice cold frappucino. Whenever time permits, Joanne enjoys driving up to San Francisco to visit her family, and of course, her beloved Pomeranian, Pomg Pomg. (the "g'' is silent)









- written by Sandra Yang


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