Vanessa Marano
Marano at the Saturn Awards in 2011
Born
Vanessa Nicole Marano

(1992-10-31) October 31, 1992 (age 31)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2002–present
RelativesLaura Marano (sister)

Vanessa Nicole Marano[1] (born October 31, 1992[2]) is an American actress. She has starred in television movies and had recurring roles in such series as Without a Trace, Gilmore Girls, Ghost Whisperer, Scoundrels, Grey's Anatomy and The Young and the Restless. From 2011 to 2017, she starred as Bay Kennish on the Freeform television series Switched at Birth.[3]

Early life

Marano was born in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Ellen,[4] is the owner of the Agoura Children's Theatre.[5] Her younger sister, Laura Marano, is also an actress. Marano speaks Italian,[6] and her father is of Italian descent.[7]

Career

Marano began acting professionally at the age of seven.[8] According to an interview with her sister, her mother did not want either of her children to have careers in show business, and took the girls to an agent that she believed was most likely to turn kids down, only to find that Vanessa was accepted. Her sister Laura, who was on the scene with her, also impressed the agency.[9] Since then, she has worked for productions at the Stage Door Theater. Marano's first major roles on television have been as Jack Malone's older daughter in Without a Trace (she and real life sister Laura play sisters), Valerie's stepdaughter in The Comeback and as April Nardini in Gilmore Girls. She also played Layne Abeley in The Clique based on the books by Lisi Harrison and Samantha Combs in Dear Lemon Lima. Marano starred in an episode of Ghost Whisperer alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt. Marano played Eden on The Young and the Restless and Hope on Scoundrels. From 2011 to 2017, she starred as Bay Kennish on the ABC Family TV show Switched at Birth.[10] In 2013, she starred in Restless Virgins, which was inspired by a true story.[11] 2019 saw her star alongside her sister Laura in Saving Zoë.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Easy Little Jamie Uncredited[citation needed]
2008 The Clique Layne Abeley Direct-to-video film
2009 Dear Lemon Lima Samantha Combs
2013 The Secret Lives of Dorks Samantha
2014 Senior Project Samantha "Sam" Willow
2018 Daphne & Velma Carol
2019 Saving Zoë Zoë Also producer
2020 This Is the Year Molly
2020 How to Deter a Robber Madison Williams
2021 This Game's Called Murder Jennifer Wallendorf
2022 The Royal Treatment N/A Producer[12]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2002–2009 Without a Trace Hanna Malone Recurring role, 12 episodes
2004 Grounded for Life Lexie Episode: "Tombstone Blues"
2004 The Brooke Ellison Story Young Brooke Ellison TV movie
2005 Six Feet Under Tate Pasquese 2 episodes
2005 The Comeback Franchesca Recurring role, 12 episodes
2005 Malcolm in the Middle Gina Episode: "Malcolm Defends Reese"
2005–2007 Gilmore Girls April Nardini Recurring role, 13 episodes
2006 Boys Life Sheila TV movie
2007 Hell on Earth Shelly TV movie
2008 Man of Your Dreams Maia TV movie
2008 Miss Guided Kelly Episode: "Homecoming"
2008 The Closer Theresa Monroe Episode: "Problem Child"
2008 Ghost Whisperer Alise Jones Episode: "Ghost in the Machine"
2008–2010 The Young and the Restless Eden Baldwin Regular role[13][14]
2009 Trust Me Haley McGuire Recurring role, 5 episodes
2009–2011 Dexter Rebecca Mitchell Recurring role, 6 episodes
2010 Untitled Michael Jacobs Pilot Bailey Davidson Unsold television pilot
2010 Past Life Susan Charne Episode: "Dead Man Talking"
2010 Medium Jennifer Whitten Episodes: "There Will Be Blood.. Type A", "There Will Be Blood... Type B"
2010 Scoundrels Hope West Main role
2010 Parenthood Holly Episode: "Date Night"
2010 Marry Me Imogen Hicks TV miniseries
2011 Private Practice Casey Episode: "The Hardest Part"
2011 Love Bites Becky Lerner Episode: "Too Much Information"
2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Samantha Cafferty Episode: "CSI Down"
2011–2017 Switched at Birth Bay Kennish Main role[15]
2012 Grey's Anatomy Holly Wheeler Episode: "The Girl with No Name"
2012 Boys Are Stupid, Girls Are Mean Herself Narrator
2013 Restless Virgins Emily TV movie
2013 Perception Riley Episode: "Toxic"
2014 NCIS: New Orleans Natalie Lane Episode: "The Recruits"
2016 Outcast Sherry Episode: "The Road Before Us"
2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life April Nardini Episode: "Summer"[16]
2017 Silicon Valley Stanford University student Episodes: "Intellectual Property", "Teambuilding Exercise"
2018 Station 19 Molly Episodes: "Not Your Hero", "No Recovery"
2018–2019 Dead Girls Detective Agency Nancy Graves Web series; main role
2018–2022 Bad Boy (TV series) Herself Web series; recurring role, 5 episodes
2021 9-1-1 Sydney Episodes: "Future Tense", "Suspicion"
2022 One Delicious Christmas Abby Richmond TV Movie

Awards and nominations

Year Award Work Result Ref
2011 Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Star – Female Switched at Birth Nominated [17]
2013 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Drama Switched at Birth Nominated [18]

References

  1. ^ "Vanessa Marano". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Vanessa Marano". Hollywood.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  3. ^ Gelman, Vlada (September 2, 2012). "Switched at Birth Boss Previews New Loves for Bay, Emmett and Daphne, Plus Family Troubles". TVLine. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Agoura's Children's Theatre (ed.). "Improvisation". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  5. ^ "11 Questions with "Switched at Birth" Star Vanessa Marano!". June 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  6. ^ Mulcahy, Jr., Kevin (June 3, 2011). "Q&A: Switched at Birth's Vanessa Marano". We Love Soaps. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  7. ^ "Tommy2.net". Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  8. ^ Jeffrey Dransfeldt (January 25, 2009). "Agoura Hills sisters are young stars on the rise". Ventura County Star. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  9. ^ "Laura Marano on "The Better Show"". YouTube. ErgMarano (Originally: "The Better Show"). November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  10. ^ Barney, Chuck. "Chuck Barney: 'Switched at Birth' another winner for ABC Family." San Jose Mercury News, June 29, 2011. Accessed on July 18, 2011.
  11. ^ "'Restless Virgins' is based on a true scandalous story". March 8, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  12. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (January 25, 2021). "'Austin & Ally' Alum Laura Marano & 'Aladdin's Mena Massoud Get 'The Royal Treatment' From Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Vanessa Marano Debuts as Eden". daytimeconfidential.com.
  14. ^ "Erin Sanders out, Vanessa Marano in at "Y&R"!". michaelfairmantv.com.
  15. ^ "CATCHING UP WITH VANESSA MARANO". www.soapoperadigest.com.
  16. ^ "'Gilmore Girls's Vanessa Marano on April Nardini and the Show's Revival". www.teenvogue.com.
  17. ^ "Blake Lively Wins Choice TV Drama Actress The Teen Choice Awards! Here Are More Winners!". Hollywood Life. August 7, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  18. ^ Ng, Philiana (May 22, 2013). "Teen Choice Awards: 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2' Leads First Wave of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 23, 2013.

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