Gianna Simone

{{short description|American actress, model, and producer (born 1989)}}

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|12|22}}

| birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

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Actress
model
producer

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| organization = Gianna Simone Foundation

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Gianna Simone (born December 22, 1989) is an American actress, model, and producer.{{cite journal|last1=Maddison|first1=Jacqueline|title=Hollywood Spotlight: Gianna Simone|journal=Beverly Hills Magazine|date=April 18, 2016|url=https://www.beverlyhillsmagazine.com/music-entertainment/hollywood-spotlight-gianna-simone/#.V9iDcbSJnFI|accessdate=September 13, 2016}} She has appeared in roles in the feature films Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Mother's Day (2016), I Can Only Imagine (2018), Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018), and several television series.

Early life

Simone is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and during her youth, lived in East Boston, Chelsea, Revere,{{cite web|title=Summa Cum Laude: Gianna Simone|url=http://aftma.net/2013/08/summa-cum-laude-gianna-simone/|publisher=American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts|accessdate=September 14, 2016|date=August 30, 2013|archive-date=June 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621081010/http://aftma.net/2013/08/summa-cum-laude-gianna-simone/|url-status=dead}} and Wilbraham. She was abused as a child and placed in Boston's foster care system at thirteen years old.{{cite magazine|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/red-carpet-dresses/interviews/a16491/gianna-simone-fashion-fairytale-foster-care-to-red-carpet-cannes/|accessdate=September 14, 2016|publisher=Hearst|issn=0017-7873|first=Olivia|last=Fleming|title=How This Actress Went from Foster Care to Best Dressed on the Red Carpet|date=July 6, 2016}} Her father, Anthony Baxter, was unable to serve as her caretaker at the time, though Simone has since said that Baxter has been "a very positive influence" in her life and helped her make the decision to focus on acting.{{cite news|last1=Shuman|first1=Cary|title=Project Runway – East Boston's Gianna Simone is on the cover of Boston Magazine|url=http://www.eastietimes.com/2010/10/26/project-runway-east-bostons-gianna-simone-is-on-the-cover-of-boston-magazine/|accessdate=September 13, 2016|work=East Boston Times-Free Press|date=October 26, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Her Star-dom Is on the Rise: Gianna Simone Has a Role in the Hit Movie "Star Trek into Darkness"|url=http://www.eastietimes.com/2013/06/25/her-star-dom-is-on-the-rise-gianna-simone-has-a-role-in-the-hit-movie-star-trek-into-darkness/|accessdate=September 14, 2016|work=East Boston Times-Free Press|date=June 25, 2013}} Around the time Simone entered the foster care system, she enrolled at a gym, where she met the owner Kathy DeMarco, who became her mentor. DeMarco introduced Simone to a small non-denominational Christian church and wanted to adopt the teenager, but died before doing so.

Simone attended Boston Latin Academy. Around age sixteen she began pursuing a modeling career.

Career

Simone originally only wanted to focus on modeling, which she pursued despite opposition from agencies, and secured modeling work without agency representation for several years. She signed her first modeling contract with Boston's Maggie Inc. in 2009, and appeared in advertisements for the American Dental Association, Carolina Herrera, Elie Saab, Hasbro, New Balance, Reebok, and Vera Wang.{{cite news|last1=Russo|first1=Elisabetta|title=Gianna Simone, il sorriso della speranza e della seduzione|url=http://www.italoamericano.org/story/2016-4-5/Gianna-Simone|website=L'Italo Americano|accessdate=September 14, 2016|date=April 5, 2016|language=Italian|archive-date=April 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414180433/http://www.italoamericano.org/story/2016-4-5/Gianna-Simone|url-status=dead}} In 2010, she appeared on the cover of Boston magazine at the age of 20, while living in Boston.

While pursuing modeling, Simone was encouraged to act by her colleagues. She began to focus on acting when she enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College and then joined the Screen Actors Guild shortly after. She relocated to Los Angeles at the age of 21. She has appeared in the feature films Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015), God's Not Dead 2 (2016), and Mother's Day (2016),{{cite journal|last1=Schumann|first1=Rebecka|title='Mother's Day' Actress Gianna Simone Dishes on Working with Julia Roberts and Garry Marshall|journal=International Business Times|date=April 28, 2016|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/mothers-day-actress-gianna-simone-dishes-working-julia-roberts-garry-marshall-2361229|accessdate=September 13, 2016|publisher=IBT Media}} and I Can Only Imagine (2018). She is slated to appear in the upcoming films Unbroken: Path to Redemption, God Bless the Broke Road, and Run the Race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3175926/|title=Gianna Simone|website=IMDb|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=September 14, 2016}}{{better source needed|date=August 2018}} Simone has also appeared in several television series, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Chuck, and Hitting the Breaks, which she co-produced with Pure Flix Entertainment through her company GS Productions.{{cite journal|title=Gianna Simone|journal=Naluda Magazine|url=http://naluda.com/interviews/gianna-simone/|accessdate=September 14, 2016|archive-date=April 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423121502/http://naluda.com/interviews/gianna-simone/|url-status=dead}} In 2015, she created the original series "Love Gianna", launched via YouTube channel by REBL HQ, the digital entertainment studio created by Maker Studios and Full Sail University.{{cite journal|last1=Richardson|first1=Matthew|title=Maker Studios and Full Sail launch new digital studio|journal=Orlando Business Journal|date=March 20, 2015|url=https://www.nexis.com/results/enhdocview.do?docLinkInd=true&ersKey=23_T24675655153&format=GNBFI&startDocNo=26&resultsUrlKey=0_T24675655187&backKey=20_T24675655188&csi=302199&docNo=32|accessdate=September 14, 2016|url-access=subscription |via=LexisNexis|publisher=American City Business Journals}}

In 2016, Livingly included Simone in their red carpet fashion rankings following the Cannes Film Festival and Teen Choice Awards.{{cite web|last1=Washington|first1=Tanya Leigh|title=Every Gorgeous Gown From the 2016 Cannes Film Festival: Gianna Simone|url=http://www.livingly.com/Every+Gorgeous+Gown+From+the+2016+Cannes+Film+Festival/articles/Kv5GIDjlVky/Gianna+Simone|website=Livingly|publisher=Livingly Media|accessdate=September 14, 2016}}{{cite web|title=The Best Looks from the 2016 Teen Choice Awards: 18. Gianna Simone|url=http://www.livingly.com/The+Best+Looks+from+the+2016+Teen+Choice+Awards/articles/ZnNX3ElzmfO/Gianna+Simone|website=Livingly|publisher=Livingly Media|accessdate=September 14, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Teen Choice Awards 2016 Red Carpet Arrivals: Gianna Simone|url=http://www.eonline.com/photos/19233/teen-choice-awards-2016-red-carpet-arrivals/712063|accessdate=September 14, 2016|work=E! News}} She was also included in Vogue Germany{{'s}} "Best Dressed" list from the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite journal|title=Cannes 2016|journal=Vogue Germany|url=http://www.vogue.de/people-kultur/people-news/best-dressed-cannes-2016/%28bild%29/1224590|accessdate=October 24, 2016|archive-date=July 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726231820/http://www.vogue.de/people-kultur/people-news/best-dressed-cannes-2016/(bild)/1224590|url-status=dead}}

Personal life

Simone founded the Gianna Simone Foundation, which provides rescue as well as support to abused and neglected people and animals. The foundation is managed by the National Christian Foundation and supports youth in Maryvale (Los Angeles) and Rwandan genocide survivors. Simone also works with the animal rescue group Wings of Rescue, which relocates adoptable pets, on private planes, to no kill shelters and permanent homes.{{cite news|last1=Manning|first1=Sue|title=Pilots Donate Time, Fuel to Fly Dogs Facing Euthanasia to Rescue Shelters|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/pilots-fly-rescue-dogs_n_7033352.html|accessdate=October 4, 2016|work=The Huffington Post|date=April 9, 2015}} Simone also serves on the board of The Plantrician Project.{{cite web |title=The Plantrician Project Board of Directors |url=https://plantricianproject.org/board-of-directors |publisher=The Plantrician Project |accessdate=June 8, 2018}}

Simone is of Italian descent and identifies as a Christian and vegan. She likes extreme sports, including riding motorcycles and skydiving, and is an avid aerialist{{huh|date=February 2020}} and target shooter. Simone resides in Los Angeles.{{cite web|title=Gianna Simone Interview|url=http://www.upfrontny.com/gianna-simone-interview/|website=upfrontNY|accessdate=September 14, 2016|date=May 4, 2016}}