Gianna LePera

Gianna LePera is an American actress and singer best known for her film work in Vamperifica and Play House and television roles on Law and Order SVU, Modern Family, Trophy Wife, About a Boy and Preacher. Gianna began her career in musical theater, and at the age of 10, landed the lead role of Susan in a musical adaptation of Miracle on 34th Street in New York's John Engeman Theater. Gianna's performance earned her critical acclaim including this review from the NY Times: "Gianna LePera, the 10-year-old who plays Susan, is equally beguiling, displaying a delicate somberness similar to the haunting performance the young Natalie Wood gave in the film." (Miracle on 34th Street Review, NY Times, Nov 29th 2009)LePera was born in New York City and is the only child of Lisa McLaughlin and Frank LePera. In Manhattan LePera attended the Professional Children's School. Later, Gianna and her parents lived bi-coastally between NYC and LA, spending most of her high school years in LA. LePera began her career at the age of 10 in NYC when she auditioned for a minor role in Miracle on 34th Street, but ended up being offered the lead of Susan, the same role played by Natalie Wood in the original film. The following year LePera went on to play another lead role, also named Susan, in the National Tour of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. LePera continued to work in NYC appearing in television commercials and episodics. She appeared in live concerts at the famed Joe's Pub in NYC as well as with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. In 2012 Gianna played young Tracey in the film, Vamperifica, the younger version of the lead role played by Dreema Walker. While auditioning in 2012 during her first pilot season in LA, LePera secured the role of Hillary in ABC's pilot Trophy Wife starring Malin Akerman, Bradley Whitford and Marcia Gay Harden. In October of 2013 she booked a lead role in the Amazon pilot Maker Shack Agency and later guest starred on NBC's About a Boy, The NightShift, and ABC's Modern Family. She currently recurs on AMC's dark comedy Preacher. Show less «