Brooklyn Sudano is an American actress and director. She starred as Vanessa Scott in the ABC comedy series My Wife and Kids and later played the leading role in the 2006 drama film Rain. Sudano has appeared in films such as Alone in the Dark II (2008), Turn the Beat Around (2010) and With This Ring (2015), and starred in the NBC action series, Taken (2017).[1]
Brooklyn Sudano | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 5, 1981 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse | Mike McGlafin (m. 2006) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Donna Summer (mother) Bruce Sudano (father) |
| Relatives | Amanda Sudano (sister) |
Sudano is the daughter of Grammy Award-winning singer Donna Summer and songwriter Bruce Sudano,[2] and the older sister of Amanda Sudano of the music duo Johnnyswim. Sudano directed the documentary film, Love to Love You, Donna Summer, which premiered in 2023.
Early life
editSudano was born in Los Angeles, California, to African American singer Donna Summer and Italian American songwriter Bruce Sudano.[2] She was named after her father's hometown of Brooklyn, New York City.[3] Her younger sister (by 19 months) is singer and songwriter Amanda Sudano of Johnnyswim. She has an older half-sister, Mimi Sommer, from her mother's first marriage to Helmut Sommer.[4] As a baby, she was featured in her mother's song "Brooklyn" on the record I'm a Rainbow.[5]
Sudano spent the early part of her childhood on a 56-acre ranch in Thousand Oaks, California until her family moved to Connecticut when she was 10 years old.[2] When she was 14, her family relocated to Nashville, Tennessee.[2] Here, Sudano gravitated toward the arts.[2] She also sang in the gospel choir at church.[2] Sudano and her sisters spent summers touring and singing backing vocals for their famous mother.[2] In her leisure, she studied dance and wrote songs.[2]
She attended high school at Christ Presbyterian Academy where she appeared in all the theater productions.[2] Sometimes Sudano accompanied her parents while they toured around the world, continuing her studies with tutors.[2] A distinguished student, she was valedictorian at her graduation.[2]
Upon graduation, Sudano chose to attend Vanderbilt University, having also been accepted at Brown, Duke, and Georgetown University.[2] However, she eventually left Vanderbilt early to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.[2]
Career
editWhile studying acting in New York, Sudano was spotted by a modelling agent and signed to the Ford Modeling Agency.[2] She appeared in numerous advertising campaigns in print and television, including Clairol, Clean & Clear and K-Mart.[2] In 2003, Sudano replaced Meagan Good as Vanessa Scott on My Wife and Kids. Vanessa is Junior's girlfriend and later wife, who first appears in the season finale of season 3 (played by Good). Sudano continued as a regular cast member throughout the rest of the series' five-year run.[6]
In 2006, Sudano made her big screen debut with the leading role in the film adaptation of V. C. Andrews' novel Rain. She appeared in the horror films Somebody Help Me (2007) and Alone in the Dark II (2008) and well as the MTV romantic drama film, Turn the Beat Around in 2010.[2][7] In 2015, she co-starred opposite Regina Hall, Jill Scott and Eve in the romantic comedy-drama, With This Ring. On television, Sudano guest starred on Cuts, CSI: NY, $#*! My Dad Says, Body of Proof and Ballers. In 2016, she played the role of Christy Epping in the Hulu miniseries 11.22.63.[8] In 2017, Sudano starred in the first season of NBC's action series, Taken.[9] In 2021, she began starring as Angela Prescott in the Freeform thriller series, Cruel Summer.[10]
Alongside Roger Ross Williams, Sudano directed the 2023 documentary film, Love to Love You, Donna Summer about her mother, Donna Summer. It had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.[11]
Personal life
editSudano married her longtime boyfriend, Mike McGlaflin, on October 8, 2006. The couple's wedding inspired Bruce Sudano's song "It's Her Wedding Day".[12][13]
Sudano and McGlaflin have a daughter, and reside in the Los Angeles area.[14]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Rain | Rain Arnold | |
| 2007 | Somebody Help Me | Serena | |
| 2008 | Alone in the Dark II | Sinclair | |
| 2009 | Revolution | Roxanne | Television film |
| 2010 | Turn the Beat Around | Malika | |
| 2010 | Five Star Day | Yvette Montgomery | |
| 2010 | Sinners and Saints | Beth Ganz | |
| 2012 | Five Hours South | Julia | |
| 2015 | With This Ring | Elise | Television film |
| 2023 | Love to Love You, Donna Summer | Director and producer Nominated — Berlin International Film Festival Documentary Award Nominated — SXSW Film Festival Audience Award | |
| 2023 | Every Breath She Takes | Dana Marks | Television film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2005 | My Wife and Kids | Vanessa Scott | Series regular, 28 episodes |
| 2006 | Cuts | Felicia | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | CSI: NY | Colleen Ballard | Episode: "Heart of Glass" |
| 2008 | Fear Itself | Arlene | Episode: "Community" |
| 2008 | 90210 | Miss Austin | Episode: "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" |
| 2008 | Without a Trace | Jackie Bell | Episode: "22 x 42" |
| 2009 | The Unit | Lindsay | Episode: "Whiplash" |
| 2009 | Limelight | Jazmine Barkley | TV pilot |
| 2010 | $#*! My Dad Says | Zoey | Episode: "Not Without My Jacket" |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Kat | Episode: "The Benefit of Being Shallow" |
| 2012 | Joey Dakota | Holly | TV pilot |
| 2013 | Body of Proof | FBI Analyst | Episode: "Disappearing Act" |
| 2013 | Westside | Jess Roman | TV pilot |
| 2015 | Reed Between the Lines | Rita Durren | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | 11.22.63 | Christy Epping | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Ballers | Victoria | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Taken | Asha Flynn | Series regular, 10 episodes |
| 2019 | All American | Nadja Moon | TV pilot |
| 2021 | Cruel Summer | Angela Prescott | Series regular, 5 episodes |
| 2022 | Grand Crew | Deena | Episode: "Wine & Therapy" |
References
edit- ^ "'Taken' star reflects on growing up the child of Donna Summer". New York Post. March 10, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Williams, Kam. "Rain: An Interview with Brooklyn Sudano". Blackfilm.com. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ Badger, Sylvia. "Donna Summer's daughter weds amid flowers, lace". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (May 17, 2012). "Donna Summer, Queen of Disco Who Transcended the Era, Dies at 63". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ Summer, Donna (November 8, 2014). "Brooklyn". Youtube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ^ "Where Are The Cast Of 'My Wife & Kids' Today?". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Interview with Brooklyn Sudano from the MTV original movie 'Turn the Beat Around'". Starcasm. February 26, 2010.
- ^ "Brooklyn Sudano Joins Hulu's '11/22/63′". Deadline. April 24, 2015. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Brooklyn Sudano Talks NBC's 'Taken'". Blackfilm.com. March 7, 2017.
- ^ "Brooklyn Sudano Interview for Freeform's Cruel Summer". Youtube. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
- ^ Carey, Matthew (February 21, 2023). "'Love To Love You, Donna Summer,' From Roger Ross Williams & Summer's Daughter Brooklyn Sudano, Provides Complex Portrait Of Pop Superstar".
- ^ (reporter), Tennessean Music Team. "Bruce Sudano's 'Wedding Day' rings bells with listeners". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
- ^ James, Gary. "Gary James' Interview With Bruce Sudano Of Alive N Kickin'". Classic Bands. classicbands.com. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ Danity. "Meet Brooklyn Sudano, Donna Summer's Daughter". Swanky Celebs. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.