JoAnna Garcia Swisher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids JoAnna García
García in 2008
Born	(1979-08-10) August 10, 1979 (age 45) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Other names	JoAnna García Swisher
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Nick Swisher ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	2

JoAnna García Swisher (born August 10, 1979) is an American actress and businesswoman. She is well-known for her roles in popular TV shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark? (where she played Sam) and Reba (as Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery). She also gained popularity for her roles in Once Upon a Time (as Ariel) and Sweet Magnolias (as Maddie Townsend). JoAnna has been acting since 1992 and continues to appear in many films and television series.

Early life and beginnings

Growing up in Florida

JoAnna García was born in Tampa, Florida. Her mother, Loraine, was a homemaker and a former elementary school teacher. Her father, Jay García, was a doctor born in Cuba. JoAnna has one brother named Michael.

She started acting at a young age, performing in local theater plays when she was just 10 years old. She even landed the main role in her first audition!

School and early acting

Disney Channel noticed JoAnna's talent early on. However, her parents wanted her to focus on school first. So, she continued acting in local plays to keep her passion alive. She was even the homecoming queen at Tampa Catholic High School in Florida. JoAnna is also a devoted Catholic.

Acting career

Early TV roles

While still living in Florida, JoAnna appeared in several TV shows. These included seaQuest DSV, Second Noah, and Superboy. She also acted in some TV movies.

When she was 15, Nickelodeon discovered her again. She then starred for three seasons as Samantha on the popular show Are You Afraid of the Dark?. For this role, she traveled from Florida to Montreal, Canada, where the show was filmed.

Moving to Hollywood

JoAnna also had a recurring role on the TV drama Party of Five in 1994. Later, she played Vicki Appleby, a popular cheerleader, in Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000).

She briefly attended Florida State University and was part of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. But she soon decided to leave college to act full-time. She then moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her dream.

Becoming a TV star

From 2001 to 2007, JoAnna played Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery on the sitcom Reba. She played the oldest daughter of Reba, who was played by country music star Reba McEntire.

She also starred as Megan Smith in the CW series Privileged (2008–2009). On the big screen, she appeared in the comedy Not Another Teen Movie. She also acted in TV films like The Initiation of Sarah (2006) and Revenge of the Bridesmaids (2010).

Later roles

In 2009, JoAnna had a recurring role on the drama Gossip Girl as Bree Buckley. She also guest-starred on How I Met Your Mother as Maggie, a college friend of Ted Mosby.

She starred in the ABC sitcom Better with You from 2010 to 2011. In 2013, she began playing the recurring role of Ariel from The Little Mermaid on the show Once Upon a Time. More recently, she has starred as Maddie Townsend in the popular series Sweet Magnolias (2020–present) on Netflix. In 2023, she hosted The Ultimatum: Queer Love on Netflix.

Business ventures

In May 2022, JoAnna launched her own home decor collection called "Clover by Jo" for HSN. This line includes items like bedding, pillows, mirrors, and lamps.

She has also been featured on the covers of many magazines, including Latina and Miami Living. In 2004, she appeared in a commercial for the store Kmart. In 2023, she worked with McCormick for their back-to-school ads.

Personal life

Garcia and her husband, baseball player Nick Swisher, at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan on a USO tour to greet troops and tour military facilities, November 25, 2011

In August 2009, People magazine reported that JoAnna was dating baseball player Nick Swisher. They got engaged in May 2010 and married on December 11, 2010, in Palm Beach, Florida. Her friends and fellow actresses Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Melissa Peterman, and Reba McEntire were bridesmaids. Since her marriage, she is often credited as JoAnna García Swisher. They have two daughters, born in 2013 and 2016.

Helping others

JoAnna is very involved in charity work. She volunteers as a teacher for children who are learning English as a second language. She also works with an organization called Make the Commitment, which helps raise awareness about cervical cancer.

She has her own charity called We Reach. This organization helps young girls across the country plan charity events in their own towns. Its main goal is to empower young women and help them feel strong and confident.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video

Accolades

See also

In Spanish: Joanna Garcia para niños