{{short description|American actress, model, and producer (born 1989)}} {{Infobox person | name = Gianna Simone | image = Gianna Simone.jpg | image_upright = | image_size = <!-- DISCOURAGED per WP:IMGSIZE. Use image_upright. --> | alt = | caption = | pronunciation = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name above --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|12|22}} | birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = {{Flatlist| * Actress * model * producer }} | years_active = | employer = | organization = Gianna Simone Foundation | known_for = | notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works" --> | television = | spouse = <!-- Use article title or common name --> | partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) --> | children = | parents = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters --> | mother = <!-- may be used (optionally with father parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | father = <!-- may be used (optionally with mother parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | relatives = | family = | awards = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = }} '''Gianna Simone''' (born December 22, 1989) is an American actress, model, and producer.<ref name="Maddison">{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref name="AFM">{{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}}</ref> and Wilbraham. She was abused as a child and placed in Boston's foster care system at thirteen years old.<ref name=Maddison/><ref name="HB">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Shuman">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Star">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=HB/>

Simone attended Boston Latin Academy. Around age sixteen she began pursuing a modeling career.<ref name=AFM/><ref name=HB/><ref name=Shuman/>

==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.<ref name=AFM/><ref name=Shuman/> 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.<ref name=AFM/><ref name=Shuman/><ref name="Italo">{{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}}</ref> In 2010, she appeared on the cover of ''Boston'' magazine at the age of 20, while living in Boston.<ref name=Shuman/>

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.<ref name=Maddison/><ref name=Shuman/> She relocated to Los Angeles at the age of 21.<ref name=HB/> She has appeared in the feature films ''Star Trek Into Darkness'' (2013),<ref name=Star/> ''90 Minutes in Heaven'' (2015), ''God's Not Dead 2'' (2016), ''Mother's Day'' (2016),<ref name=Maddison/><ref name="Schumann">{{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}}</ref> 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''.<ref name=IMDb>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3175926/|title=Gianna Simone|website=IMDb|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=September 14, 2016}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2018}} Simone has also appeared in several television series, including ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'', ''Chuck'', and ''Hitting the Breaks'',<ref name=Shuman/><ref name=Star/> which she co-produced with Pure Flix Entertainment through her company GS Productions.<ref name=Italo/><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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|archive-date=August 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815201003/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|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016, Livingly included Simone in their red carpet fashion rankings following the Cannes Film Festival and Teen Choice Awards.<ref name="Washington">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> She was also included in ''Vogue Germany''{{'s}} "Best Dressed" list from the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Personal life== Simone founded the Gianna Simone Foundation, which provides rescue as well as support to abused and neglected people and animals.<ref name=Maddison/><ref name=Italo/> The foundation is managed by the National Christian Foundation and supports youth in Maryvale (Los Angeles) and Rwandan genocide survivors.<ref name=Maddison/><ref name=HB/> 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.<ref name=Italo/><ref>{{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}}</ref> Simone also serves on the board of The Plantrician Project.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Plantrician Project Board of Directors |url=https://plantricianproject.org/board-of-directors |publisher=The Plantrician Project |accessdate=June 8, 2018}}</ref>

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

==Filmography== * ''3rd Shift: Michael's Lament'' (2009) * ''Beg'' (2011) * ''Star Trek Into Darkness'' (2013) * ''90 Minutes in Heaven'' (2015) * ''God's Not Dead 2'' (2016) * ''Mother's Day'' (2016)

* ''Run the Race'' (2017) * ''I Can Only Imagine'' (2018) * ''Unbroken: Path to Redemption'' (2018) * ''God Bless the Broken Road'' (2018)

==Television== * ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (1 episode: "Gods & Insects", season 9, 2010) * ''Chuck'' (1 episode: "Chuck Versus the Wedding Planner", season 4, 2011) * ''Hitting the Breaks'' (ten episodes, 2016)

==See also== * List of ''Chuck'' cast members * List of Italian-American actors

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== * {{Cite journal|url=http://hydrogen-mag.com/archives/32249|title=Getting to Know Gianna Simone|journal=Hydrogen|date=May 2, 2016}} * {{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/|publisher=Hearst|first=Olivia|last=Fleming|title=How This Actress Went from Foster Care to Best Dressed on the Red Carpet|date=July 6, 2016}} * {{Cite journal|title=Gianna Simone|journal=Naluda Magazine|url=http://naluda.com/interviews/gianna-simone/|access-date=2018-06-14|archive-date=2018-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728202000/http://naluda.com/interviews/gianna-simone/|url-status=dead}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|3175926|Gianna Simone}}

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Simone, Gianna}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Boston Category:Actresses from Los Angeles Category:American Christians Category:American female models Category:American film actresses Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American producers Category:American television actresses Category:Bunker Hill Community College alumni Category:People from Chelsea, Massachusetts Category:People from East Boston Category:Actors from Revere, Massachusetts Category:1989 births Category:Boston Latin Academy alumni