Mandy Bruno, who was born on September 20, 1981 in Phoenix, Arizona, is an Emmy nominated actress who plays Marina Cooper in the soap opera, Guiding Light. In 2006, she received her first nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award in 2006 for Outstanding Younger Actress. She graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio with a degree in Fine Arts, and immediately joined the cast of Guiding Light upon graduation. Bruno has also appeared on Broadway's revival of Les Misérables, playing the role of Eponine.
Marina Cooper is played by Mandy Bruno in the soap opera, Guiding Light. Marina is the only child of Frank Cooper and Eleni Andros, who married shortly after Marina was born. Her parents divorced in 2000 due to their workaholic attitude which drove them apart. Eleni's affair with another man was also uncovered, and Marina could not forgive Eleni for what she did. Marina grew up to be a police recruit at Springfield's Police Academy and eventually became a detective.