Born on August 10, 1979 in Tampa, Florida, Joanna Lynn Garcia began performing at the age of 10, when she auditioned for a local theater production and landed the lead. While in high school, she was cast for Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? after which she pursued her education at Florida State University. Pursuing an acting career, she played a recurring role on the drama series Party of Five and another recurring role as Vicki Appleby in the short-lived Freaks and Geeks. Her most well known role was teen mom Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery in the series Reba, with country star Reba McEntire. She also appeared on television series Family Law, Providence, Dawson's Creek and Opposite Sex. As for film, she worked on American Pie 2, Not Another Teen Movie and original television movies From the Earth to the Moon and Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder. In 2007, she was cast for the role of Hope on CBS’ Welcome to the Captain.
In talking about her character, Cheyenne on Reba, Garcia said to TV Guide, "I hope we paint the picture that it's tough. I've heard some girls saying 'Oh, I love Cheyenne's life. I wish I could be like her. Of course, not pregnant'. I'm going 'Whew, thank goodness.' I don't want anybody to watch me and say, 'I'm seventeen, and I'm going to get pregnant and get married.'"
Moreover, she said to Estylo, "My career didn't go into super-stardom when I got it. I've been able to grow and get better...The main thing is, believe in yourself. Reach out and go after it...Surround yourself with good people and stay out of trouble. Just appreciate how awesome we are and how much power we do have and support each other."
Hope of CBS' Welcome to the Captain is played by Joanna Garcia. When Josh Flug moves into the fabled Hollywood apartment building, El Capitan or The Captain as the residents put it, he meets the down-to-earth, beautiful Hope, an aspiring acupuncturist. Josh is in luck, as she enlists him as her practice patient.
(Photo courtesy of CBS)