Terra Nova Blogs: Marla Sokoloff

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Marla Sokoloff

Marla Lynne Sokoloff (born December 19, 1980) is an American actress and musician, known for playing the part of Lucy Hatcher on the TV show The Practice, and Gia Mahan on the ABC sitcom, Full House.Sokoloff was born in San Francisco, California, the daughter of Cindi (née Sussman), a former caterer, and Howard Sokoloff, a podiatrist. Her family is Jewish, and originates from Russia and Germany. Sokoloff graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. In 2004, she began dating composer and Deadsy drummer, Alec Puro. Sokoloff and Puro were married November 7, 2009. On August 1, 2011, it was announced that the couple was expecting their first child. She is due early next year. Sokoloff began acting at age 12 (1993), when she was cast as Gia Mahan in the sitcom, Full House. She played Stephanie Tanner's arch enemy, but later became her best friend. In 1998, her breakthrough role came when she was cast in the drama, The Practice, as Lucy Hatcher. Sokoloff also had a three-episode stint as a nanny in Desperate Housewives.

Along with other popular appearances, she is well-remembered as Joey's pregnant sister, Dina, in season 8 of Friends. She also played Imogene O'Neill in the mini series, "Meteor". In November 2006, she starred in the ABC television series Big Day. The last episode aired on January 30, 2007. She also made a Guest Star appearance in an episode of "Burn Notice," where she played Melonie, working undercover as a receptionist at a Miami art gallery, whose owner had murdered her character's father. Sokoloff also has starred in several movies, including Whatever It Takes, The Climb, The Tollbooth, Dude, Where's My Car?, Sugar & Spice, and Love On The Side. In 2008, Sokoloff starred alongside Paul Campbell, Andy Griffith, Doris Roberts, and Liz Sheridan in the romantic comedy Play the Game. She also voices the Glatorian Kiina in Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. Sokoloff sang and played rhythm guitar in LA-based rock band Smittin until 2003 when she struck out on her own. On February 17, 2006, she released her first solo CD, called Grateful.