Lea Moreno
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
A pretty brunette with striking wide eyes and a compelling screen presence, actress Lea Moreno got her start in community theater then started acting at the West Coast Performing Arts Center and South Coast Repertory before landing her first screen roles shortly after graduating from high school. In 1995, she had guest roles on the ABC sitcoms "Home Improvement" and "Step by Step." The following year, she made her TV-movie debut co-starring alongside Jonathan Brandis, Ariana Richards and Christopher Noth in the ABC movie "Born Free: A New Adventure." Moreno and Brandis played city kids who move with their businessman father to Africa, where they endeavor to return a captured lion to the wild. That same year she made her feature acting debut in a similar setting, the safari-set Tarzan retread "Jungle Boy" (a 1998 US direct-to-video release). More TV work followed for Moreno, who guest starred on series including "Promised Land" and "Walker, Texas Ranger" (both CBS) and "Clueless" (UPN). Additionally, she was featured as the daughter of a breast cancer survivor (Mary McDonnell) whose health is once again in jeopardy in "Two Voices," Lifetime's 1997 fact-based account of the class-action suit that rocked the silicone breast implant industry. Moreno followed up this supporting role with a starring turn as the leader of a group of heroic children navigating a post-apocalyptic lost world in Showtime's sci-fi original "Doom Runners" (also 1997).
From 1998 to 1999, Moreno starred on the UPN hour-long drama "Legacy" as Alice Logan, a conscientious young teenager who takes over as the Logan's maternal force following her mother's untimely death. Saddled with a willful younger sister, two ambitious older brothers and preoccupied father, Alice struggled to balance her family obligations with her burgeoning womanhood, interest in feminist causes, and budding romance with Jeremy, a teenage boy adopted into the family. Moreno performed well in the role, winning over audiences as she portrayed Alice's shortcomings as well as her grace and indomitable spirit. Following the cancellation of the 19th Century American Reconstruction era serial, Moreno had a memorable guest role as a teenager meeting her father for the first time on a special two-hour Thanksgiving episode of NBC's hit drama "Providence" (1999). The following year the young actress returned to series television on The WB's quirky midseason replacement sitcom "Brutally Normal." Here she took on the role of Anna Pricova, a smart and passionate high school student who, along with the like-minded Dru (Tangie Ambrose), was dealing with the Eveready trials of teenage life and the messes caused by her two troublesome best friends Russell (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Pooh (Mike Damus).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1993
At age 16, landed a lead role in a play at the South Coast Repertory (date approximate)
1995
Guest starred in episodes of the ABC sitcoms "Home Improvement" and "Step by Step"
1996
Acted in the children's film "Jungle Boy" (released direct-to-video in 1998)
1996
Starred in the ABC TV-movie "Born Free: A New Adventure"
1997
Featured in the Showtime sci-fi movie "Doom Runners"
1998
Appeared in an episode of the UPN sitcom "Clueless"
1998
Was a regular on the 19th Century set drama series "Legacy" (UPN)
1999
Had a memorable guest role in a special two-hour Thanksgiving episode of the NBC hit drama "Providence"
2000
Starred in the high school-set sitcom "Brutally Normal" (The WB)