Anecdotes

She turned down the role of Vin Diesel's love interest in the box-office hit Baby-Sittor (2005) to take a small but unforgettably sexy role in Sin City (2005) because she had enjoyed working with director Robert Rodriguez in the three "Spy Kids" films.

Was her high school's valedictorian.

Modeled for the prestigious Elite agency as a teenager but was considered too short for fashion runway work.

Starred in two films in March 2009 that were back to back openings and USA box office kings. Watchmen : Les Gardiens (2009) opened March 6th, 2009, and was the number one film of the weekend. La montagne ensorcelée (2009) opened March 13th, 2009, and was the number one film of that weekend.

Featured in the 1994 Bon Jovi music video, "Always", alongside Jack Noseworthy, Jason Wiles and Keri Russell.

Is only seven years older than Malin Akerman, who played her daughter in Watchmen : Les Gardiens (2009).

Had a kidney operation when she was only 4 years old.

Grew up in Paradise, California.

Her father was of Italian descent. Her mother's ancestry is English and Irish.

Has a butterfly tattoo on the inside of her left ankle.

Was considered to play Velma Dinkley in Scooby-Doo (2002), but Linda Cardellini was cast instead.

Good friends with Elizabeth Berkley.

Has a long scar on her left side (towards her back) from a a Kidney operation when she was 4 years old.

Boyfriend is writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez, with whom she has worked on her TV series Karen Sisco (2003) and Rise (2007).

Niece of actress Carol Merrill (Carol was married to Carla's uncle, Mark Burgess). Carol's daughter is actress Hillary Safire.

Cousin of Hillary Safire.

She has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Spy Kids (2001).

She originally did not want to take on the role of Rebecca Warner in the now cult classic Son-In-Law (1993) opposite Pauly Shore because she wanted to focus on establishing herself as a serious actress and felt the film's comedy style was much too silly. However after she agreed to sign on to it she said she absolutely loved making the movie describing it as an amazing time and said she got along very well with Shore. As of April 2025 she said to date she is still asked often by fans about the film.