Irene Cara ( full name Irene Escalera ) was born on March 18, 1959 in The Bronx, New York City and she is an American singer and actress.
Biography and Career :
Irene Cara's parents are Gaspar and Louise Escalera and she has 2 sisters and 2 brothers.
Her career started on Spanish-language television as a child, professionally singing and dancing. From there, Irene Cara appeared in on- and off-Broadway theatrical shows including the musical The Me Knowbody Knows, which won an Obie, and Maggie Flynn, opposite Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. By age 8, Irene Cara recorded a Latin-market Spanish-language record; an English Christmas album soon followed.
Irene Cara is a veteran artist whose career began in childhood and has span over two decades. Honored by the entertainment i
ndustry, she received an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, plus numerous other awards emanating from every aspect of the industry. Irene Cara's performance in the ground breaking 1980s picture, Fame (1980), catapulted her into world wide stardom and motivated a generation of young people to become involved in the performing arts.
Her first national exposure was in the educational series The Electric Company, playing a member of the band The Short Circus.
Irene Cara's first jobs as a teen came on television, getting a role on the soap Love of Life and the classic kids' show The Electric Company.
She is best remembered for singing the themes from Fame and Flashdance. Irene Cara played Coco Hernandez in Fame, Sparkle in Sparkle, and Angela in romance thriller classic Aaron Loves Angela.
Irene Cara won both the 1983 Academy Award for Best Song and the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Flashdance (What A Feeling)", from Flashdance.
Along with her successful career in acting, Irene Cara released two albums in the 1980s: Anyone Can See in 1982, and What A Feelin' in 1983.
In June 2005, Irene Cara won the third round of NBC television series Hit Me Baby One More Time, performing "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" and covered Anastacia's hit "I'm Outta Love" with her current band, Hot Caramel.
Discography - Music Albums :
1980 Fame Sndtrk- Polygram
1982 Anyone Can See - Elektra
1983 What a Feelin' - Network
1985 City Heat Sndtrk - Warner Bros.
1987 Carasmatic - Elektra
Quotes :
- "I don't mean to sound immodest, but I'd never had any doubt that I'd be successful, nor any fear of success. I was raised as a little goddess who was told she would be a star." - Cosmo Magazine 1985
- "I love taxis. Cabbies are the best therapists, good listeners, good talkers, working-class people i hope never to lose contact with."
- "I didn't get where I am because of looks. "I've done it on talent! I've never had to depend on my looks for anything. I haven't sat around and tried to look pretty. - I've worked my butt off!" - (Ebony Magazine July 1981)
- "I knew people would be saying mean things about me copying Donna Summer and trying to follow in her footsteps by using her producer. But by the time Flashdance had come out I had established my own identity. I wasn't worried about people saying I was just a Donna copy." - (TV Week Magazine May 12, 1984)
- "I refuse to let anybody try to typecast me. "It's against my nature. I like to continually do different things." - (Video Rock Stars 1985)
- "It's important for me to get back to my fans here and around the world. I feel very, very blessed that so many people have continued to write me and to pour out their love for me and my work." - ( Star Magazine April 5, 1993)
Filmography :
Aaron Loves Angela (1975)
Sparkle (1976)
Apple Pie (1976)
Roots: The Next Generations (1979)
On Location with: FAME (1980) (short subject)
Fame (1980)
Killing 'em Softly (1982)
D.C. Cab (1983) (Cameo)
Flashdance (1983)
City Heat (1984)
Certain Fury (1985)
Busted Up (1986)
Caged in Paradiso (1990)
The Magic Voyage (1992) (voice)
Happily Ever After (1993) (voice)
Kids From Fame(documentary)(2003)
irrelevant
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