Masiela Lusha

Masiela Lusha
Lusha in 2014
Born (1985-10-23) October 23, 1985 (age 38)
Tirana, Albania
NationalityAmerican
Alma materGlendale Community College (AA)
University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • poet
Years active1998–present
Notable workDrinking the Moon
The Besa
Inner Thoughts
Spouse
Ramzi Habibi
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2
Awards2 Young Artist Awards for Leading Young Actress in a Comedy and Drama
Signature

Masiela Lusha (/ˌmɑːsiˈɛlə ˈluːʃə/; born October 23, 1985[1]) is an Albanian-born American actress and author. She gained recognition for playing Carmen Lopez on the globally syndicated ABC sitcom George Lopez, a role that earned her two consecutive Young Artist Awards for Leading Young Actress in a Comedy or Drama. After transitioning into film, she starred in Sony Pictures’ Blood: The Last Vampire. Lusha also starred alongside David Hasselhoff and Ian Ziering in SyFy's television movie Sharknado: The 4th Awakens.[2]

Lusha made her acting debut in Summoning in 2001. That same year, she made her television debut in the Disney Channel series, Lizzie McGuire. Lusha appeared as a main cast member in Clifford's Puppy Days (2003-2005) for PBS, and also appeared in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Anger Management. Lusha starred in movies comprising a variety of genres, including Cherry Bomb (2004), My Father's Eulogy (2007), Muertas (2007), Time of the Comet (2008), Ballad of Broken Angels (2009), Kill Katie Malone (2010), Dragonfyre (2013), The Architect (2014), Of Silence (2014), Fatal Instinct (2014), and Branded (2016).

In 2010, Lusha was appointed ambassador of Prince Harry's charity Sentebale.[3][4] In 2014, Lusha was made the World Assembly of Youth's goodwill ambassador. Lusha is an advocate for UN Women.[5][6]

Lusha has written five books of poetry, Inner Thoughts, Drinking the Moon, Amore Celeste, The Call, The Living Air; a novel, The Besa; and two children's books.[7] Lusha has written poetry and translated it into Albanian.[8] She has translated poems and prayers by Mother Teresa.[8][9]

  1. ^ "Celebrity birthdays for the week of Oct. 22-28". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. October 22, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  2. ^ Prudom, Laura (April 1, 2016). "'Sharknado 4' Sets Title and Premiere Date on Syfy". Variety. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  3. ^ Accounts; PDF Download; Sentebale.org; October 2012
  4. ^ Rudolph, Joyce (October 27, 2010). "Sharing passion for poetry". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ MIYD; PDF download; Way.Org;
  6. ^ Rapp, Ilana (November 13, 2016). "Masiela Lusha of Sharknado 4 Blows My Mind with This Incredible Interview". The Huffington Post.
  7. ^ "Masiela Lusha Biography (1985–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Tanoposki, B. (April 14, 2007). "Shqiptarja e Hollivudit: Masiela Lusha vjen ne Tiane" [Hollywood's Albanian: Masiela Lusha is from Tirana]. Panorama (in Albanian). Tirana.
  9. ^ Muja, Elmira (November 21, 2008). "Masiela lusha, shqiptarja qe u zbulua ne Michigan nga agjenti prej Californie" [Masiela Lusha, Albanian who began in Michigan succeeds in California through an agent]. Illyria (in Albanian). Tirana.