From pioneering women’s MMA to blazing a trail in movies, GINA CARANO is one of Hollywood’s most unique rising stars. Carano began her training with Muay Thai to competitive MMA, where she competed in Strikeforce and EliteXC. Her popularity led to her being called the “Face of Women’s MMA”” and she was the fastest-rising search on Google and third-most-searched person on Yahoo and ranked 5th on a list of the “”Top 10 Influential Women”” of 2008. In August 2009, Carano fought Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, the first time two women headlined a major MMA event and at the time was the highest rated fight in Showtime history. Carano compiled a competitive record of 12-1-1 in Muay Thai and a 7-1 in women’s MMA.[4]Outside the ring, Carano served as a mentor to aspiring fighters in the 2007 Oxygen reality series Fight Girls and performed as ‘Crush’ in the revamped television series American Gladiators before her breakout performance in Steven Soderbergh’s film HAYWIRE, holding her own against the likes of Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton and Antonio Banderas. Gina’s authenticity to making the Action look real earned her performance a Critics Choice Award Nomination for Best Actress in an action film. Hot on the heels came a role in the worldwide hit FAST AND FURIOUS 6 for Universal Pictures opposite Dwayne Johnson furthering her appeal as an Action Star. Next up, she co-starred alongside Robert DeNiro, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Dave Bautista in Lionsgate’s film HEIST followed by the role of ‘Angel Dust’ in the smash hit MARVEL/FOX film DEADPOOL opposite Ryan Reynolds based on the popular comic book. The film grossed over $870 Million dollars at the Box Office. After starring in the independent films DAUGHTER OF THE WOLF opposite Richard Dreyfuss and the dark comedy MADNESS IN THE METHOD with Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, Gina secured a lead role in Jon Favreau’s highly reviewed Star Wars TV show THE MANDALORIAN for Disney +. Currently in production, Gina plays ‘Cara Dune’, a former Rebel Shock Trooper and has worked with directors such as Taika Waititi, Deborah Chow and Bryce Dallas Howard on the series.Carano was born in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Dana Joy (née Cason) and professional football player Glenn Carano who played for the Dallas Cowboys and was the backup quarterback to Roger Staubach. She has two sisters, one older and one younger.*Gina became the first recipient of ActionFest’s Chuck Norris (Best Female Action Star) Award, given to the female action star of the year.*Gina received the Artemis Action Warrior Award for her contributions to the female action genre and women’s MMA. The award was presented to her by Action legend Zoe Bell”
Gina Carano
Movies
Fun Facts
you fat. You need to lose weight."" I was chubby. I really needed to get back into shape and I started training with him
Quotes
[on dating] When you meet a guy the question goes through your head whether you can beat him up or not and I think that's an instant attraction. You know, if they can't take you then I don't think they're interested.
[on her one MMA loss to Cris Cyborg in August 2009] I wanted so badly to do so well for so many people. I wanted to do so much in that fight and I think I had an adrenaline dump or I just wasn't myself and I think a lot of people saw that, which kind of throws you off. You feel like the rug has been pulled out from underneath you. I trained so hard for that fight. I was in the best shape I've ever been in. It was kind of devastating.
[on her MMA career] I have gotten some of the most beautiful experiences that a person can possibly ask for so I'm not at all complaining. I got pushed out fast and I got to pave a beautiful way and there's a lot of great female MMA fighters out there right now and there will be more in the future and I've absolutely adored being one of those people that's helped that out.
[on the movie Haywire and director Steven Soderbergh] He saw me fighting, doing something that I loved -- that I still love. And he wanted to give me an opportunity. He wrote it for me with the idea in mind that it (Mallory Kane) would be a character close to me, that I could understand. But it ends up being not a character that I understood at all because she's organized and she's strict and she's an alpha female and I'm nothing like that.
[on the criticism that Female Fighters can advance their careers on looks more than talent] There's all sorts of different types of people. I think everybody's special. Of course the media wants to focus on 'sex sells' but I'm just not a believer in that. But I'm not afraid to take a nice sexy photo either. I'm okay with that. I'm not trying to run from being female. I think this world is moving past 'sex sells' a lot. I think we're getting to the point to where you have to look deeper into a person. Or maybe that's just me hoping.
[on Cris Cyborg testing positive for a banned substance] It hurt a little bit. That was my most important MMA moment and so I can't lie that it didn't sting. At the same time, she's a phenomenal athlete and whoever is around her telling her that she needs that is wrong. She doesn't need that. She'll be phenomenal without that. She has a bad time ahead of her. She's off for a year now. That's an emotional thing where you have to earn people's trust back in a way. I'm not rejoicing in it at all. I'm hurt but at the same time I sympathize with her and I know that she's great, one of the best female athletes that we've had in the sport. She'll come back.
I've done a *@$#load of work and pain and barriers that I've broken down so far. I'm making a career for myself and I'm doing the best I can. I'm not ashamed of anything I've done.
My first fight. I fought a girl that was a little bit heavier, a little bit more experienced and I was petrified because I didn't know what I was getting myself into. And I did really well against her and nobody believed it was my first fight. So I was like -- Damn! Okay! Here we go! I'm good at something! It just happens to be fighting. Go figure.
I walked into the gym and this little Thai man walked up to me and said, "Oh baby