Vanessa Ferlito (born December 28, 1977) is an American actress. She is known for playing Detective Aiden Burn in the first two seasons of the CBS crime drama CSI: NY, as well as for her recurring portrayal of Claudia Hernandez in FOX drama 24, and for her starring roles as FBI Agent Charlie DeMarco in the USA Network series Graceland and as Tammy Gregorio on the CBS crime drama series NCIS: New Orleans.

She has also appeared in a number of films, including Spider-Man 2 (2004), Shadowboxer (2005), Man of the House (2005), Gridiron Gang (2006), Death Proof (2007), Nothing like the Holidays (2008), Madea Goes to Jail (2009), Julie & Julia (2009), Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), and Stand Up Guys (2012).

Early life Vanessa Ferlito was born on December 28, 1977, in Brooklyn, New York City, to an Italian-American family. She was raised by her mother and her stepfather, who owned a hair salon in Brooklyn. Her father died of a heroin overdose when she was two years old. She said of her youth in Brooklyn: "I hung out with a rough crowd. And the neighborhood I grew up in was rough. We were scrappers. I fought my way through school."

She became a notable fixture in the late-night circuit in New York City, telling New York magazine in 1998: "It’s like a job, going out – every night we’re trying to get people to introduce us to people. It’s all about who you know and what you do with it."

Career Early in her career, Ferlito worked as a model for Wilhelmina Models. Ferlito developed acting aspirations early in her life and broke into the entertainment business through a series of guest spots and recurring roles.

In 2003, Ferlito starred as Lizette Sanchez in John Leguizamo's boxing drama Undefeated, which earned her an NAACP nomination for Outstanding Actress in a TV movie. This was followed in 2004 by a role in Spider-Man 2. In 2005 Ferlito appeared in Stephen Herek's Man of the House, opposite Tommy Lee Jones, for which she received positive notice, with Variety's Joe Leydon stating that "Vanessa Ferlito is the standout, mainly because she's the only one who gets enough to do to make a strong impression as a distinctive personality."

Ferlito was a series regular on the first two seasons (2004–2005) of CBS's CSI: NY, as Aiden Burn, a member of the forensic investigation team led by Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise). Ferlito has also appeared in other television series, including HBO's The Sopranos, NBC's Law & Order and Third Watch, and had a recurring role as Claudia in FOX's series 24.

After CSI: NY, Ferlito starred in several films, among them Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps; Nora Ephron's Julie & Julia opposite Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and Amy Adams; Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail; and Alfredo De Villa's Nothing like the Holidays (originally titled Humboldt Park) with Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo and Jay Hernandez. Prior to these, Ferlito appeared in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof opposite Kurt Russell, a role Tarantino wrote specifically for Ferlito. She also appeared in Lee Daniel's Shadowboxer with Helen Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr.

In 2012, Ferlito was cast in the feature film, Stand Up Guys, opposite Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin. She also played Charlie DeMarco on USA Network's Graceland, which ran between 2013 and 2015. In 2016, Ferlito was added to the cast of NCIS: New Orleans for the show's third season, playing an FBI special agent who is sent from DC to investigate the NCIS team.

Personal life Ferlito gave birth to a son in September 2007 and raised her child as a single mother. In her freetime, she enjoys yoga, hiking, and cycling.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 On Line Jordan Nash 2002 25th Hour Lindsay Jamison 2004 Spider-Man 2 Louise 2004 Gina 2005 Man of the House Heather 2005 Shadowboxer Vicki 2006 Gridiron Gang Lisa Gonzales 2007 Death Proof Arlene "Butterfly" 2007 Descent Bodega Girl 2008 Nothing like the Holidays Roxanna Rodriguez 2009 Madea Goes to Jail Donna 2009 Julie & Julia Cassie 2010 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Audrey 2012 Stand Up Guys Sylvia 2013 Duke "Cookie" 2015 All Mistakes Buried Franki Originally titled The Aftermath

Television Year Title Role Notes2001, 2004Tina FrancescoEpisodes: "Another Toothpick", "Rat Pack"2002Third WatchValEpisode: "Blackout"2003Law & OrderTina MontoyaEpisode: "Star Crossed"2003UndefeatedLizette SanchezTV movie2003–200424Claudia HernandezRecurring role, 11 episodes2004CSI: MiamiAiden BurnEpisode: "MIA/NYC Nonstop"2004–2006CSI: NYAiden BurnMain role (seasons 1–2), 26 episodes2006DriftGeorgia FieldsUnsold TV pilot2011Cooper and StoneAngela StoneUnsold TV pilot2013–2015GracelandCatherine "Charlie" DeMarcoMain role, 38 episodes2016–2021NCIS: New OrleansTammy GregorioMain role (season 3–7)2023BookieLorraine ColavitoMain Cast, 13 episodes2024GriseldaCarmen GutiérrezNetflix miniseries

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