Carla Orlandi is a SAG-AFTRA actress known for bringing nuance, presence, and range to every role. She guest-starred as Weatherly Adams in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, portraying a scream queen whose on-screen murder mirrored her real demise. Carla’s performance as the pivotal victim in the episode combined camp, tragedy, and charisma, anchoring the story with style and emotional weight.

A classically trained performer, Carla studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in both New York and Hollywood under Hedy Sontag. Her foundation in method acting, paired with sharp comedic instincts, shapes her work across drama, comedy, and character-driven stories.

She launched her career as an international model at age 14 after being discovered in New York. She appeared in campaigns and runway shows across Tokyo, Germany, Spain, Mexico, and Venezuela before transitioning into acting. Her screen credits include recurring roles in Valley of the Dolls and Hemingway, a featured appearance in the indie film Five Hour Friends, and a leading performance as Marilyn Monroe in the award-winning short film Cover-Up ’62.

On stage, Carla has portrayed emotionally complex women in classic and contemporary works, including Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Rose in The Woolgatherer.

Raised in Puerto Rico, Carla later discovered through DNA testing that she had been adopted. That personal journey revealed her Swedish, Belgian, and Indigenous Arctic roots and was featured on ABC News. Fluent in English and Spanish and conversational in German, Italian, and Sanskrit, she brings global perspective and authentic depth to every performance.

Now based in Los Angeles, Carla is actively pursuing new roles in television and film. She is managed by her husband and publicist, Michael L. Smith III, and is currently seeking agency representation.