Joanna Ryan

Joanna was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the first girl into a family with three boys. She would be followed by three more brothers and finally a beloved baby sister. Growing up with seven siblings and in the middle of six boys explains a lot about the determined and independent personality that has contributed to her ongoing spirit of adventure.

The daughter of a PhD Scientist/Army Colonel and a homemaker, Joanna lived in southern California as a kid before her parents moved back to their hometown of Utah. She attended the private university BYU where she studied English Education. She had the opportunity to be a French-speaking au pair in Belgium as a college sophomore, beginning a love for European culture (or should we say cuisine?).

Joanna competed in beauty/scholarship pageants and claimed the crown of Miss Utah Valley, Miss Utah County, 1st runner up to Miss Utah and 1st runner up to Miss National Sweetheart. She loves to sing and play the piano, though for her talent numbers she played the flute. She excelled particularly in the interview portion of competition.

She taught college English during her graduate program and also AP English at a public high school before going abroad again to teach IB English at a private international school in Berne, Switzerland.

Upon returning to the States Joanna began working for a public seminar company, where she would become one of their first female speakers, traveling throughout the country and internationally, promoting websites and search engine optimization software. Her specialty was helping women in business.

Joanna started working on a non-profit, "Leaders Thru Literacy" in which she aims to spread her love of good old-fashioned reading. A writer at heart, she also has a few books in mind, particularly in the genre of spy-fiction. (Who doesn't love a good mystery novel? Set in the south of France? Mais oui!)

With no prior formal training in acting, Joanna began meeting with private coach Peter Kelley in Los Angeles when her speaking engagements took her to California. She jumped into her first scene study class with director Michael Flynn in Salt Lake City in Fall of 2011.

She relocated to Santa Monica, California soon after, where she began studying audition technique at Margie Haber Studio and Meisner Method at Baron Brown. She enjoys all aspects of the business, including print, commercial, video, industrial and film work. Joanna is an avid skier and tennis player.