Introduction
Marla Lynne Sokoloff (born December 19, 1980) is an American actress. She is known for playing Lucy Hatcher on the legal drama television series The Practice, Claire on comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives and Gia Mahan on ABC's sitcom Full House and Fuller House. She has also appeared in films True Crime (1996), Dude, Where's My Car? (2000), Sugar & Spice (2001) and Love on the Side (2004).
Early life
Marla Lynne Sokoloff was born in San Francisco, to Cindi (née Sussman) and Howard Sokoloff, a former caterer and podiatrist, respectively. Her family is Jewish and originates from Russia and Germany. Sokoloff graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she took classes in music and theatre.
Career
Sokoloff began acting at age 12 when she was cast as Gia Mahan in the sitcom Full House. She was originally cast to play Topanga Lawrence in ABC’s hit sitcom Boy Meets World and had even filmed a few scenes, however the part was later recast with Danielle Fishel. In 1998, Sokoloff landed the role of receptionist Lucy Hatcher in the legal drama television series The Practice. Along with other popular appearances, she is well-remembered as Joey's pregnant sister, Dina, in season 8 of Friends. Sokoloff also had a three-episode stint as nanny Claire in the comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives.
In 2000, she played Maggie Carter in the teen romance film Whatever It Takes.
In November 2006, she starred in the ABC television series Big Day, which ended on January 30, 2007. She also made a guest appearance in an episode of Burn Notice, where she played Melanie, working undercover as a receptionist at a Miami art gallery, whose owner had murdered her character's father.
Sokoloff also has starred in several movies, including Whatever It Takes, The Climb, The Tollbooth, Dude, Where's My Car?, Sugar & Spice and Love on the Side.
In 2008, Sokoloff starred alongside Paul Campbell, Andy Griffith, Doris Roberts and Liz Sheridan in the romantic comedy Play the Game. She also voices the Glatorian Kiina in Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. She played Imogene O'Neill in the mini series Meteor.
In 2012, she starred in the television film A Christmas Wedding Date.
Personal life
After meeting on the set of Whatever It Takes in 1999, she dated co-star James Franco for five years.
In 2004, Sokoloff began dating Deadsy drummer Alec Puro. The couple married on November 7, 2009 and have two daughters: Elliotte Anne (b. 2012) and Olive Mae (b. 2015).