Masiela Lusha, a talented European-born actress and writer, is best known for her portrayal of "Carmen Lopez" on the ABC series "George Lopez" for five seasons. Born on October 23, 1985, to parents Max and Daniela, Masiela was raised in Tirana, Albania, Budapest, Hungary, and Vienna, Austria before settling in Michigan at the age of seven.
With English as her fourth language, Masiela's acting talents span across films, voice-overs, print work, and television. She has also lent her voice to the popular animated PBS series "Clifford's Puppy Days" as the lovable and energetic best friend "Nina".
Masiela's film work includes "My Father's Eulogy", a biographical drama where she played the reflective lead "Lisa", reminiscing about her experiences with her father; Sony Picture's "Blood: The Last Vampire" (2009),where she portrayed a demon vampire; Pathe's "Time of the Comet" (2008),starring as "Saint Agnes"; and "Muertas" (2007),where she played the determined and sensitive lead "Aracelli".
In addition to her acting career, Masiela has been recognized for her writing skills, earning the title "The Youngest Author in the World" for publishing a book in two languages at the age of 12. She has also been named one of "The Best Top Ten Talented Poets for North America" for her first book "Inner Thoughts".
Masiela views writing as an expression of herself, allowing her to "reach into humanity". Her second book of poetry, "Drinking the Moon", was recently released in print this summer by Dorrance Publishing. She has also written screenplays, short stories, and her first completed novel, "The Besa".
At the age of 23, Masiela founded Illuminary Pictures, which has since wrapped two films under the company name. The company has a full slate of diverse film and television projects in various stages of production.
Masiela is also dedicated to philanthropic work, focusing on three important aspects: the 1736 Family Crisis Center based in Los Angeles, UNICEF, and her own 501(c)3 Children of the World Foundation. For her foundation, she has donated ten acres of land in southern California and plans to expand chapters across the United States and eventually globally.
Masiela graduated from high school at the age of 15 and was accepted as a junior to UCLA at 18, majoring in English. Before becoming an actress, she was named one of "Most Likely to Succeed" by Teen Magazine. After arriving in Michigan, Masiela gained attention by modeling and was discovered by a Los Angeles-based talent agent at 13. She continues to hone her craft and explore different characters, paving her path to success as an actress and author.
