Lina Esco
Lina Esco is an American actress, producer, director and activist. She gained recognition in 2007 for portraying Jimmy Smits' character's daughter in the CBS television drama Cane. Esco has also performed in films, including London, Kingshighway, LOL, and Free the Nipple.
Career
Acting
Esco was cast in her first television guest star role in 2006, as Angie Watson in series . In March, 2007 Esco joined the cast of the CBS drama Cane. In 2009, she guest starred in an episode of the Drop Dead Diva series with Paula Abdul. Esco played a lingerie model who had been fired for going public about her breast cancer survival story.In February 2011, Esco was slated to join the cast of Fox's pilot Exit Strategy. Described as a high octane procedural set in the world of CIA agents who are sent in to "fix" operations gone bad. The cast included Ethan Hawke, Megan Dodds and with Antoine Fuqua directing. Esco was to play Mia, an MIT graduate and computer expert from South Boston. In 2014, Esco was cast in Ryan Murphy's pilot for HBO alongside Michelle Monaghan, Wes Bentley, Scott Speedman, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Esco's film debut was in 2005 with London. She is a supporting character in the 2012 comedy LOL.
Esco has been acting on "S.W.A.T." since its first season in 2017. She plays Officer III Christina "Chris" Alonso who enters into a polyamorous relationship in season 2.
Producing and directing
In April 2010, Esco produced "My Friend is...", a public service announcement for the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove alongside Oscar-winning producer Fisher Stevens joined forces with celebrities: Jennifer Aniston, Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Hayden Panettiere, Paul Rudd, Naomi Watts, Courteney Cox, Mariska Hargitay, Richard O'Barry, Woody Harrelson, Jason Mraz, James Gandolfini, John Leguizamo, Evan Handler, Rob Morrow, Tamlyn Tomita, Carrie Ann Inaba, Chris Tashima, Russell Simmons, James Kyson Lee and Richard Kind to bring awareness on the annual killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.She directed "Kids Speak Out Against Dolphin Captivity", a 2012 public service announcement for The Cove. She directed Free the Nipple in a bid to circumvent female nipple censorship.
She directed and starred in Free the Nipple, which was released in select theaters, video on demand and on iTunes on December 12, 2014.
Other work
Esco has been showcased in various commercial, music videos, magazines and publications. In 2001, she was featured in the Sinéad O'Connor music video "Jealous". She appears briefly in Moby's music video for "Southside" featuring Gwen Stefani. She was also an extra for a series of Axe commercials one including with Nick Lachey for the "Clix" campaign in 2007. Esco also features in Halos's music video for "Amalgam" in 2010.On January 12, 2011 it was reported that Lina would be showcased on the Louis Vuitton's jewelry collection for the Spring/Summer 2011. The campaign featured sixteen "It" girls from around the globe that included Alexandra Richards, Annabelle Dexter Jones, Mary Charteris, Alka Balbir, Mohini Geisweiller, DJette Clara 3000, Charlotte Lebon, Hailey Gates, Nathalie Love and Rinko Kikuchi.
On May 16, 2011 Esco was featured in Ketel One ad campaign "Gentlemen, This is Vodka." directed by Academy Award Nominee, David O. Russell.
Esco is in a 2013 NFL Women's Apparel Collection TV advertisement.
In 2017, Esco was featured on the Audience network's Midnight Snack on Fullscreen, where the guests remove their clothing on camera while talking about their life.
Activism and philanthropy
Esco has supported many foundations and organizations throughout her career.Esco has been very involved in two organizations. Dolphin Project, which has gained much support from many celebrities, is an organization led by Richard O'Barry and aims to prevent dolphin slaughter and exploitation from occurring. On September 9, 2009, Esco held a private screening of The Cove in New York, alongside Russell Simmons and Fisher Stevens hosting the event to bring awareness on the film.
Esco may be best known for how involved she is in women's rights and the Free the Nipple campaign. The organization, as Esco states, is to promote sexual equality. Free the Nipple has attracted attention from numerous celebrities including Courtney Love and Miley Cyrus, who also has a song on the soundtrack of the Free the Nipple movie and continues to strongly support the organization.
In December 2018, Esco began campaigning for overturning Cyntoia Brown's murder conviction.
Filmography
Actress
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | London | Kelly | |
| 2008 | The Evening Journey | Marla | Short |
| 2010 | Kingshighway | Lena Capriolini | |
| 2010 | Where the Road Meets the Sun | Natasha | |
| 2012 | LOL | Janice | |
| 2011 | Low Fidelity | TBA | |
| 2014 | Free the Nipple | With | formerly Girlrillaz, also as director & writer |
| 2016 | Fairy Dust | Lorna |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | ' | Angie Watson | "Live or Let Die" |
| 2007 | Cane | Katie Vega | 13 episodes |
| 2008 | ' | Elisa | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva | Lina Martinez | "Grayson Anatomy" |
| 2009 | Angela Paulson | "Death and Maiden" | |
| 2011 | Exit Strategy | Mia | Pilot |
| 2016 | Flaked | Kara | 7 episodes |
| 2016 | Kingdom | Ava Flores | 8 episodes |
| 2017–present | S.W.A.T. | Christina "Chris" Alonso | Main role |
Producer
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2014 | Free the Nipple | formerly Girlrillaz, also as actor, director & writer |