Irene Cara (born Irene Escalera on March 18, 1959 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American singer and actress.
Her career started on Spanish-language television as a child, professionally singing and dancing. From there, Cara appeared in on- and off-Broadway theatrical shows including the musical The Me Knowbody Knows, which won an Obie, and Maggie Flynn, opposite Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. By age 8, Cara recorded a Latin-market Spanish-language record; an English Christmas album soon followed.
Her first national exposure was in the educational series The Electric Company, playing a member of the band The Short Circus.
Her first jobs as a teen came on television, getting a role on the soap Love of Life and the classic kids' show The Electric Company.
She is best remembered for singing the themes from Fame and Flashdance. She played Coco Hernandez in Fame, Sparkle in Sparkle, and Angela in romance thriller classic Aaron Loves Angela.
She won both the 1983 Academy Award for Best Song and the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Flashdance (What A Feeling)", from Flashdance.
Along with her successful career in acting, Cara released two albums in the 1980s: Anyone Can See in 1982, and What A Feelin' in 1983.
In June 2005, Irene won the third round of NBC television series Hit Me Baby One More Time, performing "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" and covered Anastacia's hit "I'm Outta Love" with her current band, Hot Caramel.
Happily Ever After (1993) (voice) .... Snow White
Abenteuer von Pico und Columbus, Die (1992) (voice) .... Marilyn
... aka The Magic Voyage (USA)
"Hearts Are Wild"
- Episode dated 6 March 1992 (1992) TV Episode
"Gabriel's Fire"
- Birds Gotta Fly (1991) TV Episode .... Celine Bird
Caged in Paradiso (1990) .... Eva
... aka Maximum Security (USA)
"Sábado noche"
- Episode dated 27 February 1988 (1988) TV Episode
Busted Up (1986) .... Simone
Certain Fury (1985) .... Tracy
City Heat (1984) .... Ginny Lee
D.C. Cab (1983) .... Irene Cara
... aka Street Fleet
For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story (1983) (TV) .... Myrlie Evers
... aka For Us, the Living (USA: short title)
Killing 'em Softly (1982) .... Jane
... aka Man in 5A
Sister, Sister (1982) (TV) .... Sissy Lovejoy
"The Midnight Special"
- Episode dated 26 September 1980 (1980) TV Episode .... Musical Guest
Fame (1980) .... Coco Hernandez
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980) (TV) .... Alice Jefferson
... aka The Mad Messiah
"Roots: The Next Generations" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... Bertha Palmer Haley
"What's Happening!!"
- Rerun Gets Married (1977) TV Episode .... Maria
"Kojak"
- A Hair-Trigger Away (1976) TV Episode .... Amy
Sparkle (1976) .... Sparkle
Apple Pie (1976) .... Dancer
Aaron Loves Angela (1975) .... Angela
"The Electric Company" .... Iris, member of the Short Circus (1971-1972)
- Episode #1.1 (1971) TV Episode .... Iris - Member of the Short Circus
"Love of Life" (1951) TV Series .... Daisy Allen (1970-1971)
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