Carla was born in Sarasota, Florida. Moved with her mother to Paradise, California, when Carla was just five years old. During her childhood, they moved many times within the state. But she remained a straight-A student throughout high school and graduated as valedictorian. A major modeling agency discovered Carla in San Diego and sent her to New York to begin a new career when she was 15. New York was more than she could handle at that young age, so she returned to LA in the summer, modeling and enrolling in an acting class at the suggestion of her aunt, Carol Merrill, known from Let's Make a Deal. During her free time, Carla enjoys yoga, traveling and spending time with her friends in Los Angeles.
Had a kidney operation when she was only 4 years old. Niece of actress Carol Merrill. Modeled for the prestigious Elite agency as a teenager but was considered too short for fashion runway work. Has a butterfly tattoo on the inside of her left ankle. Italian-American. Was her high school's valedictorian. Boyfriend is writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez, with whom she has worked on several productions. She turned down the role of Vin Diesel's love interest in the box-office hit The Pacifier to take a small but unforgettably sexy role in Sin City because she had enjoyed working with director Robert Rodriguez in the three "Spy Kids" films. Her small size, which had worked against her when she was trying to be a model, later worked for her, as she was cast with diminutive actors like Michael J. Fox in Spin City and Antonio Banderas in the "Spy Kids" films. Is of Italian, Irish, and English descent.