Kirsten Vangsness (born July 7, 1972) is an American actress and writer. She is best known for her role as FBI technical analyst Penelope Garcia on CBS's Criminal Minds, as well as the spin-offs Suspect Behavior and Beyond Borders.
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Early life
Vangsness was born in Pasadena, California and raised in Porterville, a small town in Northern California where her parents both worked as teachers. She attended Cypress College in Cypress, California. She later graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1996.
Career
Acting
Vangsness became involved in acting as a child to help overcome shyness and got her first big break in the theatre, where she won several awards, including the 15 Minutes of Female Best Actress Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Emerging Comic Actress, and the Golden Betty Award.
