Biography
An Italian-American raised in New Jersey, actress Jo Champa held firmly to her ethnic roots, to such a degree that she spent the early years of her career juggling screen acting assignments in Italy, for directors including
Ettore Scola (
La Famiglia, 1987),
Massimo Troisi (
Le Vie Del Signore Sono Finite, 1987), and
Damiano Damiani (
Il Sole Buio, 1990). Though she typically signed for supporting roles, European directors consistently praised her for bringing an exotic, alluring Mediterranean quality to the screen.
Bernardo Bertolucci's
Little Buddha (1994) marked a point of transition to Hollywood for Champa, as an American-European co-production helmed by a celebrated Italian director; thereafter, she began turning up more regularly in U.S. projects, including the
Steven Seagal actioner
Out for Justice (1991), the New Line family comedy
Monkey Trouble (1994), and the
Marlon Brando-
Johnny Depp fantasy
Don Juan DeMarco (1995). In 2007, Champa landed a small role in the disaster-themed Hallmark telemovie
Pandemic. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide