Vanessa Madeline Angel (born 10 November 1966) is an English actress and former model. She is noted for roles in the television series Weird Science and Stargate SG-1, and for co-starring in the film Kingpin.
Early life Angel, who has said this is her birth name and not a stage name, was born 10 November 1966 in London, the daughter of Elizabeth and Peter Angel, a stockbroker. She was discovered by a model-management agent in a London cafe as a teenager. At 16, she was signed by Ford Models and moved to New York City. During her modelling stint, Angel appeared on the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She was also contracted as the Diet Pepsi Girl.
Career
Angel's first film role was in the 1985 American comedy Spies Like Us, in which she played a soldier in the Soviet Strategic Missile Forces who sleeps with Dan Aykroyd's character. She also appeared in the accompanying music video for the film's theme song, written and performed by Paul McCartney. In 1990, she appeared in a small role in the film King of New York. Angel continued to appear in films throughout the early 1990s. After a leading guest spot on TV's The Equalizer, she played the recurring roles of Megan on Baywatch and Detective Peggy Elliott on Reasonable Doubts. She guest-starred in two episodes of Melrose Place, playing what she described as "this crazy, drugged-out, bisexual supermodel who kissed [the character played by] Daphne Zuniga!"
From 1994 to 1998, she starred in the television series Weird Science as Lisa, the computer-generated genie role originated by Kelly LeBrock in the 1985 film upon which the series is based. In 1995, Angel was cast in the role of Xena, a guest spot on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, but due to an illness was unable to take the role, which eventually went to Lucy Lawless.
During the series run of Weird Science, Angel landed the female lead in the Farrelly brothers film Kingpin. Critic Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times singled out Angel for praise in Kingpin, writing that while her role initially seems to be mere "decoration", she eventually "proves herself as a comic actress able to hold her own" with her co-stars. Angel played roles in Kissing a Fool with David Schwimmer, followed by a role in the 1999 film Made Men. In 2004, she appeared in SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2, as Scott Baio's wife. Angel has also had roles in the Sci-Fi Pictures Original telefilm Sabretooth (2002) and The Perfect Score (2004).
In 2000, she guest-starred in three episodes of the Sci-Fi Channel's Stargate SG-1, playing Anise, a Tok'ra archaeologist/scientist whose host is named Freya. Her first appearance is in the season-four episode "Upgrades", and she appeared in the two following episodes, "Crossroads" and "Divide and Conquer". In 2005, Angel played herself in the second-season episode of Entourage entitled "I Love You Too". In 2007, she completed the independent film Blind Ambition, and later appeared in the Farrellys' Hall Pass. She played a guest role as Alison in the fifth season of Californication.
Angel started a clothing line in 2009, VANE LA.
On 15 October 2014, Angel appeared on Ken Reid's podcast TV Guidance Counselor.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1985Spies Like UsSoviet Rocket Crewperson1989Another ChanceJackie Johanson1990King of New York'British Female' bodyguard of Frank White1991Killer InstinctDeborah Walker1993The Cover Girl MurdersRachel1994Sleep with MeMarianneCityscrapes: Los AngelesTrouble1996KingpinClaudia1998Kissing a FoolNatasha1999Made MenDebra2000Enemies of LaughterJenniferG-Men from HellGloria Lake2001CamouflageCindy DaviesFiretrapBeth Hooper 2002SabretoothCatherine Viciy2004Anita DonleeOut for BloodSusan HastingsVideoSuperbabies: Baby Geniuses 2Jean Bobbins2005Raging SharksLinda OlsenVideoMs. BarlassPopstarDiane2006Monster NightClaire AckermanVideo2008Blind AmbitionAutumn milestone2009Endless BummerBrenda2011Hall PassMissy FrankinopoulosCougar HuntingUrsula2013Hansel & Gretel: Warriors of WitchcraftMs. KeeganNational Lampoon Presents: Surf PartyBrenda2015LockhartLilithLycanProf. AndersonTrouble SleepingVanessavideo2018Behind the WallsKathy Harper2023Johnny & ClydeSusan2025The Roaring GameKatrina ColeTBADesert Fiends 2Elizabeth
Television and web Year Title Role Notes1988Christine Hayes Episode: "Video Games"1991BaywatchMegan3 Episodes: "The One That Got Away", "The Trophy: Parts 1 & 2"1992On the AirChorus GirlEpisode: "The Lester Guy Show"RavenFlight AttendantEpisode: "The Unseen Enemy"Lady BossChristieTV miniseries1992–1993Reasonable DoubtsDet. Peggy ElliottRecurring role1993Melrose PlaceKaren2 Episodes: "Carpe Diem", "State of Need"Murder, She WroteKathryn ScofieldEpisode: "The Phantom Killer"RachelTV movie1994Time TraxJane HawkinsEpisode: "The Gravity of It All"1994–1998Weird ScienceLisaMain role1997Veronica's ClosetSuzanne2 Episodes: "Veronica's Best Buddy", "Veronica's a Doll"2000PartnersAngelTV movieStargate SG-1Anise / Freya3 Episodes: "Upgrades", "Crossroads", "Divide and Conquer"2002SabretoothCatherine ViciyTV movie2003Mary TurnerEpisode: "Body Double"2004Puppet Master vs Demonic ToysErica SharpeTV movie2005Criminal IntentSusan GraceEntourageHerselfEpisode: "I Love You Too"2007Planet RaptorDr. Anna RogersTV movie2009Saving GracePauline HooverEpisode: "The Heart of a Cop"2011Christmas SpiritHopeTV movie2012CalifornicationAlisonEpisode: "The Way of the Fist"2014Hello Ladies: The MovieMcCadamsTV movie2016My Summer PrinceQueen Rosalind2019Crown LakeDr. LewisWeb series2023Sins of the Preacher's WifeMarionTV movie
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