With a unique name and the impressive background to match, Cherylwonner Gardner has only one direction to go, and that is up. Born March 3rd in Fort Worth, Texas, Cherylwonner was named by her father from her mother’s side: Aunt Cheryl and Grandmother Wonner. She is an only child with a unique heritage; her father is Native American and Irish. Her grandmother from her father’s side, who was Native American, was a famous harpist who performed on the Ed Sullivan Show. Her great-uncle, also on her father’s side, was a doorman for the Queen of England.
For elementary school, she attended Bethesda Christian School where she faced the difficulty of being the only African-American student. It was there that she met her best friend Stephanie, although when her parents divorced and she moved to South Carolina with her mother, they never saw each other again. It was in South Carolina at an event that her mother introduced her to Miss America Kimberly Clarice Aiken. She inspired Cheryl to do great things, make it big, and to become a highly recognized and inspirational person of color.
Following the move to South Carolina, she was enrolled at Hyatt Park Elementary School where she thrived. She was honored as an Academically Advanced Student and earned the highest test score within the school. Also she received an award from Bill Clinton for maintaining the Highest Academic Achievement Award during her commencement ceremony. Cheryl moved on graduating from Eau Claire High School, with such honors as being awarded four times for the Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Following high school, she attended Lander University, working extremely hard, earning a nomination for the National Dean’s List and two Bachelor degrees: B.A. in Mass Communications of Theater and a B.S. in Business Administration of Marketing Management.
Cheryl not only excelled in her education but her acting as well. She began her career at the age of six when her mother enrolled her in Millie Lewis Modeling School in an attempt to open Cheryl up and rid her of her shyness. She continued intense teachings from her modeling trainers for seven years. She then received a modeling contract from a fashion company in New York, and participated in AMTC: Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ which earned her two awards: Best Talent In The Agency and Top 15th Finalist for Mature Commercial Model out of 250 models. Despite these victories, her professor/advisor laughed in her face when Cheryl shared her desire to become an actress exclaiming, “I doubt you have what it takes to make it in this business. I can't believe you think you're going to be a star. You an actress. Hmm, we'll see.” This was proven wrong when she received two major awards while in college. She directed a play that led her to win the Theater Excellence Academic Award, the highest academic award given from the university in her field. She also was selected as stage manager for a play that earned her the KCACTF (John F. Kennedy Nomination). The same professor/advisor reevaluated her opinion and strongly expressed, “Wow!!! You actually have talent!!! I never thought in a million years I would say this but you actually have what it takes. I never thought I would say that!!!” Following college, she then moved to Orlando, Florida for other film opportunities and when she decided to further her acting career she made another move to Los Angeles.
Since the move she has continued to work and hone her craft. Cheryl is skilled in accents varying from Southern to Jamaican. She prides herself on being disciplined, a strong listener, punctual, and having a sense of humor. Her looks present her as being younger than she really is. She is always being asked where her parent is because people believe her to be a minor. Cheryl has performed in four television shows, including Mob, two commercials, and two music videos-which one aired on MTV. While in college she was also involved in three theatrical plays, such as Women on Fire, which led to Cheryl winning first place in the South Carolina Theater Association (SCTA). She is currently starting the film Then the Night Comes which is currently in pre-production featuring 3 Celebrity Actors from Minority Report, Batman, and Daytime Emmy Nominee from Days of Our Lives.
Unique traits: Accents: Southern, Valley Girl, African, and Jamaican Sports: Aerobics, Badminton, Fishing, Hiking, Jump Rope, Jogging, Ping Pong, Race Walking, Relay, Running, Tennis, and Volleyball
GET YO' ALBUM ON THE AIR
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Music
by Aaron Productions
Self/Principal
TRAGEDY OF A MOTHER & SON
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Film
by Romane Simon
Jennifer/Lead
MOBBED
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Television
by FOX
Dancer
NAMEDROPPER
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Television
by Universal Records
Zombie/Featured
EVIL DEEDS EPISODES: RATTLESNAKE RIKKI AND HELLO
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Film
by Romane Simon
Sarah & Jamie Michaels/Lead
JUST TONIGHT
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Music
by Romane Simon
Girlfriend/Lead
HOW TO DO FLORIDA
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Television
by Crawford Group Productions
Audience Member/Featured
EXTRA
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Television
by Telepictures Productions
Fan/Featured
LAST STEP
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Film
by Forbes Film Productions
LaRhonda/Supporting
SAFE HOUSE
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Film
by King Films Productions
Javonna/Supporting
THE RESOLUTION PACT
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Film (short)
by We Connected Productions
Leslie/Co-Lead
WOMEN ON FIRE
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Theater
by Bess Parks
Trude/Co-Lead
THEN THE NIGHT COMES
Commercial
by Romane Simon
Kate/Supporting
Top 15 Finalist in Category Mature Commercial Model AMTC (Actor's, Models, and Talent for Christ)
(2010)
Best Talent in Agency AMTC (Actor's, Models, and Talent for Christ)
(2010)
Theater Excellence Academic Award Lander University
(2008)
Bachelor of Arts Mass Communications of Theater
(2008)
Bachelor of Science Business Administration of Marketing Management
(2008)
1st Place SCTA (South Carolina Theater Association) Play "Women On Fire"
(2007)
Nominated Stage Manager KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival)
(2006)
Lander University
(2002-2008)