Born in Nashville, TN on August 7, 1971 Sydney Penny absorbed the early example of an acting career from her parents, who were both stage performers. She grew up in Los Angeles, California, and studied acting, ballet, jazz, tap, gymnastics, acrobatics, and ice-skating. Her career began in earnest at the age of six when she appeared in a commercial for a ballerina doll, "Dancerella.” Sydney went on to do scores of commercials pitching products such as Barbie, McDonald's and Pop Tarts.

Sydney's first role was in "Through the Magic Pyramid," which was also Ron Howard's directorial debut. Several television movies followed including playing the voice of "Lucy" in the animated film, "It's Magic Charlie Brown."

She likewise has been cast in numerous television shows and films. In 1985, Clint Eastwood cast Sydney as Megan Wheeler, the young girl who falls in love with the enigmatic preacher in "Pale Rider"; his return to westerns and her first feature film role. For her work, Sydney was awarded the Youth in Film Award.

Famed French director, Jean Delannoy chose Sydney to portray Bernadette Soubirous in "Bernadette," in 1987. Although she did not speak French at the time, the film was shot in both English and French, and Sydney worked with a coach to learn her lines phonetically, eventually becoming fluent. Delannoy and Penny followed up three years later with "La Passion de Bernadette," the story of Bernadette's life in the convent. Both films were lauded by Pope John Paul II for the accurate portrayal of her life, were critically well received and play in perpetuity in Lourdes, France.

Sydney also worked with famed screen legends Sophia Loren, Martin Sheen and likewise continued work in off-Broadway show productions, such as Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” in 1995.

Penny is currently seen as ex-CIA agent "Joy Arden" in the syndicated series, "Largo," co-produced by Paramount and M6, and filmed in Montreal and Paris, airing worldwide.

Sydney lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, Robert who is an artist.

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