Girl with local ties will 'charm' viewers Sunday

VENTURA, Calif. -- A local couple's granddaughter will have the chance to charm television viewers this weekend when she co-stars on The WB drama, "Charmed."

Five-year-old Sierra Paris, granddaughter of Jeanette and Howard Parker of Sikeston, Mo., will play the daughter of the character portrayed by actress Alyssa Milano ("Who's the Boss") during Sunday's episode, "Witchness Protected."

"We're all very excited, and we've told everybody we know -- and a lot we didn't know," said Mrs. Parker.

Parker admitted he and his wife are very proud of their granddaughter.

Mrs. Parker, who's known as "Nana" to Sierra, remembers the phone call she received following Sierra's audition for "Charmed."

"She said, 'Nana! Nana! I got a callback!' Then the next day when she called, she said: 'I got the part! I got the part!'" Mrs. Parker said.

In Sunday's episode Milano's character, "Phoebe" has a futuristic vision and sees herself picking up her daughter, played by Sierra, from school, Mrs. Parker explained.

"If you go to the bathroom, you'll miss it," laughed Sierra's mother, Valerie (Mullins) Paris, a 1990 graduate of Sikeston Senior High School.

A supernatural one-hour drama from Spelling Television, "Charmed" chronicles the conflicts and the love among three vastly different sisters and their need to come together to fulfill an ancient witchcraft prophecy, according to www.thewb.com.

Paris explained her daughter's process in getting the role on "Charmed": "Sierra went on an audition, and she read for the part -- which was two lines. She had to memorize them and then be filmed and act out the part. She got a call back and did the same thing so then they booked her," said Sierra's mother.

Sierra's part was filmed earlier this month at Paramount Studios in Hollywood -- an experience both Sierra and her mother won't forget.

Upon entering the big security gates at Paramount, Paris had to show her identification to get through, she said. Once inside, Sierra had her own little trailer with her name on it (or the character's name, "Little Girl"), and the wardrobe people came over, Paris recalled.

Then Sierra and her mother were led to the makeup trailer, where Milano was getting ready for the scene.

"Alyssa was very sweet. She said, 'Are you Sierra? I'm your mommy today.' She was very nice," Paris recalled.

In the makeup trailer, Sierra's face was powdered and her hair was fixed, her mother said. Then the scene was shot. The entire process took about two to three hours.

Following the shoot, Milano hugged Sierra and said, "You did a great job. You're a real professional," Paris said. Sierra's interest in acting began when she was just 10 months old.

"I was shopping in St. Louis at Toys "R" Us and a photographer was in desperate need of babies," Paris said, adding that's how Sierra got started.

When Paris' husband, Doug, who is a pilot, was transferred from St. Louis to Chicago, Ill., Sierra received more work. Then the family was transferred to Ventura, where they currently reside.

Over the years, Sierra has been featured in print ads for Wal-Mart, Sears Portrait Studio, Lands' End and Parents Magazine. Most recently, Sierra has had roles in a couple of independent films, one of which was submitted to the Sundance Film Festival.

"She got a lot of exposure in Chicago, but being in California has put her right there in it, and she can get a lot more exposure," said Sierra's grandmother.

Although Sierra enjoys it, Paris said she definitely considers her daughter's interest in acting as a hobby, not a career. In addition to acting, Sierra takes dance lessons and gymnastics and attends a kindergarten comprised of half English- and half Spanish-speaking students. Due to the fact Sierra was in school, she was unavailable for comment.

"For me it's important for her to stay a kid," Paris said about her daughter.

But no matter what the future holds for Sierra's hobby, she has already got a strong fanbase -- her grandparents. Mrs. Parker admitted she has copies of everything Sierra's been in -- from both print and commercial ads and now to TV. "She's very special," said Mrs. Parker about her firstborn granddaughter. "And there's nothing she can't do."

"Charmed" airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on The WB.