Vanessa Marano Latest News, Photos, and Videos

Laura and Vanessa Marano walk through a grassy field in this shot from their Grumpy magazine cover story.

The two sisters are opening up about their new movie, Saving Zoe, which is out today on VOD and in select theaters. Check out what they said below:

Vanessa on making a movie with her sister: “It’s crazy. I know a lot of siblings who act in this business together and I feel like Laura and I have a very unique experience, in a sense that we both had very individual careers and we never really worked on the same project. That was amazing because we both got to build ourselves up as individuals. That’s something that has been so helpful for us, because you see somebody else going through a similar experience but having their own journey.”

Laura on her emotional role as Echo: “I really felt this pressure that I was putting on myself to do what I read while reading Saving Zoë, and to do justice to how I read and perceived Echo. And it was definitely taxing emotionally, adding on top of that the fact that we were also producing. It’s not just difficult acting by itself. There were some pretty intense challenges that came, but I think that’s what made it. It’s the most rewarding project I’ve ever been a part of.”

Vanessa on never giving up on the film: It took us so long to get this project made and it got made, which means for anybody out there who is trying to accomplish a goal, it can happen. We totally understand every stage of the process of trying to make something happen for yourself, the frustration, the rejection, the hopelessness. Sometimes timing is not your best friend, sometimes it’s like this is the worst time to be doing something, but you have to push through and keep going because eventually, it’s the right time to tell a story.”

If you missed it, see how 13 Reasons Why inspired Vanessa and Laura with their movie.

Sisters Laura Marano and Vanessa Marano are working to educate the world about an important issue: Online sexual exploitation.

The issue is at the center of Laura and Vanessa’s dark new movie, Saving Zoë, which they also worked on as producers.

We caught up with Laura and Vanessa at the LA screening of Saving Zoë, where they gave us some exclusive insight into the work they’re doing to fight back against online sexual exploitation.

Laura and Vanessa have teamed up with a charity called Equality Now to get the word out and are planning a PSA on internet safety with the rest of the Saving Zoë cast.

“I think, unfortunately, a lot of times with online sexual exploitation, it happens with people you think you know,” Vanessa explained, when asked about her advice when it comes to avoiding becoming a victim of online sexual exploitation, which encompasses a range of predatory behavior on the internet, from soliciting photos to luring others to in-person encounters. “So, I would say really be cautious of sending images of yourself. Be cautious of your passwords.”

Vanessa adds that it’s also crucial for victims not to blame themselves – something that happens far too often when it comes to online sexual exploitation.

“And most importantly, out of everything, if it happens to you, tell someone,” she says. “I think there’s so much shame that is associated with online sexual exploitation and a lot of guilt that feels like, ‘Oh, it was my fault. I was stupid. I did this.’ Don’t listen to that voice inside your head. Tell someone because it’s what someone else did is wrong. You were actually the victim of someone else and you’re a survivor.”

Here’s how 13 Reasons Why was pivotal in getting Laura Marano and Vanessa Marano’s new movie, Saving Zoë made!

Dark, gritty YA is having a moment – just ask Laura Marano and Vanessa Marano.

The sisters are busy promoting their new film, Saving Zoë, which is a passion project they’ve been working to bring to the big screen for more than a decade.

Saving Zoë, based on the novel of the same name by Alyson Noël, tells the story of a high school freshman (played by Laura who searches for the truth about her older sister’s (played by Vanessa untimely death.

The story is dark and deals with important, harrowing real world issues like online sexual exploitation.

Laura, Vanessa, and their mother, Ellen Marano, optioned the book after reading it 12 years ago, but struggled for years to get the film made, in part because no one wanted to make a dark YA book into a movie or television show.

“By the time we finished [the script], something kind of crazy happened with timing – 13 Reasons Why came out,” Laura explained exclusively to JustJaredJr.com. “And, to be quite honest, all of a sudden, everyone was like, ‘We want dark YA! We want dark stories!’”

Vanessa says that fans of 13 Reasons Why are the same people who will appreciate Saving Zoë, but that, for years, the people with the power to make the project a reality just didn’t believe those viewers even existed.

Click inside for more of what Laura Marano and Vanessa Marano had to say about the importance of Saving Zoë. More Here! »

The stars turned out last night to support the Marano sisters!

Laura Marano and Vanessa Marano teamed up with The MOMS (Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein) to host a Mamarazzi event in partnership with Sylvania for the sisters’ new movie, Saving Zoë, on Wednesday night (July 10) in Los Angeles, Calif.

Their real-life mom, Ellen, plus Constance Marie, Virginia Marsden, Spencer Boldman, Greer Grammer, and author Alyson Noël also stepped out for the screening.

Saving Zoë is a project that Laura and Vanessa have been working to bring to the world for more than a decade.

In the movie, a high school freshman (played by Laura), uncovers the truth about her sister’s (played by Vanessa) secret life a year after her untimely death. The film deals with very mature themes, including online sexual exploitation.

FYI Vanessa is wearing an Elizabeth Franchi dress and Stuart Weitzman shoes. She’s carrying a Tyler Ellis clutch and wearing jewelry by ANK Jewelry and Anne Sisteron. Laura is wearing a Tadashi Shoji dress and Stuart Weitzman shoes. She’s carrying a Swarovski Alelier clutch and wearing XIV KARATS jewelry.

20+ pictures inside of the stars at the Saving Zoë screening…

Read what Laura Marano and Vanessa Marano had to say about their awkward first kiss stories here!

The Marano sisters are kissing and telling!

Vanessa Marano and Laura Marano recently sat down with BuzzFeed to promote their new film, Saving Zoë, and talked about their various “first.”

One of the firsts the Marano sisters shared? Their first kiss stories.

Vanessa revealed that her first kiss went down on a movie set – and the scene was ultimately cut from the film.

“Mine was on-camera,” she explained. “I did an independent film called Easy and I was 10 years old. The characters have their first kiss and it’s supposed to be cute and sweet. It’s a flashback to the older girl having her first kiss and it’s supposed to take place in the ’80s, so the way she decides to kiss the boy, is they were watching Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ video. So, my character leaves while he’s watching the video, goes and gets a blonde wig, dresses up like Madonna, and starts singing ‘Like a Virgin’ to seduce him into a first kiss. Also, the boy did not want to kiss me.”

As for Laura, her first kiss venue was super relatable – a school dance.

“My first kiss was at a dance,” she said. “I was such a jerk, I could tell he was really nervous so I took a lot of comfort in that. I was not gonna do it on the dance floor so we went upstairs to the venue and we kissed. Then I was like, ‘You gotta give me more than that.’”

Laura, always the perfectionist, made her dance date kiss her not once, not twice, but three times to get the milestone moment right.

“Then we kissed again and missed each other’s mouths. And then we kissed again and it was good, so it was third time’s a charm for a first kiss.”

Read Laura Marano’s response to rumors that she’s starring in Pitch Perfect 4 here!

Laura Marano poses for a cute pic with her older sister Vanessa during their appearance at Build Series in New York City on Tuesday (July 8).

The 23- and 26-year-old actresses are out promoting their new movie, Saving Zoe, which hits select theaters on Friday, July 12th.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Vanessa Marano

“It’s really dark. There was a lot of fear in getting it made because of that, which to us just meant we NEEDED to get it made,” Vanessa emphasized about the subject of their new flick.

You can watch Laura and Vanessa‘s entire interview below!

FYI: Vanessa wore Stella Luna shoes.

Laura and Vanessa Marano spent the weekend unplugged from technology!

The sister duo attended Victoria’s Secret Pink Grl Pwr Retreat on Saturday (June 22) at the Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona, AZ.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Laura Marano

“Real talk: I love talking to you guys, and I am so grateful for the amazing things social media can bring, but it’s also really important to be mindful of how social media and technology affect our mental health, and weekends like this are very needed, not just for our generation, but for everyone. Take a short break when you can/want to/need to ❤️,” Laura wrote on her Instagram.

During the three-day event, Laura, Vanessa and a group of young women got to spend time away from their screens to relax, recharge, and be present.

Guest were treated to morning yoga, stargazing, a tour of Sedona’s tranquil red rocks, and a discussion and Q&A hosted by Laura.

15+ pics inside of Laura and Vanessa Marano at the Victoria’s Secret Pink Grl Pwr Retreat…
More Here! »