Two decades after she first stormed onto screens as the sharp-tongued forensic investigator Aiden Burn on the drama series CSI: NY, American actress Vanessa Ferlito remains one of the more talked-about faces to emerge from Brooklyn’s acting scene. She is known not only for her filmography but also for the rumours that keep following her about her appearance, her sexuality, her son’s father, and her love life. Vanessa is a mother of one, and she is not married.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Vanessa Ferlito was born on 28 December 1977, in Brooklyn, New York.
- Besides CSI: NY, her other notable films include Graceland, NCIS: New Orleans, Bookie, and Netflix’s Griselda.
- The actress has one son, Vince Ferlito, born in September 2007.
- Vanessa is not married. She was romantically linked to director Quentin Tarantino, though neither ever confirmed a relationship.
- She has repeatedly denied rumours of plastic surgery, and has never publicly addressed her sexual orientation beyond dismissing speculation sparked by her on-screen roles.
Profile summary
|
Full name |
Vanessa Ferlito |
|
Gender |
Female |
|
Date of birth |
28 December 1977 |
|
Age |
48 years (as of August 2026) |
|
Place of birth |
Brooklyn, New York, United States |
|
Current residence |
New York, United States |
|
Nationality |
American |
|
Ethnicity |
Italian-American |
|
Zodiac sign |
Capricorn |
|
Religion |
Christianity |
|
Height |
5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
|
Hair colour |
Brown |
|
Eye colour |
Dark brown |
|
Marital status |
Single |
|
Children |
1 |
|
Profession |
Actress |
Who is Vanessa Ferlito?
Vanessa Ferlito is an American actress. She is known for playing Detective Aiden Burn in the first two seasons of the CBS crime drama CSI: NY. She is also known for her recurring portrayal of Claudia Hernandez in FOX drama 24, and for her role as FBI Agent Charlie DeMarco in the USA Network series Graceland.
How old is Vanessa Ferlito?
Vanessa Ferlito’s age is 48 years as of August 2026. She was born on 28 December 1977, and her Zodiac sign is Capricorn.

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Source: Original
Family background
Vanessa Ferlito was born in Brooklyn, New York, United States. Her father died of excessive use of an illegal substance when she was two years old. As a result, she was raised by her mother and stepfather, who owned a hair salon in Brooklyn where Vanessa spent much of her childhood. The American actress has described her upbringing as tough:
I hung out with a rough crowd. And the neighbourhood I grew up in was rough.
What ethnicity is Vanessa Ferlito?
Vanessa is of Italian-American descent. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, in a family with Italian roots, and has referenced her Italian-American upbringing in interviews over the years.

Source: Getty Images
Is Vanessa Ferlito LGBTQ?
Rumours about Vanessa Ferlito’s sexual orientation gained traction after she played Tammy Gregorio on NCIS: New Orleans. Her character was involved in a gay relationship.

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The American actress has dismissed the speculation, and there is no public statement from her confirming any specific sexual orientation.
Career
Before acting, Ferlito modelled with the Wilhelmina agency and became a fixture of New York City’s downtown club scene in the late 1990s. She landed her first television role on The Sopranos in 2001, followed by guest and recurring roles on Third Watch, Law & Order, Undefeated, and 24.
Her breakthrough came in 2004, when she was cast as Detective Aiden Burn on CBS’s CSI: NY, a role she played for its first two seasons.
More recently, Vanessa starred as Lorraine in the Max comedy Bookie, alongside Sebastian Maniscalco, before the show was cancelled in February 2025. She also played Carmen Gutiérrez in Netflix’s 2024 crime miniseries Griselda, opposite Sofía Vergara.
The table below gives an overview of Vanessa Ferlito’s movies and TV shows.
|
Title |
Year |
Role |
|
Bookie |
2023-2025 |
Lorraine |
|
Griselda |
2023 |
Carmen |
|
NCIS: New Orleans |
2016-2021 |
Tammy Gregorio |
|
Drew |
2016 |
George Fayne |
|
Graceland |
2013-2015 |
Agent Catherine ‘Charlie’ DeMarco |
|
All Mistakes Buried |
2015 |
Franki |
|
Graceland Insider |
2014 |
Charlie DeMarco |
|
Stand Up Guys |
2012 |
Sylvia |
|
Duke |
2019 |
Cookie |
|
Cooper and Stone |
2011 |
Angela Stone |
|
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps |
2010 |
Audrey |
|
Julie & Julia |
2009 |
Cassie |
|
Madea Goes to Jail |
2009 |
Donna |
|
Nothing Like the Holidays |
2008 |
Roxanna Rodriguez |
|
Death Proof |
2007 |
Arlene |

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What is Vanessa Ferlito’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the actress is worth about $2.5 million. Most of her wealth comes from her roles on television series and movies.
What is Vanessa Ferlito’s husband’s name?
The American actress does not have a husband. She has never been publicly married, and there is no verified record of a wife either. Her most publicised romantic connection remains her rumoured relationship with Quentin Tarantino.

Source: Getty Images
Did Tarantino date Vanessa Ferlito?
Ferlito and Tarantino first worked together on Death Proof, and rumours about a romance began around that time. The speculation resurfaced years later.
In September 2014, Tarantino was photographed kissing Ferlito after a dinner date in New York City, shortly after reports that he had been linked to Uma Thurman. Speaking about getting the role of Arlene in Death Proof, Ferlito said:
I met Quentin a couple of years ago shooting “Man of the House” and we’ve been friends ever since. He just called me one day and said he wrote the role for me, and I didn’t believe him even though he’s a man of his word. I thought he was kidding. He would check in month to month and say “I’m going to send you the script” and when it was time to shoot he said, “Are you ready to go to work?”

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Neither Ferlito nor Tarantino ever confirmed they were officially a couple. Tarantino went on to marry singer Daniella Pick in November 2018, with whom he has two children.
Who is Vanessa Ferlito’s son?

Source: Getty Images
The actress has a son called Vince Ferlito. He was born in September 2007, during a period when her career was at a high point following Death Proof. The American actress has raised Vince as a single mother.
The identity of Vanessa Ferlito’s baby’s father is off the public record. She has never revealed who he is.
Vanessa Ferlito’s plastic surgery
Vanessa has faced recurring speculation that she has had plastic surgery, particularly around the shape of her nose and lips. She has consistently denied undergoing any cosmetic procedures.
What is Vanessa Ferlito doing now?
No new film or television project has been publicly confirmed for Ferlito since 2024. She maintains a relatively low public profile and has not announced retirement from acting, despite unverified claims to that effect.

Source: Getty Images
How tall is Vanessa Ferlito?
The American actress stands at 5 ft 6 in or 168 cm, and has said she stays active through yoga, hiking, and cycling. She has brown hair and dark brown eyes.

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FAQs
- Who is Vince Ferlito? He is Vanessa Ferlito’s only child, a son born in September 2007. The actress has raised him as a single mother.
- Is Vanessa Ferlito LGBTQ? There is no public confirmation of the actress’ sexual orientation. Rumours began after she portrayed a character in a gay relationship on NCIS: New Orleans.
- Did Tarantino date Vanessa Ferlito? The two were romantically linked, most visibly when they were photographed kissing after a dinner date in September 2014, but neither Ferlito nor Tarantino ever publicly confirmed an official relationship.
- What is Vanessa Ferlito doing now? Her most recent confirmed work includes Bookie on Max (2023–2025) and Griselda on Netflix (2024). No new project had been publicly announced as of August 2026.
- Was Vanessa Ferlito in Griselda? Yes, the actress is on Netflix’s Griselda as Carmen Gutiérrez.
- Who is Vanessa Ferlito’s wife? The actress is not married, so she does not have a wife.
Vanessa Ferlito is a familiar face on both network and streaming television. The rumours about plastic surgery, her sexuality, and a possible relationship with Quentin Tarantino remain largely unconfirmed. The actress has guarded her private life over the years.
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