Carla was born in Sarasota, Florida. She moved with her mother to Paradise, California when Carla was just five years old. During her childhood they moved many times within the state. A major modeling agency discovered Carla in San Diego and sent her to New York to begin a new career when she was 15. But she discovered that it was too much to handle for her being in New York. So she returned to LA, moving in with her aunt, Carol Merril (known from The Price is Right). She kept on with modeling and enrolling in an acting class at the suggestion of her aunt.

With 16 she won her first role in the movie: Troop Beverly Hills. She appeared in Falcon Crest (playing Sydney St. James), the Wonder Years and Quantum Leap. Her first leading role in a movie Son-in-law was positively noted by the critics even so they disliked the movie. She then appeard in such movies as Michael and Snake Eyes and she had a recurring role in Spin City.