If you grew up watching Full House, you definitely remember the leather-clad, cigarette-sneaking middle schooler who made Danny Tanner’s hair turn gray just by standing in the kitchen. Marla Sokoloff is the actress who played Gia Mahan, and honestly, she didn't just play the role—she owned it.
Gia was the ultimate foil to Stephanie Tanner’s "goody-two-shoes" persona. She was rebellious. She was cool. She was everything a suburban kid in the 90s was secretly fascinated by. Even though she only appeared in about eight episodes of the original series, Sokoloff’s performance left such a massive footprint that most fans assume she was a series regular.
The Face Behind the Grunge: Who Played Gia Mahan?
Marla Sokoloff was just 12 years old when she landed the role of Gia in 1993. It's funny because she actually almost didn't end up on Full House at all. Before she was Gia, she had filmed scenes for Boy Meets World as Topanga Lawrence. Can you imagine? The producers eventually went with Danielle Fishel, which opened the door for Marla to become the smoking, sharp-tongued nemesis-turned-bestie we all know today.
She didn't just bring attitude to the role; she brought a weirdly relatable vulnerability. One minute she’s pressuring Stephanie to join a make-out party, and the next, she’s actually a decent friend during a car accident scare. Sokoloff had this way of making Gia feel like a real person rather than a caricature of a "bad kid."
💡 You might also like: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
Why Marla Sokoloff’s Career Exploded After the Tanners
A lot of child stars fade out when the sitcom cameras stop rolling. Not Marla. After Full House wrapped in 1995, she stayed incredibly busy. If you were a teen in the early 2000s, you saw her everywhere. She was Cokie Mason in The Baby-Sitters Club movie (playing the villain again, naturally) and then spent six years as Lucy Hatcher on the legal drama The Practice.
Honestly, her range is kind of wild. She went from being the girl who didn't know her times tables in San Francisco to a professional legal secretary in Boston. Along the way, she popped up in cult classics like Dude, Where’s My Car? and Sugar & Spice. She even had a stint on Friends as Joey’s pregnant sister, Dina.
The Surprising Return in Fuller House
When Netflix announced the revival, the big question wasn't just "Will the Olsens come back?" (we know how that ended), but rather, "Where is Gia?" In 2016, Sokoloff stepped back into the boots of Gia Mahan-Harmon for Fuller House.
📖 Related: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
Seeing her as an adult was a trip. She was still a bit of a "bad girl"—now a soccer mom who didn't quite fit the PTA mold—and her rivalry with D.J. Tanner was still as petty and hilarious as it was in 1994. The writers even gave her a meta-arc where she ends up marrying C.J.’s ex, Matt, and becomes a step-mom. It was a full-circle moment that rewarded long-time fans who loved the chaos she brought to the original show.
Marla’s Life Beyond the Screen in 2026
In recent years, Sokoloff has shifted her focus behind the camera. She’s become a prolific director, especially within the holiday movie circuit. If you’ve watched a Lifetime or Hallmark-style movie lately, there’s a good chance she directed it.
She’s also been very open about her life as a mother of three daughters. Interestingly, she recently mentioned on a podcast that her kids were actually "horrified" to see her smoking on Full House. Talk about a reality check!
👉 See also: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
What You Should Watch Next
If you want to see more of the woman who played Gia Mahan beyond her Tanner-verse appearances, here is where you should start:
- The Practice: To see her handle a serious, long-running dramatic role.
- Whatever It Takes: A classic 2000s teen rom-com where she plays the lead.
- The Merry Gentlemen: Her recent 2024 Netflix project which she wrote and acted in.
- Full House Rewind: Check out the podcast episode where she reunites with Dave Coulier to talk about the "bad girl" legacy.
If you’re looking to revisit her best moments, fire up Season 7, Episode 15 of Full House ("Fast Friends") to see exactly where the legend of Gia Mahan began. You can find the entire series streaming on Max or Hulu, depending on your region.