Meet Lina Esco who played Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T: why did she leave?
Lina Esco is an American actress and influential activist for gender equality. She starred as Kelly in London (2005), LOL (2012), and Ava Flores in Kingdom (2016). Besides acting, the celebrity is also a director, producer, and activist.
Source: Instagram
Lina Esco worked as a model before becoming an actress. She has appeared in several music videos and played the role of Christina Alonso in S.W.A.T. (a CBS action-drama T.V. series). Since Lina left the show in May 2022, fans wonder if she will be featured in the final season. The series was renewed for a seventh season of 13 episodes (season finale) on May 8, 2023.
Profile summary
| Full name | Lina Esco |
| Gender | Female |
| Famous as | Officer Chris from S.W.A.T. |
| Birthdate | May 14, 1985 |
| Age | 38 years (as of 2023) |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Birthplace | Miami, Florida, USA |
| Residence | Los Feliz, Los Angeles, USA |
| Alma mater | Colegio Bolívar in Cali, Colombia |
| Profession | Actress, director, producer, and former model |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Ancestral roots | Hispanic |
| Marital status | Single |
| Sexuality | Bi-sexual |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) |
| Weight | 127 lbs. (58 kg) |
| Body measurements | 35-25-35 inches |
| Eye color | Hazel |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Famous TV appearance | S.W.A.T (2017 to 2022) |
| Role | Officer Christine “Chris” Alonso |
Who is Lina Esco?
She is an American actress, director, producer, and former model. Lina has been featured in numerous publications/magazines as a model and landed many diverse roles as an actress in films/TV shows.
How old is Lina Esco?
Lina Esco's age is 38 years as of 2023. The actress was born on May 14, 1985.
Source: Instagram
Where was Lina Esco born?
Lina was born and raised in Miami, Florida, USA. Lina left home at age 15 to France to pursue her acting dream.
Is Lina Esco Hispanic?
Lina has American nationality, white ethnicity, and Hispanic heritage.
Educational background
Lina attended Colegio Bolívar (a private, non-denominational, American school) in Cali, Colombia.
Career history
Her acting career began with a role in the 2005 independent feature film London as Kelly. Lina starred alongside Chris Evans, Jason Statham, and Jessica Biel in the production.
In 2006, she appeared in CSI: NY as Angie Watson and in one episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Angela Paulson in 2009.
Lina also played Janice alongside Demi Moore and Miley Cyrus in the romantic-comedy film LOL (2012).
Lina Esco on S.W.A.T. as Chris
Esco joined S.W.A.T in 2017 as Christina ‘Chris’ Alonso, a strict officer and the only female S.W.A.T. teammate on Sgt. Daniel "Hondo" Harrison’s team.
S.W.A.T. is an American crime drama series based on the 1975 TV series S.W.A.T.
The show premiered on CBS on November 2, 2017, and Lina appeared in five seasons and 106 episodes of the show.
Source: Instagram
What episode of S.W.A.T. did Lina Esco direct?
The actress talked about her experiences while directing Episode 99 of S.W.A.T. The episode was about a widower seeking justice after losing his wife and son to organ transplants done wrong or that had been denied.
Leaving S.W.A.T.
The show gave viewers the green light that the actress was leaving towards the end of the fifth season, where Sniper Christine “Chris” Alonso was seen turning in her badge.
Lina gave her a heartfelt send-off during the season five finale and wrote a farewell message on social media. Part of it read:
Bringing to life a strong, smart, bi-sexual character like Chris Alonso has been both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere.
Why is Lina Esco leaving S.W.A.T.?
In May 2022, Esco posted on social media that she was leaving the show to pursue new creative endeavors. The last part of her farewell message read:
Five years later, I am leaving S.W.A.T. to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor and director, I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too.
Will Lina Esco return to S.W.A.T. season 7?
Sony Pictures Television and CBS renewed S.W.A.T. for a final season in May 2023, but Lina Esco will not be featured in the 7th season.
Who is replacing Lina Esco on S.W.A.T.?
Since the show is yet to announce Lina Esco's replacement, fans speculate her character, Christina “Chris” Alonso, might not be featured in the final season.
Source: Instagram
What is Lina Esco doing now?
Actress Lina Tweeted in December 2022 that she was working on a short film titled Agnes as a producer. In 2023, she was seen in the independent features DOORS and FULL-DRESS with Christopher Abbott.
Lina Esco's movies and TV shows
The actress has been featured in the following hit films and TV projects since 2005:
Movies
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2005 | London | Kelly |
| 2008 | The Evening Journey | Maria |
| 2010 | Kingshighway | Lena Capriolini |
| 2010 | Where the Road Meets the Sun | Natasha |
| 2011 | Low Fidelity | TBA |
| 2012 | LOL | Janice |
| 2014 | Free the N*pple | With |
| 2016 | Fairy Dust | Lorna |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2006 | CSI: NY | Angie Watson |
| 2007 | Cane | Katie Vega |
| 2008 | Heroes: Destiny | Elisa |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva | Lina Martinez |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Angela Paulson |
| 2011 | Exit Strategy | Mia |
| 2016 | Flaked | Kara |
| 2016 | Kingdom | Ava Flores |
| 2017–2022 | S.W.A.T. | Christina "Chris" Alonso |
Producer credits
| Year | Title | Genre |
| 2022 | S.W.A.T (Episode 99) | TV series |
| 2012 | Free The N*pple | Movie |
| 2010 | The Cove PSA: My Friend Is... | Documentary |
Production and directing
Lina produced a documentary titled The Cove: My Friend is... in 2010 to create awareness about the inhumane mass killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.
Source: Instagram
The massive hunting of dolphins is a major economic activity in the Japanese coastal village of Taiji.
The actress also directed the 2012 Free the N*pple movie to advocate for gender equality and freedom for women to not have to cover their upper body parts in public, just like men.
IFC bought the movie and released it in December 2014 in theatres. After that, the film premiered on Netflix in June 2015.
Lina Esco's music videos
The actress appeared in Sinéad O'Connor’s music video, Jealous, and Halo’s Amalgam video in 2010. Sinéad is an Irish singer-songwriter, while Halos is a London-based modern, soul, and RnB music band. She was also part of American singer Southside's Clix video, among others.
Lina Esco's net worth
The website Popular Networth guesstimates that Lina Esco's net worth is $12 million. The actress' average salary in S.W.A.T was $57,000 per episode.
TV advertisements
Esco was featured in the Ketel One ad campaign, Gentlemen, This is Vodka, directed by Academy Award Nominee David O. Russell on May 16, 2011. The actress was also featured in NFL Women’s Apparel Collection TV advertisement in 2013.
Source: Instagram
Activism
Lina Esco's Free the N*pple Movement is a global campaign group advocating for equality, empowerment, and freedom of all genders.
The actress, together with Trevor Neilson, also co-founded The Human Campaign to champion equal rights for all genders, including the rights for s*xes explicitly spelled out in the U.S. Constitution.
She created a non-profit organization called Crossing Borders. After that, Lina helped her former co-star Miley Cyrus create the Happy Hippy Foundation in 2014. Miley Cyrus' foundation helps homeless transgender youth.
Esco also campaigned to overturn Cyntoia Brown's December 2018 murder conviction. Cyntoia was convicted of robbing and killing Johnny Michael Allen at age 16. Her initial sentence of 51 years was reduced to 15 years.
Lina Esco and Harvey Weinstein's abuse case
Lina was among over 40 women who accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of s*exual harassment in October 2017. Weinstein established the Miramax Films Corporation with his brother in 1979.
The company has produced numerous commercial hit films, including Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Shakespeare in Love, and My Left Foot.
According to the actress, she met Weinstein through a mutual friend in 2010. He allegedly pressed her for a kiss shortly after their meeting.
Other women who accused Weinstein of s*xual harassment over the years were actresses Cara Delevingne, Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie. Weinstein is serving his sentence in California.
Source: Facebook
Is Lina Esco married?
There is no record of Lina Esco's spouse online because she has never been married. Moreover, the actress does not have children.
Who is Lina Esco dating?
The actress might be single or dating lowkey. Lina Esco's relationships rarely come to the limelight because she keeps her love life under wraps.
Fabrice Gautier is the only person the public knows she dated. The two are rumored to have hooked up in 2010. Fabrice is a licensed physical therapist and osteopath with over 20 years of experience.
Is Lina Esco gay?
Sniper Christine “Chris” Alonso of S.W.A.T is bi-sexual. Lina took up this role because it reflects who she is. The actress is bi-sexual in real life and is open about it.
Where does Lina Esco live?
She bought a 1,200-square-foot bungalow in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, for $1.4 million in 2021. The house has two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. It was built in 1948 but has undergone extensive renovations with luxurious features.
How tall is Lina Esco?
Lina Esco's height is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). She weighs around 58kg (127 lbs.) and her body measurements are 35-25-35 inches. Lina's hair is brown, and her eyes are hazel.
Is Lina Esco on Instagram?
The American actress is active on Instagram and Twitter. Lina Esco's Instagram account, @linaesco, has images of her and other S.W.A.T. cast members on set. She also shares her career updates with fans via her Twitter @LinaEsco.
Source: Instagram
Fun facts about Lina Esco
- Lina was among the 16 top models selected worldwide for a Louis Vuitton Jewelry advertisement in January 2011.
- Esco has a dog called Ogee.
- Actress Lina likes boxing and has been practicing it for eight years. The skill helped her train for her role in S.W.A.T.
- The actress believes in the power of meditation and has been practicing transcendent meditation for over a decade.
- Celebrities like Courtney Love and Miley Cyrus posted shirtless on social media to support her Free The N*pple campaign.
- She starred in one episode of Drop Dead Diva as a lingerie model who got fired for publicly sharing her mammary cancer survival story.
- Esco attended Audience Network’s Midnight Snack on Fullscreen in 2017, where guests removed clothes on camera while being interviewed.
Lina Esco is a hardworking and dedicated celebrity pursuing multiple careers in the entertainment industry. She features in music videos, acts, and directs movies. The actress also advocates for gender equity.
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Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 3 years of experience in writing informational and entertainment articles, researching, editing, and proofreading. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi (class of 2019). She joined Legit.ng in April 2022. She covers bios, marketing & finance, tech, fashion & beauty, recipes, movies and video game reviews, culture & traveling. In 2023, Peris finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: perisrodah254@gmail.com.
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
