Lena Cardwell joins the cast of "Passions" as Simone Russell, the sweet, curious and loveable youngest daughter of T.C. and Eve, and sister of Whitney.

When her mother told her that she could not afford acting or singing lessons, Cardwell, who was then only nine years old, began singing for money at Detroit's Eastern Market to help pay the bills. Realizing that her daughter had serious talent and a desire to be near Broadway, Cardwell's mother took her to New York, where she enrolled at the Professional Performing Arts School. Unable to pay for continuing classes or books and materials, Cardwell and her mother were homeless and lived on the streets of New York, while Cardwell sang on the subway platforms and in Times Square to support them. Her talent shone through and she was "discovered".

At 14 years old, Cardwell has appeared in numerous television series and films including "New York Undercover" and "The Object of My Affection" with Jennifer Aniston. After her audition, "Passions" producers thought she was "perfect" for the role of Simone and immediately signed her to her first television series contract.

Cardwell's other interests include martial arts, singing, ballet, jazz, hip hop and gymnastics. Her birthday is February 28. 21.