Alexandra Breckenridge
Breckenridge in 2012
Born (1982-05-15) May 15, 1982 (age 41)
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
Other namesAlex Breckenridge
Occupation
  • Actress
Years active1998–present
Spouse
Casey Hooper
​
(m. 2015)​
Children2
RelativesMichael Weatherly (uncle)

Alexandra Breckenridge (born May 15, 1982)[1] is an American actress. She began her career with supporting roles in the teen comedy films Big Fat Liar (2002) and She's the Man (2006). She later played reporter Willa McPherson in the FX series Dirt and had a supporting role in the short-lived series The Ex List. She starred as a young Moira O'Hara in the first season of FX's American Horror Story, and played Kaylee in the third season. She played Jessie Anderson in the AMC series The Walking Dead and Sophie in the NBC series This Is Us. She is also the voice of various characters in the animated comedy series Family Guy. Since 2019, she has starred as Melinda "Mel" Monroe in the Netflix series Virgin River.

Early life

Breckenridge was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and lived in Darien, Connecticut,[2] until the age of 10, when she and her mother moved to California,[3] where they moved around for a year before settling in Mill Valley. She did community productions and took acting classes.[2] Breckenridge became interested in acting, photography, and singing at age 13. When she was 15, she moved with her mother back to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.[citation needed] At age 19, she had a job as a delivery driver for Big Wangs in Hollywood.[4]

Her mother, who was 19 when Alexandra was born, went to college and was a house cleaner for a living.[5] Her father worked at Foxwoods Casino as a director of operations for the engineering department.[2]

Career

Breckenridge in 2015

In 2000, Breckenridge guest starred as Shelly Weaver in Freaks and Geeks.[6] She also guest starred in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dawson's Creek, JAG, Medium, Psych, and Undeclared.[7] Breckenridge also guest-starred as Francise in three episodes of Opposite Sex.[citation needed] In 2002, she appeared in the film Big Fat Liar, starring Frankie Muniz, as Jason Shepherd's older sister Janie.

Breckenridge has had numerous voice roles in the animated television series Family Guy.[8] During an interview with FHM, she stated: "When I first went for Family Guy, I auditioned for a guest voice. I don't know why, but [creator] Seth MacFarlane really likes the sound of my voice. I'll never understand that. He just liked me and they call me back all the time to do different things."[6] Breckenridge often does celebrity impressions in the series, such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Renée Zellweger. She also had roles in MacFarlane's web series Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. Breckenridge also guest starred in the episode "With Friends Like Steve's" of American Dad!, also created by MacFarlane.[7]

In 2006, Breckenridge starred as Monique in the film She's the Man. She has also appeared in a couple of series that have later been canceled,[6] such as the FX drama series Dirt from 2007 to 2008,[9] in which she played Willa McPherson, a young upstart writer. In 2009, Breckenridge co-starred in the independent film The Bridge to Nowhere, directed by Blair Underwood.[10] In 2012, she had a role in the film Ticket Out.[11]

In 2011 Breckenridge had a recurring role in season four of HBO's True Blood as Katerina Pelham[12][13] and also in season one of FX's American Horror Story as young Moira O'Hara, the ghost of a maid trapped in the house in which she was employed. In addition, she returned for two episodes in season three of the series, Coven, as Kaylee, a young witch who excels in pyrokinesis.[14]

From 2015 to 2016, Breckenridge portrayed Jessie Anderson, a character from the comic book series of the same name, in season five and season six of the AMC post-apocalyptic horror series The Walking Dead.[15] In 2015, she co-starred in the psychological thriller Dark from executive producer Joe Dante and director Nick Basile.[16] In 2017, Breckenridge appeared in the recurring role of Sophie, Kate's childhood friend and Kevin's ex-wife, in the first season of the NBC drama series This Is Us.[17][18] She was promoted to a series regular for the second season,[19][20] and appeared in one episode in the third season[21] two episodes in the fourth season, one episode in the fifth season, and the final sixth season[22][23]

Since 2019, Breckenridge has played lead character Melinda "Mel" Monroe, a nurse-midwife who moves to a small northern California town following a personal tragedy, in the Netflix series Virgin River.[24][25] The series was renewed for fourth and fifth seasons by Netflix in September 2021.[26]

Personal life

Breckenridge married guitarist Casey Hooper in September 2015.[27] They had their first child, a son, in September 2016.[28] Their second child, a daughter, was born in December 2017.[29][30] They reside in Georgia.[31]

Breckenridge is the niece of actor Michael Weatherly.[32] She has several tattoos that are covered by make-up for her on-screen projects, but not during photo shoots.[6]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Orange County Anna Uncredited[citation needed]
2002 Big Fat Liar Janie Shepherd
2002 Wishcraft Kristie
2002 Vampire Clan Charity Lynn Keesee
2003 D.E.B.S. Amy Short film
2005 Rings Vanessa Short film
2006 She's the Man Monique Valentine
2008 The Art of Travel Kate
2009 The Bridge to Nowhere Sienna
2012 Ticket Out Jocelyn
2014 Other People's Children Ariel
2015 Always Watching: A Marble Hornets Story Sara
2015 Dark Leah
2015 Zipper Christy
2016 Broken Vows Debra

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Even the Losers Unknown Television film
1999 Locust Valley Arden Television film
2000 Dawson's Creek Kate Douglas Episode: "Valentine's Day Massacre"
2000 Freaks and Geeks Shelly Weaver Episode: "Looks and Books"
2000 Opposite Sex Francise 3 episodes
2001–2002 Undeclared Prim and Proper Girl / Celeste 2 episodes
2002 Charmed Michelle Miglis Episode: "A Paige from the Past"
2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Kit Holburn Episode: "Lessons"
2004 Mystery Girl Katie Hill Television short
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Lisa "Cleopatra" Hunt Episode: "Turn of the Screws"
2004 JAG Pia Bonfilio Episode: "There Goes the Neighborhood"
2005 Murder Book Sarah Television film
2005 Romy and Michele: In the Beginning Michele Weinberger Television film
2005 Medium Isabel Galvan Episode: "Jump Start"
2005 Sex, Love & Secrets Maddie Lyall Episode: "Protection"
2005–2018 Family Guy Various characters Voice role; 64 episodes
2006 American Dad! Girl Voice role; Episode: "With Friends Like Steve's"
2007 Psych Betty Episode: "Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast"
2007–2008 Dirt Willa McPherson Main role
2008 Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy Princess Peach Voice role; 2 episodes
2008 The Ex List Vivian Main role
2010 Sons of Tucson Gina 2 episodes
2010 Life Unexpected Abby Cassidy Recurring role; 5 episodes
2011 Cooper and Stone Jenna Cooper Television film
2011 Franklin & Bash Emily Claire Episode: "Bachelor Party"
2011 True Blood Katerina Pelham 4 episodes
2011, 2013 American Horror Story Young Moira O'Hara Recurring role; 6 episodes (Murder House)
Kaylee 2 episodes (Coven)
2012 Men at Work Katelyn Episode: "Wake and Bake"
2013 Save Me Carly Brugano Main role
2014 Rake Brooke Alexander Episode: "A Close Shave"
2015–2016 The Walking Dead Jessie Anderson Recurring role (season 5); also starring (season 6); 11 episodes
2015 Extant Zoe Grant Episode: "Morphoses"
2016 Pure Genius Margot Byer Episode: "Pilot"
2017–2018,
2020–2022 		This Is Us Sophie Recurring role (season 1); main role (season 2); special guest star (seasons 3–6)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2017, 2018)
2018 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sarah Kent Episode: "Mea Culpa"
2018 Christmas Around the Corner Claire Television film
2019–present Virgin River Melinda Monroe Main role[24][25]
2020 Love in Store Terrie Carpenter Television film

References

  1. ^ "Famous birthdays for May 15: Alexandra Breckenridge, Lainie Kazan". UPI. May 15, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Alexandra Breckenridge". Connecticut Magazine. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Staff (October 1, 2008). "Alexandra Breckenridge". Connecticut Magazine. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  4. ^ Dweck, Sophie (March 6, 2021). "Alexandra Breckenridge: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me ('I've Almost Quit Acting to Be a Photographer at Least 4 Times')". US Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Tuccio-Koonz, Linda (July 12, 2022). "This star of Netflix's 'Virgin River' has roots in Bridgeport". Connecticut Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Woodfin, Josh (May 27, 2009). "Family Guy's Alex Breckenridge laid bare". FHM. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Alex Breckenridge from Family Guy". Film.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  8. ^ "Alexandra Breckenridge". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  9. ^ Kimball, Trevor (June 9, 2008). "Dirt: FX Cancels Courteney Cox Arquette TV Show". TV Series Finale. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "The Bridge to Nowhere". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2009. Archived from the original on November 20, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  11. ^ "Ticket Out". Copeland Casting. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  12. ^ "Katerina Pelham". HBO. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Stanhope, Kate (November 23, 2010). "True Blood Promotes Jessica Tuck; Adds Three New Actresses". TV Guide. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  14. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (August 2, 2013). "'American Horror Story': Alexandra Breckenridge Returns for 'Coven'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  15. ^ Ross, Dalton (February 14, 2016). "The Walking Dead: Alexandra Breckenridge on Jessie's 'horrifying' moment". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  16. ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 9, 2016). "Joe Dante-Produced Thriller 'Dark' Alights At Screen Media". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  17. ^ Snierson, Dan (December 5, 2016). "This Is Us: Alexandra Breckenridge nabs recurring role". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  18. ^ Liou, Connie (January 27, 2020). "'This Is Us': Who Plays Sophie? Alexandra Breckenridge and Amanda Leighton Portray Kevin's Ex-Wife". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  19. ^ Garrett, Tommy Lightfoot. "NBC's 'This Is Us' Promotes Two Actors To Series Regulars For Season 2". Highlight Hollywood. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 28, 2017). "'This Is Us': Alexandra Breckenridge, & Jon Huertas Upped To Series Regulars For Season 2 Of NBC Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  21. ^ Lawler, Kelly (March 19, 2019). "This Is Us recap: Things fall apart for the Pearsons". USA Today. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  22. ^ Fremont, Maggie (January 28, 2020). "This Is Us Recap: Gotta Go See About a Girl". Vulture. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  23. ^ Bentley, Jean (March 24, 2020). "'This Is Us' Creator Answers the Biggest Burning Questions From the Season 4 Finale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (December 19, 2018). "'Virgin River': Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Tim Matheson & Annette O'Toole To Star In Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  25. ^ a b Kozma, Leila (December 5, 2019). "Alexandra Breckenridge Was a Die-Hard Horror Fan Before She Took a Role in 'Virgin River'". Distractify. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  26. ^ Swift, Andy (September 20, 2021). "Virgin River Renewed for 2 More Seasons at Netflix". TVLine. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "Alexandra Breckenridge and Casey Hooper - Dunton Hot Springs". Chowen Photography. September 22, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  28. ^ "Alexandra Breckenridge Welcomes Son Jack". People. September 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  29. ^ White, Chelsea (August 17, 2017). "This Is Us' Alexandra Breckenridge Expecting Second Child". People. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  30. ^ Calvario, Liz (December 21, 2017). "'This Is Us' Star Alexandra Breckenridge Gives Birth to Daughter -- Find Out Her Name!". Entertainment Tonight. CBS Television Studios, Inc. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  31. ^ Mowry, Lisa (January 31, 2019). "Forget Los Angeles—Alexandra Breckenridge and Casey Hooper made Georgia their home and never looked back". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  32. ^ "NCIS star continues Aussie love affair". ninemsn.com.au. May 10, 2007. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2016.

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