Katherine Bailess is an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for playing the role of Erica Marsh on the CW's hit show One Tree Hill, Life and Death Brigade member Stephanie on Gilmore Girls, and Kyle Hart on the VH1 series Hit the Floor.

Early life

Bailess was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi to Natalie and Bobby Bailess. Her father is an attorney and was a former linebacker for the Ole Miss Rebels football team at the University of Mississippi. She began training classically in dance at age 4. She also participated in competitive gymnastics and cheerleading throughout her childhood. At age 11, Bailess performed on the televised Miss Mississippi Pageant as a dancer, and continued to perform for the pageant for 7 years. She won scholarships to study dance at both the Broadway Dance Center in New York City and Ann Reinking's Broadway Theater Project in Florida. She was a debutante.^[1] After college, Bailess went on to study at the William Esper Studio's two-year intensive program.^[2]

Career

Bailess starred in the 2003 film From Justin to Kelly, playing the role of Alexa, and in Universal’s 2004 film Bring It On Again,^[3] playing the role of Colleen Lipman. Her TV credits include recurring roles on the popular WB shows Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill. Kat also recurred on Fox’s The Loop, Sordid Lives the Series and guest starred on NCIS. Bailess starred in the YouTube comedic series Shit Southern Women Say written and directed by Julia Fowler.^[4]

Bailess played the role of Kyle Hart in the VH1 scripted series Hit the Floor.

Filmography

Film

Television