TV Actresses

Cobie Smulders was born on April 3, 1982, in Vancouver, British Columbia, to a Dutch father and an English mother. As a girl, Cobie had set her sights on becoming a doctor or a marine biologist. In fact, it wasn't until high school that Cobie started to explore acting after appearing in several school productions. As a teenager, Cobie caught the eye of a modeling agency, which led to several years of world travel to places such as France, Japan, Italy, Greece, and Germany. Yet even as Cobie's modeling career was on the rise, she still managed to attend school, graduating from high school in 2000 with honors.

Once out of high school, Cobie continued modeling internationally until the opportunity arose to audition for film and television. It was not long before Cobie's natural ability as an actress impressed casting directors, landing her guest spots on television series such as Special Unit 2 (2001) and Jeremiah (2002). In addition, Cobie also appeared in the short Candy from Strangers (2001) directed by fellow Canadian rising star Eric Johnson.

Cobie got her big break just months later when she landed the role of Juliet Droil in the ABC program Veritas: The Quest (2003). The series marked her first series role for television.

Romola Garai was born on 6th August 1982. She is an English actress-writer-director who has worked extensively on film, television and theatre. As an actress she is known for her performances in films such as Atonement (2007), Angel (2007), I Capture the Castle (2003) and (Suffragette). On television her work includes her BAFTA nominated performance in The Crimson Petal and the White (2011), The Hour (2012), Born to Kill (2017) and The Miniaturist (2017). As a director her work includes the Sundance Best International Short Film nominated Scrubber. her debut feature, the horror film Amulet, will premiere in the Midnight Madness section at Sundance 2020.

Lauren Ash is a recent alumnus of the Second City Chicago Mainstage. She is also an alumna of the Second City Toronto Mainstage and is one half of sketch comedy duo "Cory!". She is a two-time Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Female Improviser and has also won for Best Comedic Play in 2008 and Best Sketch Troupe in 2006.

She's played various roles in "Scare Tactics" as well as the Canadian TV series, "Almost Heroes." She had a recurring role in "The Ron James Show" and made guest appearances in "Lost Girl," "Cracked," "Bomb Girls" and "Call Me Fitz." Other film and television credits include "Video on Trial," "Hotbox" and the Academy Award-nominated film "Lars and the Real Girl." She is also the voice of Sam in the animated Canadian series "The Dating Guy."

Eliza grew up in Plymouth, New Hampshire and graduated from Plymouth Regional High School.

Coupe first garnered industry attention in 2006 when her hilarious and irreverent one-woman show, The Patriots, performed at UCB/NYC, was selected for HBO's prestigious US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. Coupe won the festival's jury award for Breakout Actor of 2006 for her performance, an award designated by a panel of TV and film industry executives. That same year Coupe was featured in Variety as one of their, "10 Comics to Watch."

Eliza is well-known for her starring role in David Caspe created Happy Endings, and for Futureman, produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

McKayla Maroney was born and raised in California. The daughter of Mike and Erin Maroney, she was home-schooled so that she could train as an elite gymnast. She started her senior career in 2011 at the age of 15. At that year's world championships, Maroney won gold medals in the team and vault competitions. She was then named to the 2012 U.S. Olympic team and helped the Americans win the team gold medal. In the vault competition, she won the silver medal, and her look of disappointment while standing on the podium was photographed and became an Internet meme. Maroney made her acting debut in the series Hart of Dixie (2011) later in 2012.

Only child of Jack and Patricia Lipinski. Her father is an oil executive, and her mom is a homemaker. Tara began roller skating at age 3, and won several championships. She turned to ice skating when she was 6, and she and her mom moved to Detroit so Tara could seriously train for international competitions. Her dad remained in Texas, and frequently visited Michigan. She became the youngest person to win a gold medal at the U. S. Olympic Festival, when she was 12. In 1997 she became the youngest person ever to win the U. S. national championship and the youngest ever to win the World Championships. In 1998 she won the Olympic gold medal, at age 15, making her the youngest skater to win that medal. After the Olympics, Tara turned professional. Today, she skates in professional competitions and Stars on Ice. She has said that she would like to continue to act.

Head-lined her own tour called Tara Lipinski's Miracle Match Tour to raise money for leukemia. Hosted a five city fashion show for Limited Too called Passion for Fashion. Made guest appearance on Wheel of Fortune dressed as a genie and donated her winnings to the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Sarah Dumont is an American actress and model from San Diego. She is known for playing Denise Russo from Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Sequins from Don Jon, Gweneth Kealey from Serpent and Freedom from Tbilisi, I Love You. She also acted in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain and Playing It Cool.

Andree Vermeulen was born on 4 November 1982 in the USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Angie Tribeca (2016), Dragons: Race to the Edge (2015) and NTSF:SD:SUV (2011). She has been married to Damien Cortese since 12 June 2020. They have one child.

Isabella Day was born on 12 January 2004 in Littleton, Colorado, USA. She is an actress, known for Superstore (2015), Never Have I Ever (2020) and Cristela (2014).

Heidi Gardner is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She has been a cast member on Saturday Night Live since 2017, beginning in season 43. Gardner was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She grew up with an older brother, Justin. Growing up, Gardner worked part-time at the Tivoli Theater, where she did everything "from selling tickets to making popcorn." She later credited the theater as "setting the tone in her life." Gardner was not interested in acting as a child, only performing on stage as a flutist for the school band and doing comedy sketches in school talent shows. Gardner graduated from the all-girls Catholic high school Notre Dame DE Sion in 2001.

Weronika Rosati is an international actress. Born in 1984 in Warsaw, her Polish-American-Hungarian mother is a famous fashion designer and her Italian father is a respected politician/economist now a deputy at the European Parliament. She has been working in films since she was a teenager. She became a Polish sensation after appearing in numerous popular TV series and achieved both stardom and recognition at the age of 19 with her first silver screen appearance in the lead female role of Gemma in 'Pitbull' - a cop thriller classic.

She attended the prestigious Lodz Film School, and then moved to New York where for two years she studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute. In the meantime, she continued her career in Polish film working with such renowned filmmakers as Krzysztof Zanussi in 'Foreign Body' (which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival), Agnieszka Holland in 'In Darkness' (nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film), and in many other feature films and TV shows. In 2013, Weronika played Pestka, a young Jewish woman trying to save her sister from death, in the World War II-drama 'Manhunt', which received international critical acclaim. The role earned Weronika her first Polish Film Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won her the Pola Negri Award. Rosati works often in France, where she lived as a child, and also speaks fluent French. She played a lead in a TV film for France 2 television in 'La Dame de Pique' and in Jerome Salle's 'Burma Conspiracy' opposite Tomer Sisley and Sharon Stone.

Her first big break-through in the US came in 2011 when she was cast by Michael Mann in 'Luck', the HBO original TV series starring Dustin Hoffman. She played a poker dealer Naomi , the love interest of Jason Gedrick's character and appeared in four episodes. From then she worked constantly on other TV shows and films including season 2 of 'True Detective', 'NCIS', 'The Iceman' with Michael Shannon, 'Bullet to the Head' opposite Sylvester Stallone, directed by Walter Hill, 'Last Vegas' with Michael Douglas and 'Rosemary's Baby' for NBC.

In 2015, Weronika completed 'USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage', a highly anticipated World War II-drama directed by Mario Van Peebles, where she played the wife of Nicolas Cage's character. She also appeared as a guest star on TBS comedy show 'The Detour', as a French agent in a lead guest role on the popular show 'Supernatural' directed by John Badham, and in a historical epic international co-production 'I'll Find You' directed by Martha Coolidge where she stars opposite Stellan Skarsgaard. In 2020, she co-starred in the critically acclaimed drama 'Never Gonna Snow Again' directed by Malgoska Szumowska and Michal Englert, which premiered in Main competition of the Venice Film Festival.

Rosati is a household name in Europe where she was also a spokesperson for Avon Cosmetics and Pantene, among others. She splits time between Warsaw and Los Angeles.

Mary Grill was born on 26 August 1980 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for The Detour (2016), Veep (2012) and The Mindy Project (2012). She has been married to Matt Hobby since 2011. They have two children.

Daniella Pineda is a Mexican-American actress, writer, and comedian from Oakland, California.

In January 2013 it was announced that she was cast as the witch Sophie for season 4 episode 20 of The CW's hit series The Vampire Diaries. This episode serves as a backdoor pilot for a possible spin-off series, revolving around The Originals and taking place in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Season one of The Originals was set to premiere on Tuesday, October 15. However, on July 29, 2013, The CW announced that the series premiere would instead air on October 3, 2013, following the fifth-season premiere of The Vampire Diaries in order to attract fans of the series. On October 10, 2013, the CW ordered three additional scripts for the series.

Pineda graduated from Mills College. She resides in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Natalie Zea is an American actress known for her performances on television. Zea began her acting career in theatre. Her first major role was on the NBC daytime soap opera Passions (2000-2002), where she played the role of Gwen Hotchkiss. Her breakout role was on the ABC prime time soap opera Dirty Sexy Money as socialite Karen Darling, where she starred from 2007 to 2009. Zea also has made many guest appearances on television, starred in a number of independent and made-for-television movies, and had recurring roles in The Shield, Hung, Californication, and The Unicorn.

Paloma Guzmán was born on 21 July 1984 in Falls Church, Virginia, USA. She is an actress, known for Person of Interest (2011), Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) and And So It Goes (2014).

Tony® Award-winner and five-time Tony® Award nominee Laura Benanti is a highly celebrated stage and screen actress. Benanti recently co-starred in the hit film NO HARD FEELINGS with Jennifer Lawrence and Matthew Broderick and guest stars in Max's GILDED AGE, Hulu's LIFE & BETH (created by and starring Amy Schumer), and ELSBETH on CBS.

Benanti earned rave reviews for her portrayal of a grieving widow in Netflix's film WORTH, starring opposite Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan. She will be seen later this year in the film GOODRICH, opposite Michael Keaton and EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT with Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney.

Ms. Benanti's iconic impression of Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is widely praised. Other TV work includes YOUNGER, ZIWE, GOSSIP GIRL, SUPERGIRL, NASHVILLE and INSIDE AMY SCHUMER (among many others).

In the theater, Ms. Benanti took Broadway by storm at the age of 18 as Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC and has subsequently starred in ten more Broadway shows (musicals, straight plays, comedies, and dramas) including INTO THE WOODS, NINE (opposite Antonio Banderas), GYPSY (for which she won a Tony Award), SHE LOVES ME, MY FAIR LADY, and Steve Martin's METEOR SHOWER opposite Amy Schumer and Keegan-Michael Key.

This year, Ms. Benanti debuted her highly celebrated solo comedy show LAURA BENANTI: NOBODY CARES, which she created, wrote, and starred in. This New York Times critic pick is available for streaming on Audible.

Olga Tchakova (known professionally as Olga Fonda) is a Russian-American film and television actress and model. She is also known for her role as Nadia Petrova in The Vampire Diaries (2013-2014).

While vacationing in Los Angeles, California, Fonda was scouted by agent Paul Fisher to pursue modeling, her longtime ambition. After acting in TV commercials, she played a Russian ballerina in the 2009 independent film Love Hurts.

Fonda, who has modeled since at least 2007 in Japan, Italy and the United States, went on to appear in television series including How I Met Your Mother, Nip/Tuck, Melrose Place, and Entourage, and played Owen Wilson's girlfriend in a nonspeaking role in Little Fockers. She was cast in the 2011 romantic-comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love, though her scene did not make the final cut; she does appear in the film's trailer.

In 2010, Fonda was cast in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. She had a supporting role in 2011's Real Steel. She played Nadia in The Vampire Diaries. In 2018, she was cast in the role of Sarah in the Netflix series Altered Carbon.

In 2012, Olga appeared in television commercials for the related companies TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods TV. Fonda was cast in Agent X, appearing opposite Sharon Stone.

She is unrelated to the Fonda acting family and has said her reason for adopting that stage name "started as a mystery, [and so] I'm going to keep it a mystery. There's really nothing to it but maybe one day I'll tell the story of how I got my name."

Fonda supports the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after being introduced to the charity by Jason Thomas Gordon, who started a campaign for the hospital called, Music Gives to St. Jude Kids.

She is also a supporter of The Heroes Project, which was founded by Tim Medvetz to help wounded veterans.

Hera Hilmar is an Icelandic actress. She is mostly known, outside of Iceland, for her role as Vanessa in the television series Da Vinci's Demons (2013) (2013-2015), as Varya in Anna Karenina (2012), as Eik in the Icelandic film Life in a Fishbowl (2014), and as Lillie in The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017). She was nominated for an Edda in 2007 for her role in The Quiet Storm (2007). She won the Edda Award for Actress of the Year in 2015 for Vonarstræti (2014) and in 2017 for Eiðurinn (2016). She is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Art. She is the daughter of actress Thórey Sigthórsdóttir and film director Hilmar Oddsson.

Laura Haddock was born on 21 August 1985 in England, UK. She is an actress, known for Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). She was previously married to Sam Claflin.

Yvonne Jaqueline Strzechowski was born and raised in Australia. Her parents were Polish immigrants. She attended the Santa Sabina College for her high school education. She then went on to study Performance at the University of Western Sydney's School of Contemporary Arts, graduating in 2003. Shortly afterwards, she landed her first role on television in an episode of Fear Factory (2004). Her next role was also on Australian television, appearing in several episodes of Headland (2005). In 2007, she made her big screen debut in Gone (2006). This performance caught the attention of casting directors in Hollywood. She decided to move from Australia to Los Angeles and, on her third day of arrival, she landed her breakthrough role as "Sarah Walker" in Chuck (2007).

Zoe Levin (born November 24, 1993) is an American actress. She played Emily in the 2013 film Palo Alto and Tasha in Beneath the Harvest Sky. She portrayed Kara Souders in the Fox TV show, Red Band Society. She plays Tiffany "Tiff" Chester in the 2019 Netflix dark comedy, Bonding. She is also part of the 2019 film The Long Home, directed by James Franco.

Levin was born in Chicago. She is from a Jewish family.

She began acting at an early age and had tried out for her first professional play when she was 13. She then relocated to Los Angeles to study communication and fine arts at Loyola Marymount University. Her acting career kicked off in 2010 when she was selected to play a role in David Schwimmer's film, Trust. This came after her performances at Chicago's Looking Glass Theatre.

Aubrey Christina Plaza is an American actress, producer, and comedian who rose to prominence playing April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation (2009). After appearing in supporting roles in several films, she had her first leading role in the 2012 science fiction comedy Safety Not Guaranteed (2012).

Plaza began acting in theater and performing improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. She made her film debut in Mystery Team (2009) and had supporting roles in the films Funny People (2009) and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). Also known for her work in independent projects, she has starred in various films and television series, including Life After Beth (2014), Ned Rifle (2014)], Legion (2017), The Little Hours (2017), Ingrid Goes West (2017), Happiest Season (2020), Black Bear (2020), Emily the Criminal (2022), as well as The White Lotus (2021), for which she received an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nomination. Plaza is also a film and television producer.

Zooey Deschanel's quirky charm, striking blue eyes, and distinctively offbeat humor have made her one of the most beloved indie darlings of recent decades. Hailing from a renowned entertainment family, she began her career in the late 1990s. Deschanel's talent shines through her diverse roles, encompassing both comedic and dramatic territory, as well as her musical abilities.

After a brief guest appearance on the sitcom 'Veronica's Closet,' Deschanel made her feature film debut in Lawrence Kasdan's 'Mumford' (1999). Her breakout role came courtesy of Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical 'Almost Famous' (2000), where she portrayed the enigmatic Anita Miller, the older sister of the film's protagonist. Deschanel effortlessly embodies the rebellious and free-spirited youth of the 1970s rock scene. Her nuanced performance in 'Almost Famous' solidified her status as a rising star.

Deschanel's reputation is built on her ability to portray endearingly awkward and unconventional female characters. Her portrayal of the heartbroken yet resilient Summer Finn in '(500) Days of Summer' (2009) became an iconic portrayal of unconventional romance in the 21st-century. Her deadpan delivery and self-aware humor found perfect expression in her most well-known role, Jessica Day, in the hit sitcom 'New Girl' (2011 - 2018). As the bubbly and optimistic school teacher who moves in with three male roommates, she quickly became a beloved television icon, earning numerous award nominations for her performance.

While widely recognized for her comedic roles, Deschanel has also proven her dramatic chops in independent films such as 'All the Real Girls' (2003). This critically-acclaimed film earned her recognition for authentically portraying a young woman navigating a complex relationship. She further demonstrated her versatility with the role of Trillian in the science-fiction comedy 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'(2005), demonstrating her ability to adapt to fantastical and quirky settings.

Deschanel's off-screen talents extend to her musical abilities. She often showcases her singing in films and television, notably in 'Elf' (2003) where her rendition of 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' with Will Ferrell is a holiday classic. She also starred in the television adaptation of 'Once Upon a Mattress' (2005). Deschanel formed the musical duo 'She & Him' in 2006 with singer-songwriter M. Zooey Claire Deschanel, is an American actress and musician.

Ward, where her retro-inspired vocals and songwriting talents have produced multiple successful albums.

Beyond acting and music, Deschanel has become a multi-faceted figure in popular culture. Her co-founding of the women-focused digital media company HelloGiggles in 2011 demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit and desire to empower women. Her carefully curated personal style, often featuring vintage-inspired pieces, has also earned her recognition as a fashion icon.

Deschanel's career has continued to thrive in recent years. She lent her voice to the animated film 'Trolls' (2016) and its sequel 'Trolls World Tour' (2020), playing the cheerful and optimistic Princess Bridget. She also took on supporting roles in films like 'Rock the Kasbah' (2015) and 'The Driftless Area' (2015). Alongside her continued musical endeavors, Deschanel remains an active figure on television, hosting 'The Celebrity Dating Game' (2021).

Looking ahead, Deschanel has several projects in development. She's attached to star in 'Dreamin' Wild', a biopic where she will portray legendary singer-songwriter Cass Elliot of The Mamas & the Papas. Deschanel is also slated to make a return to dramatic territory with the film 'Harold and the Purple Crayon,' a live-action adaptation of the beloved children's book. Her continued willingness to experiment across genres solidifies her place as a dynamic and enduring talent in the entertainment world.

With her endearing personality, comedic timing, and the ability to imbue both quirky and serious characters with depth and heart, Zooey Deschanel has built a captivating and enduring career. Her contributions to film, television, and music have earned her a devoted following and a position as a beloved figure in popular culture. As she ventures into new projects, Deschanel continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of charm, talent, and undeniable individuality.

Amanda Elizabeth Righetti is a Utah-born, Nevada-raised actor/producer and Best Actress Award winner by the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival. Righetti began her career at 14, as a young model, but made waves as the trust-fund squandering, world-traveling black sheep, "Hailey Nichol", on Fox's The O.C. (2003).

So impressed by her talent and determination, Fox executives cast her as the lead role of "Tessa Lewis" in 2004's North Shore (2004). In 2005, Righetti ranked among FHM's 100 Sexiest Women while portraying "Jenna Moretti" in the popular drama, Reunion (2005). She has since appeared in several major motion pictures, and has guest-starred in popular television shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) and HBO's Entourage (2004).

In 2008, Righetti was cast in the leading role of Michael Bay's remake, Friday the 13th (2009), while filming her series, The Mentalist (2008), for CBS. In 2009, "Friday the 13th" opened to the best 3-day weekend opening for any horror film, and "The Mentalist" won a People's Choice Award for Best New Television Drama.

A classically trained actress and singer, Danielle Langlois (pronounced: lahng-lwah) is a third-generation American who was raised just outside of Washington, D.C., where she started her professional acting career as a young teen. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, under the tutelage of Broadway Director Gerald Freedman. After graduation, Danielle had the privilege of doing a one-year fellowship at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where she understudied roles in the Kennedy Center's national tours and taught playwriting and Shakespeare to students in the local schools. Danielle's regional, New York, and Los Angeles theater credits include leading roles in Big Love, Bad Apples, The Brothers Karamazov, Sonnets for an Old Century, Show and Tell, and the musicals Ragtime and Titanic. She is a member of Actor's Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.