Jessalyn Gilsig
Jessalyn Sarah Gilsig (born November 30, 1971[1][better source needed]) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her roles as Meredith Gordon in Heroes, Kayley in Quest for Camelot, Lauren Davis in Boston Public, Gina Russo in Nip/Tuck, Terri Schuester in Glee, and as Siggy Haraldson in Vikings.
Early life
Gilsig was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the daughter of Claire, a writer and translator, and Toby Gilsig, an engineer.[2] She began her acting in a voice work part at age 12 for a National Film Board of Canada production, Masquerade.[2] She is of Jewish descent.[3][4]
Education
Gilsig attended McGill University in Montreal, from 1989 to 1993, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1993.[5] She later pursued her acting studies further at Harvard University's Institute for Advanced Theater Training.[5]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Jessalyn_Gilsig_2008.jpg/170px-Jessalyn_Gilsig_2008.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Jessalyn_Gilsig_2009.jpg/170px-Jessalyn_Gilsig_2009.jpg)
Gilsig began her career as a voice actress.[2] She has done voices in the films such as Masquerade,[2] and for television series such as Young Robin Hood.[6]
She moved to New York City in 1995 where she appeared in several off-Broadway plays.[7] However, it was her association with David E. Kelley that led to her starring role in Boston Public.[8]
After guest-starring in two episodes of Kelley's The Practice, Gilsig was cast in two episodes of another Kelley program, the short-lived Snoops.[8] Although the series was cancelled before Gilsig's episodes were broadcast, Kelley wrote the part of Lauren Davis in Boston Public specifically for her, a series that premiered in September 2000 on FOX;[8] Gilsig would leave the series after the end of the second season in May 2002.[9]
Following her departure from Boston Public, Gilsig joined the cast of Nip/Tuck in 2003 as Gina Russo, a role she continued until 2008.[10] In 2004, she appeared in five episodes of NYPD Blue,[10] followed by four episodes of FOX's Prison Break in 2005.[11]
In addition to her extensive credits in television and theatre, Gilsig has appeared in film, beginning with a small role in the 1998 film The Horse Whisperer.[8] She then provided the speaking voice for Kayley in the animated film Quest for Camelot (1998), with Andrea Corr performing the character's songs.[8] In 2004 she starred in Chicks with Sticks,[12][13] appeared in See This Movie,[14] and in one of the lead roles in the 2007 film Flood.[15]
In 2007–2008 she had recurring roles in two television series, playing Shelley, the sister of Tami Taylor, on NBC's Friday Night Lights,[16] and Claire Bennet's biological mother, Meredith Gordon, on Heroes.[17] Gilsig went on to play the main role of Terri Schuester on the Fox show, Glee, from 2009 to 2012.[18]
In 2013, Gilsig was a series regular, portraying Siggy Haraldson, wife of Earl Haraldson and paramour of Ragnar Lothbrok's brother, Rollo, on the History Channel series Vikings until 2015.[19][20] In 2017 she joined the cast of Scandal.[21]
On January 24, 2020, Gilsig joined the cast of the Disney+ sports comedy-drama series Big Shot as Holly Barrett with John Stamos to replace Shiri Appleby.[22]
Personal life
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Ian_Brennan%2C_Jane_Lynch%2C_Matthew_Morrison_and_Jessalyn_Gilsig%2C_May_2010_%283%29.jpg/170px-Ian_Brennan%2C_Jane_Lynch%2C_Matthew_Morrison_and_Jessalyn_Gilsig%2C_May_2010_%283%29.jpg)
Gilsig met and briefly dated Bobby Salomon as a high school student – he was the football team quarterback she described as a "cool guy". Salomon, a film producer, moved to Hollywood in 2002, and the two began dating again.[3] They were married on January 1, 2005, in a traditional Jewish wedding (Gilsig's father is Jewish).[3][4] Gilsig and Salomon have a daughter.[23]
Gilsig filed for divorce from Salomon on September 8, 2010, citing irreconcilable differences, having been separated since 2009.[4][24] In 2013, Gilsig became an American citizen.[7]
Filmography
Film
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Jessalyn_Gilsig_%26_Jayma_Mays_%28GLEE%29.jpg/220px-Jessalyn_Gilsig_%26_Jayma_Mays_%28GLEE%29.jpg)
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Masquerade | (voice)[2] | Short film |
1989 | The Journey Home | Short film | |
Jacknife | His Girlfriend | ||
1998 | The Horse Whisperer | Lucy[8] | |
Quest for Camelot | Kayley[8] | Voice | |
2004 | Chicks with Sticks | Paula Taymore[12] | |
See This Movie | Annie Nicole[14] | ||
2007 | Flood | Sam Morrison | |
2008 | Prom Night | Aunt Karen Turner | |
2009 | The Stepfather | Julie King[25] | |
2011 | About Fifty | Jessica | |
2013 | Somewhere Slow | Anna Thompson[19] | |
2020 | Spree | Andrea |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | The Little Flying Bears | Tina | Voice |
1991–1992 | Young Robin Hood | Gertrude of Griswald[6] | Voice; 26 episodes |
1992 | Saban's Gulliver's Travels | Folia | Voice |
1998 | To Have & to Hold | Paula | Episode: "Stuck in the Blizzard with You" |
Viper | Alyssa | Episode: "Family Matters" | |
1999 | Seven Days | Carla Boyles | Episode: "Last Card Up" |
The Sentinel | RJ Shannon | Episode: "The Real Deal" | |
A Cooler Climate | Callie | Television film | |
The Practice | ADA Jennifer[8] | 2 episodes | |
2000 | Snoops | Suzanne Shivers[8] | 2 episodes |
2000–2002 | Boston Public | Lauren Davis[8] | 44 episodes |
2002 | Haunted | Elise Martin | Episode: "Three Hour Tour" |
2003 | Without a Trace | Whitney Ridder | Episode: "Confidence" |
2003–2008 | Nip/Tuck | Gina Russo[10] |
|
2004 | NYPD Blue | Det. Kelly Ronson[10] | 5 episodes |
2005 | Fathers and Sons | Dianne (uncredited) | Television film |
Prison Break | Lisa Rix[11] | 4 episodes | |
2006 | Law & Order | Angela Burquette | Episode: "Heart of Darkness" |
2007 | Backyards & Bullets | Eileen[26] | Television film |
Destination: Infestation | Dr. Carolyn Ross[27] | Television film | |
2007–2008 | Friday Night Lights | Shelley Hayes[16] | 6 episodes |
Heroes | Meredith Gordon[17] | 10 episodes | |
2008 | The Apostles | Christine Rydell[28] | Television film |
CSI: NY | Jordan Gates[29] | 3 episodes | |
XIII | Kim Rowland[30] | TV miniseries | |
2008–2009 | Imaginary Bitches | Jessalyn[31] |
|
2009–2012 2015 | Glee | Terri Schuester[18] |
|
2012 | Smart Cookies | Julie Sterling[32] | Television film |
2013–2015 | Vikings | Siggy[19] |
|
2013 | The Good Wife | Janie Ludwig[19] | Episode: "Invitation to an Inquest" |
2014 | Angels and Ornaments | Corrine Nelson[34] | Television film |
2015 | Evil Men | Adela[35] | Television film |
2016 | Scandal | Vanessa Moss | 5 episodes |
2018 | The Sweetheart | Samantha | Television film |
2019 | Grand Hotel | Roxanne | Episode: "A Perfect Storm" |
2021–2022 | Big Shot | Holly Barrett | Main role |
2023 | 1923 | Beverly Strafford | Episode: "War and the Turquoise Tide" |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Shanghai International TV Festival Magnolia Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Film | Flood | Nominated | [citation needed] |
2009 | 36th Daytime Emmy Awards | New Approaches – Daytime Entertainment | Imaginary Bitches | Nominated | [citation needed] |
2010 | 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Glee | Won | [citation needed] |
Teen Choice Awards | Most Fanatic Fans | Nominated | [citation needed] | ||
Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble of the Year | Nominated | [citation needed] | ||
2013 | Brooklyn Film Festival | Best Narrative Feature | Somewhere Slow | Won | [citation needed] |
2015 | Golden Maple Awards | Best Actress in a TV Series Broadcasted in the US | Vikings | Nominated | [citation needed] |
References
- ^ "Jessalyn Gilsig Biography, Birthday". Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Jessalyn Gilsig, Biography, Theater Actress, Film Actress, Television Actress (1971–)". Biography.com. 2013. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c Bloom, Nate (February 9, 2007). "Celebrity Jews: Gilsig and Gitelman". jweekly.com. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c Shira, Dahvi (October 13, 2010). "Glee Star Jessalyn Gilsig Files for Divorce". People. Archived from the original on October 16, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ a b McCabe, Daniel (Spring–Summer 2010). "Alumni Profiles [Jessalyn Gilsig]: Grateful for a Gleeful Gig". McGill News. Montréal, QC, CA: McGill University. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- ^ a b Rowan, Terry (2016). Character-Based Film Series Part 1. Terry M. Rowan. p. 176. ISBN 9781365021282. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b London, Todd (August 31, 2015). "15 After 20, Part 1: Actors Who Trained Together in the Mid-'90s, and Where They Are Now". AMERICAN THEATRE. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Tough Lesson – Vol. 56 No. 21". PEOPLE.com. November 19, 2001. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Gilsig Makes A 'Public' Exit". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Catching Up With... Jessalyn Gilsig". Backstage.com. June 23, 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b Fernandez, Maria Elena (May 15, 2009). "A fond farewell to 'Prison Break'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Jessalyn Gilsig". South Beach Magazine. September 3, 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Chicks with Sticks". Northernstars. Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Independent Visual and Digital Media Association. June 30, 2016. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Seth Meyers and Jessica Paré's absurd Montreal movie". Cult MTL. September 6, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Dodd, Stacy (February 15, 2006). "Jessalyn Gilsig". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Jessalyn Gilsig to Appear on New Season of 'Friday Night Lights'". buddytv.com. September 13, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Jessalyn Gilsig Returns for 'Heroes' Season 3". buddytv.com. June 3, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Case of the Ex: Glee's Jessalyn Gilsig on Terri's Return — and Why It's Necessary". TVGuide.com. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Radish, Christina (March 10, 2013). "Jessalyn Gilsig Talks "Vikings," Being Part of the History Channel's First Scripted Series and Her Character's Dynamics, Plus Her Upcoming Projects". Collider. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ Monte J. (March 27, 2013). "Jessalyn Gilsig Talks About Being Siggy on 'Vikings,' the Historical Role of Viking Women" (interview). STAGEDOORdish. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 5, 2016). "Scandal Recast: Glee Alum Takes Over Role of Jake's Wife in Season 6". TVLine. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 24, 2020). "'Big Shot': Jessalyn Gilsig Joins Disney+ Series From David E. Kelley In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
- ^ Staff (November 13, 2006). "Actress Jessalyn Gilsig welcomes a daughter". People. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ^ Us Weekly Staff (October 13, 2010). "Glee Star Jessalyn Gilsig Files for Divorce". Us Weekly. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ "Dustin Putman's Review: The Stepfather (2009) – [TheMovieBoy]". www.thefilmfile.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "'Nip/Tuck' Actress Joins the Cast of NBC Pilot". buddytv.com. August 9, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Destination: Infestation (2007) – Dread Central". Dread Central. July 11, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Rants & Reviews – The Futon's First Look: "Apostles, The" (FOX) | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Exclusive: Nip/Tuck Diva Relocates to CSI: NY". tvguide.com. March 4, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "XIII – TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. February 6, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Imaginary Bitches: Sexy Single Chicks and a Not-So-Imaginary Bitch". daytimeconfidential.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Smart Cookies: Hallmark Channel movie a delight". NewsOK.com. August 15, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Levine, Sydney. "Golden Maple Awards'15 Winners Include Brandon Jay McLaren and Amanda Crew | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Jessalyn Gilsig in Angels and Ornaments | Hallmark Movies and Mysteries". Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 25, 2014). "Parminder Nagra & Jessalyn Gilsig To Co-Star In 'Evil Men' USA Pilot". Deadline. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
Further reading
- Rohan, Virginia (February 6, 2001). "Gilsig Goes 'Public' And Grapples With Racism". Chicago Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- Stebbins, Sarah (July 4, 2005). "School Ties". InStyle. p. 272f. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- "Jessalyn Gilsig—Actor, Painter". Hollywood.com. 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
External links
- Jessalyn Gilsig at IMDb
- Jessalyn Gilsig at AllMovie
- Jessalyn Gilsig at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Jessalyn Gilsig at the TCM Movie Database
- Jessalyn Gilsig at Rotten Tomatoes
- Jessalyn Gilsig at TV Guide
- Jessalyn Gilsig on X