Melissa Benoist

Melissa Benoist

Benoist at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born Melissa Marie Benoist
(1988-10-04) October 4, 1988
Houston, Texas
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 2000–present
Known for Supergirl
Glee
Whiplash
Spouse(s) Blake Jenner (m. 2015)

Melissa Marie Benoist (/bɛˈnɔɪst/; born October 4, 1988[1][2][3]) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her portrayal of the title character, Kara Zor-El, in the CBS/The CW superhero drama series Supergirl.

She rose to prominence for her portrayal of Marley Rose on the fourth and fifth seasons of the Fox musical comedy-drama television series Glee, and has appeared in a number of television series including Homeland, The Good Wife and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Benoist has also appeared in films such as Danny Collins, The Longest Ride and the Oscar-winning 2014 film Whiplash.

Early life

Benoist was born in Houston, and raised in Littleton, Colorado. She is the daughter of Julie Renee (Smith) and James Logan Benoist.[4] Benoist has two sisters, Jessica and Kristina.[5][6][7] She graduated from Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado in 2007,[8] and from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City in 2011.[9]

Career

Benoist's first film was singer Mariah Carey's Tennessee in 2008.

In May 2012, she auditioned for Glee in New York at the Roundabout Theatre Company, singing a different song for each of her five auditions including: "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor, "King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles, a Colbie Caillat song, and several musical theater pieces. In July,[10] she had two screen tests in California for series creator/writer, Ryan Murphy, the casting directors, and executive producers.

She and Glee co-star Darren Criss appeared with Josh Duhamel in the opening of the 2013 Kids' Choice Awards.[11] That same year, she was selected as an ambassador for Coca Cola's new product, P10 300 ml Coke Mismo.[12][13] In June 2013, they were flown to Manila, Philippines to endorse the product by visiting different malls and meeting with fans.[14][15]

Benoist played Nicole, Miles Teller's love interest in the 2014 film Whiplash,[16] which won top prizes (Grand Jury and Audience awards) at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

Benoist in 2015

In June 2014, Benoist joined Nicholas Sparks' film adaption The Longest Ride as Marcia.[17]

She had a role in the 2015 film Danny Collins, starring Al Pacino, Jennifer Garner, and Annette Bening. She played the part of Jamie, a desk clerk at a hotel frequented by one of Jamie's all-time favorite rock stars.[18]

In May 2015, it was announced that Benoist will be playing Lorelai in the film Lowriders, replacing Lily Collins and Nicola Peltz, who were in talks for the role previously.[19]

In August 2015, Benoist landed the leading role in the Screen Gems drama feature film Oxford, with Sam Heughan as her leading man.[20]

In October 2015, the first episode of the superhero fiction adventure drama series, Supergirl with Benoist in the lead role of Kara Zor-El aired on CBS. The second season of the series moved to The CW.[21]

She appeared as a presenter in the 42nd People's Choice Awards, which aired on January 6, 2016 on CBS, and at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards, broadcast January 10, 2016, she presented along with The Flash star Grant Gustin. In June of that year, the Human Rights Campaign released a video in tribute to the victims of the 2016 Orlando gay nightclub shooting; in the video, Benoist and others told the stories of the people killed there.[22][23]

Personal life

Benoist married her former Glee co-star Blake Jenner in March 2015.[24]

Filmography

Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Tennessee Laurel
2014 Whiplash Nicole
2015 Danny Collins Jamie
2015 The Longest Ride Marcia
2015 Band of Robbers Becky Thatcher
2016 Low Riders Lorelai
2016 Patriots Day Katherine Russell
TBA Billy Boy Jennifer Post-production
TBA Sun Dogs Tally Post-production
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jessalyn Kerr Episode: "Delicate"
2010 Blue Bloods Renee Episode: "Privilege"
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ava Episode: "Wet"
2010 The Good Wife Molly Episode: "Nine Hours"
2011 Homeland Stacy Moore Episodes: "Grace", "Clean Skin"
2012–14 Glee Marley Rose
  • Season 4: Recurring role (22 episodes)
  • Season 5: Main role (13 episodes)
2013 MasterChef Herself Season 4: Episode 10
2015–present Supergirl Kara Zor-El / Supergirl / Kara Danvers Lead role
2016 The Flash Kara Danvers / Supergirl / Kara Zor-El Episodes: "Welcome to Earth-2" (archival footage), "Invasion!"
2016 Arrow Kara Danvers / Supergirl / Kara Zor-El Episode: "Invasion!"
2016 DC's Legends of Tomorrow Kara Danvers / Supergirl / Kara Zor-El Episode: "Invasion!"

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2000 The Sound of Music Brigitta Country Dinner Playhouse production
2003 The Sound of Music Liesl Littleton Town Hall Arts Center production
2006 Bye Bye Birdie Kim McAfee Littleton Town Hall Arts Center production
A Month in the Country Vera Littleton Town Hall Arts Center production
A Chorus Line Bebe Littleton Town Hall Arts Center production
2007 Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella Cinderella Littleton Town Hall Arts Center production
Footloose Ariel Littleton Town Hall Arts Center production
Evita Peron's young mistress Country Dinner Playhouse's final production
2009 Thoroughly Modern Millie Millie Dilmount Marymount Manhattan College production
As You Like It Rosalind Marymount Manhattan College production
2011 The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown Kelly Goodspeed Musical production

Accolades

Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2013 Teen Choice Awards 2013 Choice TV Breakout Star Glee Nominated
2016 42nd Saturn Awards The Breakthrough Performance Award Supergirl Won
Best Actress on a Television Series Nominated

Discography

Main article: Glee discography

References

  1. ↑ "Melissa Benoist". TV Guide. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Melissa Benoist Biography". ArticleBio.com. January 5, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  3. ↑ Rose, Lacey; O'Connell, Michael; Sandberg, Bryn Elise; Stanhope, Kate; Goldberg, Lesley (August 28, 2015). "Next Gen Fall TV: 10 Stars Poised for Breakouts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Melissa Benoist Ancestor Chart (52189)".
  5. ↑ Moore, John (September 22, 2006). "Can't Miss Kids". Denver Post. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  6. ↑ "Littleton, Colorado".
  7. ↑ "Arapahoe High School – Warriors, Always Take Care of One Another". Arapahoe High School. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  8. ↑ Congratulations, Arapahoe High School grads May 2007
  9. ↑ From MMC to McKinley High: Alumna Melissa Benoist October 2012.
  10. ↑ "Who Is Melissa Benoist? All About Glee Season 4's Marley". wetpaint.com. November 2012.
  11. ↑ "Darren Criss & Melissa Benoist With Josh Duhamel on Kids Choice Awards 2013 23/03/13". YouTube. March 24, 2013. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  12. ↑ "The Cast of GLEE for Coke, raindeocampo.com, June 2013.
  13. ↑ Butler, Peppermint (June 10, 2013). "Shaken, Not Stirred: Coke Launch with Glee Stars". Status Magazine online. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  14. ↑ "‘Glee’ cast members invade 3 malls", rappler.com, June 2013. Accessed 2014-08-19.
  15. ↑ Yang, Tatin (June 9, 2013). "Newest ‘Glee’ stars overwhelmed by Pinoys’ welcome". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  16. ↑ The Deadline Team (September 11, 2013). "'Fast & Furious 7' Adds Djimon Hounsou; 'Glee's Melissa Benoist Gets 'Whiplash'; Liana Liberato Joins 'If I Stay'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  17. ↑ Yamato, Jen (June 24, 2014). "'Glee's Melissa Benoist Joins 'The Longest Ride'; 'Sicario' Adds 'Captain America 2's Maximiliano Hernandez; Shane Black Rebooting 'Predator'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  18. ↑ The Deadline Team (July 11, 2013). "Melissa Benoist Joins 'Imagine'; Natalie Dormer Cast In 'Posh'; Carter Jenkins Leads 'Skate God'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  19. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (May 21, 2015). "'Supergirl' Star Melissa Benoist Climbs Into 'Lowriders' Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  20. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr (August 27, 2015). "'Supergirl's Melissa Benoist, 'Outlander's Sam Heughan Set For Screen Gems Love Story 'Oxford'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  21. ↑ "CBS Fall 2015 Schedule: 'Supergirl' Opens Monday, 'Life In Pieces' Follows 'Big Bang'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "49 Celebrities Honor 49 Victims of Orlando Tragedy | Human Rights Campaign". Hrc.org. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  23. ↑ Rothaus, Steve (June 12, 2016). "Pulse Orlando shooting scene a popular LGBT club where employees, patrons 'like family'". The Miami Herald. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Melissa Benoist, Blake Jenner Are Married: Secret Wedding Details!". Us Weekly. July 13, 2015.

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