Jessalyn Sarah Gilsig, born November 30, 1971[1], is a Canadian actress. She is known for her role as Lauren Davis on Boston Public, as Gina Russo on Nip/Tuck and she had a recurring role as Terri Del Monico on Glee between 2009 and 2012, and again in 2015.
Personal life[]
Gilsig was born in Montreal, Quebec to Claire, a writer and translator, and Toby Gilsig, an engineer.[1] She has one sister, Deborah.[2] Gilsig graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a degree in English in 1993 and attend the American Repertory Theatre's Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.[1]
She married Bobby Salomon on January 1, 2005[3] and their daughter, Penelope Clare, was born on 26 September 2006.[2][4] Gilsig filed for divorce from Salomon on September 8, 2010, citing "irreconcilable differences," and they had been separated since 2009.[5]
Career[]
Gilsig began her career by voice roles, including films Mascarade and The Journey Home and the television series The Little Flying Bears, Young Robin Hood and Gulliver's Travels. After moved to New York City in 1995, she started to appeared in several off-Broadway plays.
Although she had appeared in several Canadian productions in the 1980s-1990s, her television career began during the late 1990s, when she guest-starred in several television series, including Viper and Seven Days.
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. Although the series was cancelled before Gilsig's episodes were broadcast, Kelley wrote the part of Lauren Davis in Boston Public specifically for her. The series premiered in September 2000 on FOX. However, Gilsig left the series after the end of the season in May 2002.
Following her departure from Boston Public, Gilsig joined the cast of Nip/Tuck in 2003 as Gina Russo, a role she continued until her character was killed off in 2008. In 2004, she appeared in five episodes of NYPD Blue, followed by four episodes of FOX's Prison Break in 2005. In early 2006, she guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order.
In addition to her extensive credits in television and theatre, Gilsig also has some experience with films. She had a small role in the 1998 film The Horse Whisperer and provided the speaking voice for Kayley in the animated film Quest for Camelot (Andrea Corr performed the character's songs), also released in 1998. In 2004, she appeared in Chicks with Sticks as well as See This Movie.
Gilsig currently has recurring roles in three television series. On NBC she plays Shelley, the sister of Tami Taylor in Friday Night Lights as well as Claire Bennet's biological mother, Meredith Gordon, on Heroes. She appeared in one of the lead roles in the 2007 movie Flood.
Filmography[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Mascarade | voice | short |
1989 | Jacknife | His Girlfriend | |
The Journey Home | short | ||
1990 | The Little Flying Bears | Tina | |
1991 | Young Robin Hood | Gertrude of Griswald | 1991 - 1992 (26 episodes) |
1992 | Gulliver's Travels | Folia | voice |
1998 | Viper | Alyssa | ("Family Matters") |
To Have & to Hold | Paula | ("Stuck in the Blizzard with You") | |
Quest for Camelot | Kayley | voice | |
The Horse Whisperer | Lucy, Annie's Assistant | ||
1999 | The Practice | A.D.A. Jennifer / ADA Jennifer | ("Victimless Crimes" and "Loser's Keepers") |
A Cooler Climate | Callie | TV movie | |
The Sentinel | RJ Shannon | ("The Real Deal") | |
Seven Days | Carla Boyles | ("Last Card Up") | |
2000 | Boston Public | Lauren Davis | 2000 - 2002; (44 episodes) |
Snoops | Agent Suzanne Shivers | (The Stolen Diskette" and "Swan Chant") | |
2002 | Haunted | Elise Martin | ("Three Hour Tour") |
2003 | Without a Trace | Whitney Ridder | ("Confidence") |
Nip/Tuck | Gina Russo | 2003 - 2008; (17 episodes) | |
2004 | NYPD Blue | Detective Kelly Ronson | (5 episodes) |
See This Movie | Annie Nicole | ||
Chicks with Sticks | Paula Taymore | ||
2005 | Prison Break | Lisa Rix | (4 episodes) |
Fathers and Sons | Dianne | TV movie and uncredited | |
2006 | Law & Order | Angela Burquette | ("Heart of Darkness") |
2007 | Destination: Infestation | Dr. Carolyn Ross | TV movie |
Flood | Samantha 'Sam' Morrison | ||
Backyards & Bullets | Eileen | TV movie | |
Friday Night Lights | Shelley Hayes | 2007 - 2008; (6 episodes) | |
Heroes | Meredith Gordon | 2007 - 2008; (10 episodes) | |
2008 | The Apostles | Christine Rydell | TV movie |
XIII: The Conspiracy | Kim Rowland | ("Toutes les larmes de l'enfer" and "Le jour du soleil noir" | |
CSI: NY | Jordan Gates | ("Taxi," "Personal Foul," and "DOA for a Day") | |
Prom Night | Aunt Karen Turner | ||
Imaginary Bitches | Jessalyn | 2008 - 2009; ("Bitches Emmy Special" and "Three Bitches Is an Imaginary Crowd (Part Two)" and "A New Leper in the Colony") | |
2009 | The Stepfather | Julie King | |
Glee | Terri Del Monico | 2009 - 2012 (45 episodes); 2015 (2 episodes) | |
2010 | Prenatal Pole Dancing DVD | Meeghan | short |
2011 | About Fifty | Jessica | |
2012 | Smart Cookies | Julie | TV movie |
Harry's Law | Brianna Marsh | ("Breaking Points") | |
2013 | Vikings | Siggy Haraldson / Siggy | 2013 - (20 episodes) |
The Good Wife | Janie Ludwig | ("Invitation to an Inquest") | |
Somewhere Slow | Anna Thompson | ||
2014 | Angels and Ornaments | Corrine | TV Movie |
2015 | Evil Men | Adlea | TV Movie |
Vikings: Athelstan's Journal | Siggy |
Trivia[]
- Grew up in a French speaking community and can speak fluent French (Québécois).
- In late 1999, she was going to replace actress Paula Marshall who was leaving the series "Snoops" (1999). However, that show was cancelled before Gilsig was set to join the cast and producer David E. Kelley gave her a role on his next show "Boston Public" instead.
- Provided/painted all the art pieces of Patricia Clarkson's character in "The Station Agent," written and directed by her "Boston Public" (2000) co-star Thomas McCarthy.
- She was the first adult Canadian cast member before Patrick Gallagher.
- Her ex-husband, Bobby Salomon was her prom date in high school.
- Is best friends with Glee co-star Jayma Mays.
- Her nickname is "Mrs. Shue."[6]
Quotes[]
“ |
It takes someone pretty persistent to stick it out with me. |
” |
—Jessalyn Gilsig |
“ |
Everything. I would relax a little more. I thought everybody knew what was going on except me, and that I was completely missing the boat. Now, I think I was probably on par. |
” |
—Jessalyn Gilsig |
Social Media Sites[]
- Jessalyn Gilsig's Twitter - @JessalynGilsig