Nancy Lee Grahn
Nancy Lee Grahn |
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Nancy Lee Grahn (born April 28, 1958 in Skokie, Illinois) is an American actress who has starred in such soap operas as Santa Barbara as Julia Wainwright Capwell from 1985 to 1993 and General Hospital as Alexis Davis since 1996.
Early career
Grahn's parents were both involved with their local community theater in Skokie. As a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Grahn landed her first role, as Mimi in Guys and Dolls at the Goodman Rep Theater. Grahn had another early stage role in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Dallas Theatre Center.
Grahn subsequently went to New York City, where she studied acting with noted drama teacher Sandy Meisner. In New York, she appeared in commercials and also appeared in several industrial films; in an interview, Grahn recalled crossing paths with fellow future soap star Kim Zimmer at the production of several of those films. She also continued to perform in numerous plays, such as "Father's Day" and Two For The Seesaw, among many others.
Television roles
Grahn has made a number of appearances in episodic nighttime television, including Little House on the Prairie, Moonlighting, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Diagnosis: Murder, Perry Mason, The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider and Babylon 5. She has also been seen in the recurring role of Denise Fielding on Melrose Place, as Connie Dahlgren on Murder One, and, most recently, as Principal Russell on 7th Heaven.
Grahn also has had several roles on daytime dramas. Her first television role was as Beverly Wilkes, Marco Dane's secretary on ABC's One Life to Live from 1980 to 1982. In 1985, she was cast in what is perhaps her best-known role,[citation needed] as headstrong lawyer Julia Wainwright, on the now-defunct soap opera Santa Barbara. Julia was a departure from the traditional "damsel in distress" or vixen roles; she was an intelligent, uncompromising woman. Julia was paired with Mason Capwell, and the two had a Tracy/Hepburn-esque romance. Offscreen, Grahn was briefly involved with Mason's portrayer, actor Lane Davies; conflict over their storylines eventually led to Davies' departure from the show. Grahn's performance garnered her a Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 1989; she won the award in a tie with actress Debbi Morgan. She portrayed the role of Julia until the show's cancellation in 1993.
In 1996, she was cast as Alexis Davis/Natasha Cassadine, another headstrong lawyer, on General Hospital, a role she has played ever since. She was nominated for several additional Daytime Emmys. In June 2006, Grahn re-signed with General Hospital for another four years on the show.[1]
Political views
Grahn is also an active proponent of abortion rights. As a member of "Daytime For Choice," along with founder Heather Tom, she discussed with the New York Times her decision to have an abortion in her 20s as well as her desire to see abortion depicted in a fair and unbiased light within film and television.
- Has a unique take on her fan club; she enlists interested fans to perform community service projects.
- Active volunteer in the Clinton presidential campaigns.
- Chaired the Media Access Awards, which promotes realistic portrayals of disabilities in the media.
Personal life
In 2005, Grahn appeared in an episode of the Style Network's How Do I Look?, where her sister was given a makeover. The show is hosted by fellow General Hospital star Finola Hughes.
She also has a daughter, Katherine Grace.
Awards and nominations
- Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (1989) (tied with Debbi Morgan)
- Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (2003, 2004, 2005)
- Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2000)
- Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
- Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Outstanding Supercouple (1991)
- Soap Opera Digest Award Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2000, 2001, 2003)
- Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actress (1993)
- Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Hottest Female Star (1993)
See also
References
External link
- Nancy Grahn at IMDb