Alexandra Powers
Alexandra Powers | |
---|---|
Born | Alexandra Kristin Powers New York City, U.S. |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1980–2001 |
Spouse(s) | Barry Del Sherman (m. 1993–199?)[1] Gavin Potter (m. 2000–?) |
Mother | Katharyn Powers |
Alexandra Kristin Powers is an American former actress.[2]
Early life
Powers was born in New York City. She grew up in an "artsy, liberal environment" on both coasts with her divorced parents. Her father teaches acting.[1] She said in an interview that her parents "encouraged me to find my own truth". Commenting on her faith, she stated "I pray whenever I feel sad. And I believe that whatever is right will work out." In that same interview, she said that her father was Roman Catholic and her mother Katharyn Powers was interested in metaphysics.[3] Powers' mother wrote for television programs including Fantasy Island and Charlie's Angels. At the age of six, Powers announced her intentions to become an actress.[4]
Career
Powers appeared in various television and film roles, including Cast a Deadly Spell,[5] 21 Jump Street,[6] and Dead Poets Society.[7] In the film Rising Sun, Powers portrayed a prostitute who attempted to seduce the character played by actor Wesley Snipes.[8] She also had a recurring role on the NBC legal drama L.A. Law. She portrayed "Dusty Brown" in the NBC miniseries A Matter of Justice.[9] On being successfully cast in the NBC program Tonya and Nancy, Powers commented, "In a lot of ways, it's the role of the year".[10] For the program, she received ice-skating lessons from Dody Teachman, former coach to Tonya Harding.[10] In a review for The Orlando Sentinel, Powers received a positive reception: "It should be said that Powers, the Christian lawyer on L.A. Law, is a dead ringer for Tonya ... and that she delivers a convincing performance."[11]
Personal life
In the early 1990s, Powers said she did not adhere to any religion: "I've sort of looked and searched. I was a Buddhist for about six months." She was married to actor Barry Del Sherman in December 1993, and publicly lamented: "I have to take my ring off when I go to work. And that makes me sad, because I put the ring on and I don't want to ever have to take it off."[1]
In the late 1990s she started following the set of beliefs and practices invented by the American author L. Ron Hubbard, and by 2000 had married Gavin Potter and joined Hubbard's Sea Organization, the religious order of Hubbard's Church of Scientology.[12][13][14]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | The Prodigal | Nancy Pringle | |
1985 | Mask | Lisa | |
1988 | Plain Clothes | Daun-Marie Zeffer | |
1989 | Sonny Boy | Rose | |
Dead Poets Society | Chris Noel | ||
1992 | The Player | Herself | |
1993 | The Seventh Coin | Ronnie Segal | a.k.a. Worlds Apart |
Rising Sun | Julia | ||
1996 | Last Man Standing | Lucy Kolinski | |
Race | Sylvie | ||
1997 | Out to Sea | Shelly | |
1998 | One Hell of a Guy | Cassie Springer | Direct-to-video |
1999 | Storm | Major Tanya Goodman | Direct-to-video; a.k.a. Twister II: Extreme Tornado |
2001 | Zigs | Sara | a.k.a. Double Down |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Jennifer Slept Here | Cassidy | 1 episode |
T. J. Hooker | Sally | 1 episode | |
1984 | Silence of the Heart | Andrea | Television movie |
1986 | Highway to Heaven | Arlene | 1 episode |
Family Ties | Erin | 2 episodes | |
1987 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Laura Sanders | 1 episode |
1988 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Beth | 1 episode |
Unholy Matrimony | Patricia "Trish" Jaworsky | Television movie | |
1989 | The Hogan Family | Princess Julia | 3 episodes |
1990 | Dangerous Pursuit | Television movie | |
21 Jump Street | Officer Kati Rocky | 2 episodes | |
1991 | Cast a Deadly Spell | Olivia Hackshaw | Television movie |
1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Gloria | 1 episode |
A Matter of Justice | Kathy Charlene "Dusty" Brown | Television movie | |
1993–1994 | L.A. Law | Jane Halliday | 22 episodes |
1994 | Tonya and Nancy: The Inside Story | Tonya Harding | Television movie |
Following Her Heart | Nola Lundquist | Television movie | |
1997 | C-16: FBI | Dana Morrison | 1 episode |
1998 | Nobody Lives Forever | Detective Mary Ellen "Dusty" Dustin | Television movie |
Maximum Bob | Angelyne Linklater | 1 episode | |
Fantasy Island | 1 episode | ||
1999 | Brimstone | Ann "Sally" McGee | 1 episode |
References
- ^ a b c Gordinier, Jeff (December 3, 1993). "She's No Saint". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- ^ Loynd, Ray (April 29, 1994). "Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story". Variety. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ Davis, James D. (October 27, 1993). "Higher law - Alexandra Powers' devout, virginal character on 'L.A. Law' in many ways reflects her own views". Sun-Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel Company. p. 1.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (March 10, 1994). "'L.A. Law' Actress Relishes Her Role as Christian Lawyer - Alexandra Powers talks about staying clear of religious stereotypes". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 11.
- ^ J. O'Connor, John (September 10, 1991). "Review/Television; A Detective and Sci-Fi In Los Angeles Magic". The New York Times.
- ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television. Penguin Books. p. 870. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.
- ^ Molinari, Matteo; Jim Kamm (2002). Oops! They Did It Again!: More Movie Mistakes That Made the Cut. Citadel. p. 62. ISBN 0-8065-2320-4.
- ^ Johnson, Peter (August 19, 1993). "'L.A. Law' gets lawyer who keeps the faith". USA Today. Gannett Co., Inc. p. 3D.
- ^ Bark, Ed (Dallas Morning News) (November 7, 1993). "Alexandra Powers' virgin role gives a new look to 'L.A. Law' - playing 'A Matter of Justice' temptress helped her". The Buffalo News. p. TV3.
- ^ a b Philadelphia Inquirer (April 15, 1994). "Alexandra Powers of 'L.A. Law laces up an attitude for Tonya role". The Orlando Sentinel. Sentinel Communications Co. p. A2.
- ^ Dawson, Greg (April 30, 1994). "'Tonya and Nancy'". The Orlando Sentinel. Sentinel Communications Co. p. 3; Style.
- ^ "Alexandra Powers: A promising actress kidnapped by Scientology". dataLounge.com. September 18, 2013. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ "Alexandra Powers from Hollywood to Hell…Welcome to the Sea Org!". Scientology Celebrities and Human Rights. April 14, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ "Alexandra Powers -- Scientology Service Completions". Retrieved May 5, 2016.
External links
- Alexandra Powers at IMDb