Jessalyn Gilsig | |
|---|---|
 Gilsig at the69th Annual Peabody Awards in 2010 | |
| Born | Jessalyn Sarah Gilsig (1971-11-30)November 30, 1971 (age 53)[citation needed] Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | jessalyng |
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 inHeroes, Kayley inQuest for Camelot, Lauren Davis inBoston Public, Gina Russo inNip/Tuck,Terri Schuester inGlee, and as Siggy Haraldson inVikings.
Gilsig was born inMontreal, 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 aNational Film Board of Canada production,Masquerade.[2] She is of Jewish descent.[3][4]
Gilsig attendedMcGill 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 atHarvard University'sInstitute for Advanced Theater Training.[5]
Gilsig began her career as a voice actress.[2] She has done voices in the films such asMasquerade,[2] and for television series such asYoung Robin Hood.[6]
She moved to New York City in 1995 where she appeared in severaloff-Broadway plays.[7] However, it was her association withDavid E. Kelley that led to her starring role inBoston Public.[8]
After guest-starring in two episodes of Kelley'sThe Practice, Gilsig was cast in two episodes of another Kelley program, the short-livedSnoops.[8] Although the series was cancelled before Gilsig's episodes were broadcast, Kelley wrote the part of Lauren Davis inBoston Public specifically for her, a series that premiered in September 2000 onFOX;[8] Gilsig would leave the series after the end of the second season in May 2002.[9]
Following her departure fromBoston Public, Gilsig joined the cast ofNip/Tuck in 2003 as Gina Russo, a role she continued until 2008.[10] In 2004, she appeared in five episodes ofNYPD Blue,[10] followed by four episodes ofFOX'sPrison 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 filmThe Horse Whisperer.[8] She then provided the speaking voice for Kayley in the animated filmQuest for Camelot (1998), withAndrea Corr performing the character's songs.[8] In 2004 she starred inChicks with Sticks,[12][13] appeared inSee This Movie,[14] and in one of the lead roles in the 2007 filmFlood.[15]
In 2007–2008 she had recurring roles in two television series, playing Shelley, the sister ofTami Taylor, onNBC'sFriday Night Lights,[16] andClaire Bennet's biological mother,Meredith Gordon, onHeroes.[17] Gilsig went on to play the main role ofTerri Schuester on theFox show,Glee, from 2009 to 2012.[18]
In 2013, Gilsig was a series regular, portraying Siggy Haraldson, wife of Earl Haraldson and paramour ofRagnar Lothbrok's brother,Rollo, on theHistory Channel seriesVikings until 2015.[19][20] In 2017 she joined the cast ofScandal.[21]
On January 24, 2020, Gilsig joined the cast of theDisney+ sports comedy-drama seriesBig Shot as Holly Barrett withJohn Stamos to replaceShiri Appleby.[22]
.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 toHollywood in 2002, and the two began dating again.[3] They were married on January 1, 2005, in a traditionalJewish 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]
.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 |
| 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" |
| 2025 | Chicago Med | Ainsley Towne | Episode "Down in a Hole" |
| 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] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |