Reiko Aylesworth | |
|---|---|
| Born | Reiko M. Aylesworth[1] (1972-12-09)December 9, 1972 (age 52) Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | Rob Clare |
Reiko M. Aylesworth (born December 9, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for playingMichelle Dessler in the action television series24.
Aylesworth was born on December 9, 1972, inEvanston, Illinois,[2][3] and is ofDutch,Welsh, andJapanese ancestry. Her given name, Reiko (礼子), is Japanese; her surname, Aylesworth, isEnglish.[4] She lived inSpringfield, Illinois, from 1987 to 1988, where she first became interested in acting. After understudying in several productions at the Springfield Theatre Centre, Aylesworth was cast in the role of Consuelo inWest Side Story, while her family was preparing to move toSeattle,Washington. When her family left for Seattle, she remained in Springfield with family friends of theirs for the duration of the play's run.[5]
After joining her family in Seattle, Aylesworth attended theUniversity of Washington and studiedneuroscience. While there, she participated in several local theater productions includingInvisible Friends at theSeattle Children's Theatre[6] and theIntiman Theatre Company's production ofPeter Pan where she playedWendy.[7]
Aylesworth's performance inPeter Pan brought her to the attention of talent scouts atABC, leading to the beginning of her television and film career asRebecca Lewis on the soap operaOne Life to Live.[8] After her character was written out ofOne Life to Live, she appeared in the independent filmChildhood's End and the final episode of theHBO seriesLifestories: Families in Crisis. During this time Aylesworth also appeared in at least threeOff Broadway productions.
Following a guest appearance onLaw & Order and a supporting role in the miniseriesA Will of Their Own, Aylesworth had minor appearances in the moviesRandom Hearts andYou've Got Mail followed by a guest star role in theCBS seriesNow and Again. Soon afterNBC cast Aylesworth as Becca Coltrane in the pilot for the seriesSherman's March, however, it was not picked up and aired as a standalone television movie.
Aylesworth continued her work on television with guest appearances inThe West Wing,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, andEd[9] as well as being cast in a lead role in the supernatural hospital dramaAll Souls. WhenAll Souls was cancelled after its sixth episode, Aylesworth joined the cast of the new seriesThe American Embassy, which was quickly cancelled after its fourth episode.
Following the cancellation ofThe American Embassy, Aylesworth auditioned for the part ofNina Myers onFox Network's24 but the role went toSarah Clarke. When casting began for 24'ssecond season, Aylesworth again auditioned, this time for the part ofKate Warner, but the role went toSarah Wynter. However, the producers were impressed with her and asked her to join the cast for a ten episode recurring role asMichelle Dessler, aCTU agent.[10] Despite being credited as a guest star for the entire season, she appeared in all 24 episodes.[11]
DirectorJon Cassar quickly noticed the "chemistry" between Aylesworth and her costarCarlos Bernard, in the role ofTony Almeida. which led to a decision to develop the characters' onscreen relationship.[12] The relationship between Michelle and Tony quickly became popular with fans[13] and later would resurface as one of the driving forces in the show'sseventh season.
While on hiatus from24 after season two, Aylesworth filmed an episode for the second season ofThe Dead Zone, playing a love interest forAnthony Michael Hall'sJohnny Smith.[14] By 24'sthird season (2003–2004), Aylesworth had become a main cast member with Tony and Michelle now married and holding leadership positions at CTU. However, when the season concluded, the writers announced that most of the characters were being dropped, with those actors not being retained for season 4.[15] Upon being released from24, Aylesworth was cast as Chandra Moore, aDNA analyst, in the fifth season ofCSI: Crime Scene Investigation; while the role was intended to be recurring, it was dropped after one episode.[16]
Asseason 4 of24 progressed, some of the characters from previous seasons returned mid-season, including Aylesworth as Michelle Dessler. The character returns in the twelfth episode, now a high level bureaucrat within the CTU hierarchy, serving as CTU Director for the remainder of the season. Her character resigns at the end in order to remarry Tony Almeida,[17] then is killed by a car bomb in the opening episode ofseason 5.[18]
Following her departure from24, Aylesworth landed her first leading role in a feature film – the independent, romantic dramaCrazylove where she worked alongsideBruno Campos and former24 costarPaul Schulze.Crazylove tells the story of Letty Mayer, aschool teacher who suffers a nervous breakdown and while institutionalized, meets Michael (Campos) and the two begin a dangerous and unpredictable romance.[19] She partnered with her former24 costarXander Berkeley in theSci Fi Channel made-for-television movie,Magma: Volcanic Disaster.[20] In a guest start role on the short-lived seriesConviction, she played a renowned attorney who killed her husband and then defended herself at the murder trial.[21] When the cast was selected for the series3 lbs, Aylesworth was chosen for the role of Dr. Adrienne Holland, but the pilot was rejected by CBS.[22] The following season, CBS decided to buy the series for a late fall 2006 premiere, but the lead roles were recast, including Aylesworth's. It is unknown whether she declined the3 lbs role or she was not offered it again.
Soon after the conclusion of24's fifth season, Aylesworth and her24 costarD. B. Woodside filmed theshort,First which was also written, produced, and directed by Woodside. Aylesworth's character, Angelina Marveau, was "a fallen French nun" who was fighting to choose between her religious beliefs and first love, a nihilistic, American professor, who was portrayed by Woodside.[23]
In 2006, Aylesworth filmed roles for two feature movie along with an independent production. In theKevin Costner movieMr. Brooks, Aylesworth portrayed a divorce lawyer, Sheila, who was representing the husband ofDemi Moore's character, Detective Tracy Atwood. Departing from her previous type of characters, Aylesworth played thefemme fatale Audrey Levine in theGideon Raff independent thrillerThe Killing Floor.[24]
Aylesworth played one of the two lead roles inAliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).[25] Her character, Kelly O'Brien, an Army pilot and soldier returning home after being deployed overseas, arrives inGunnison, Colorado the day before theAliens andPredator invade the town.
In January 2007, Aylesworth had a guest role in two episodes of the ABC comedy,The Knights of Prosperity, where she played the head ofMick Jagger's security company, Simone Cashwell. The Knights attempt to seduce her character in order to obtain the necessary security codes to access Jagger's apartment and later trick Simone in order to get her thumbprint which is also needed to open the door.[26] Soon after she filmed a supporting role in Hannah Davis and David Conolly'sThe Understudy where she played Police Chief Kinsky. While it has appeared at numerous film festivals, a DVD release date forThe Understudy has not been announced.[27]
Aylesworth continued her work in independent productions, filming a small part forSteven Kampmann's independent movie,Buzzkill.[28] It was given a limited release in January 2012. In April 2008, Aylesworth was cast in a recurring role onER, playing hospital chaplain Julia Dupree. Originally, Dupree was to appear in 5 episodes[29] with the purpose of attracting the attention of Dr. Gates (John Stamos). Her role was extended for two additional episodes, but concluded due to the suspension of filming resulting from the2007-2008 WGA Strike. A month later Aylesworth filmed a supporting role in the Steve Morris independent comedyThe Assistants,[30] which tells the story of a group ofHollywood assistants who are scheming to have their script turned into a feature film. Aylesworth has said independent productions like these and past films such asNo Deposit, No Return, are her preferred types of film.[31]
Aylesworth has continued with one-off guest roles and recurring roles on episodes of varioustelevision dramas. In 2009, she portrayedAmy Goodspeed in threeSeason 5 episodes ofLost.[32][33] She has also appeared in recurring roles, including five episodes in season three of Damages,[34] as Dr. Malia Waincroft on seven episodes over three seasons of CBS'sHawaii Five-0, and nine episodes as Allie Jones over two seasons ofScorpion in 2016 and 2017.[35][36]
Aylesworth has appeared inoff-Broadway productions. She performed in the 2006 production of Etan Frankel'sThe Fearless at theSummer Play Festival[37] andThe New Group (naked)'s 2007 production of Heather Lynn MacDonald'sExpats.[38]
As of February 2007[update], Aylesworth had resided inNew York City since 1993.[39] Aylesworth is married to Rob Clare, a scholar and expert on Shakespearean theater.[40]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Childhood's End | Laurie Cannon | |
| 1998 | You've Got Mail | Thanksgiving Guest | |
| 1999 | Random Hearts | Mary Claire Clark | |
| Man on the Moon | Mimi | ||
| 2000 | No Deposit, No Return | Sue | |
| 2005 | Shooting Vegetarians | Daisy | Filmed 1999–2000, releaseddirect-to-video in 2005[citation needed] |
| Crazylove | Letty Mayer | ||
| 2007 | The Killing Floor | Audrey Levine | |
| Mr. Brooks | Sheila | ||
| Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | Kelly O'Brien | ||
| 2008 | The Understudy | Chief Kinsky | |
| The Assistants | Cassie Levine | ||
| 2012 | Buzzkill | Sara | |
| Bad Parents | Laurie | ||
| 2017 | Oh Lucy! | Kei | |
| 2019 | Rapid Eye Movement | Charlene Johnson | |
| 2020 | Dark Harbor | Regina Newhall |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1994 | One Life to Live | Rebecca Lewis | [unknown episodes] |
| 1996 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis | Rita | Episode: "Someone Had to Be Benny" |
| 1997 | Law & Order | Tiffany Sherman | Episode: "We Like Mike" |
| 1998 | A Will of Their Own | Annie Jermaine | Miniseries |
| 1999 | Now and Again | Dr. Taylor | Episode: "By the Light of the Moon" |
| 2000 | Sherman's March | Becca Coltrane | Television film |
| The West Wing | Janine | Episode: "Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics" | |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | A.D.A. Erica Alden | 3 episodes | |
| 2001 | All Souls | Dr. Philomena Cullen | Main cast |
| 2002 | Ed | Kate Harrison | Episode: "Ends and Means" |
| The American Embassy | Liz Shoop | Main cast | |
| 2002–2006 | 24 | Michelle Dessler | Recurring role (seasons 2, 4–5); main cast (season 3) |
| 2003 | The Dead Zone | Natalie Connor | Episode: "Deja Voodoo" |
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Chandra Moore | Episode: "Viva Las Vegas" |
| 2005 | Fathers and Sons | Business Woman | Television film |
| 2006 | 3 lbs | Dr. Adrienne Holland | Unsold pilot, reshot using different actress |
| Magma: Volcanic Disaster | Natalie Sheppard | Television film | |
| Conviction | Julie Phelps | Episode: "Deliverance" | |
| 2007 | The Knights of Prosperity | Simone Cashwell | 2 episodes |
| ER | Julia Dupree | Recurring role (season 14) | |
| 2009 | Lost | Amy Goodspeed | Recurring role (season 5) |
| The Forgotten | Linda Manning | Episode: "Unaired pilot"; reshot using different actress | |
| 2009–2010 | Stargate Universe | Sharon | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Damages | Rachel Tobin | Recurring role (season 3) |
| The Good Wife | Nora Vashley | Episode: "On Tap" | |
| 2011–2014 | Hawaii Five-0 | Dr. Malia Waincroft | Recurring role |
| 2011 | Lights Out | Jennifer | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Elementary | Miranda Molinari | Episode: "Flight Risk" |
| Person of Interest | Agent Vickers | Episode: "C.O.D." | |
| 2013 | King & Maxwell | Liz Allen | Episode: "King's Ransom" |
| Drop Dead Diva | June Fraizer | Episode: "Fool for Love" | |
| 2014 | Revolution | Marion Kelly | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | NCIS | Mrs. Marshall | Episode: "Homefront" |
| 2016–2017 | Scorpion | Allie Jones | Recurring role |
| 2017 | Salvation | Rhonda Cheng | Episode: "Indivisible" |
| SEAL Team | Dr. Julie Kruger | Episode: "Tip of the Spear" | |
| 2018 | The Good Doctor | Louisa DeLeon | Episode: "Carrots" |
| 2019 | Bull | Carolyn Kelly | Episode: "Prior Bad Acts" |
| 2020 | Tommy | Sasha | Episode: "Lifetime Achievement" |
| 2021–2024 | Hit-Monkey | Maki Matsumoto / Lady Bullseye,Yuki | Voices, 7 episodes |
| 2023 | Carol & The End of the World | Guest performer | Episode: The Beetle Broach |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 24: The Game | Michelle Dessler |
| 2022 | Hindsight | Mary |
| Year | Theater/Festival | Location | Production | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Intiman Theatre Company | Seattle | Peter Pan | Wendy[41][failed verification] |
| 1996 | Philadelphia Festival Theater George Street Playhouse | Philadelphia New Brunswick, N.J. | Cheap Sentiment | Meg Van Dyke[42] |
| 1996 | Primary Stages Theater | New York City | Missing / Kissing: Missing Marisa / Kissing Christine | Server in "Kissing"[43] |
| 1997 | American Place Theatre | New York City | Robbers | Lucinda[44] |
| 2002 | McCarter Theatre Center | Princeton, N.J. | Humpty Dumpty | Spoon[45] |
| 2005 | Williamstown Theatre Festival | Williamstown, Mass. | Top Girls | Lady Nijo/Win[46] |
| 2017 | Antaeus Theatre | Los Angeles | Les Liaison Dangereuses | Marquise de Merteuil |
| 2019 | The Geffen Playhouse | Los Angeles | Black Super Hero Magic Mamma | Connie/ Lady Vulture |
born in the same [Evanston] hospital as Reiko Aylesworth
She was born in the same hospital as her "24" co-starCarlos Bernard[permanent dead link]
