Alexandra Paul

Alexandra Elizabeth Paul (born July 29, 1963) is an American actress, activist, health coach, and former model. Paul began her career modeling in New York before landing her first major role in John Carpenter's horror film Christine (1983). This was followed with prominent roles in American Flyers (1985), 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), and Dragnet (1987).

Alexandra Paul
Alexandra Paul in 2012
Born
Alexandra Elizabeth Paul

(1963-07-29) July 29, 1963
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress, Athlete, Activist, Wellness Coach, Camera Operator, Model, Producer, Writer
Years active1979–present
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Spouse(s)
Ian Murray
(m. 2000)

She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992 to 1997. She has performed in a total of over 100 movies and television programs.[1]

Early life

Paul was born in New York City to Sarah, a social worker, and Mark Paul, an investment banker. Paul's mother was originally from England.[2] Paul was raised alongside her identical twin sister, Caroline, and younger brother, Jonathan, in the rural town of Cornwall, Connecticut.[3] According to Paul, her mother was "a very liberal Democrat and [her] father was a very conservative Republican."[4] Her brother, Jonathan, was an animal rights activist who was previously jailed for 6 months for refusing to testify about activist friends and later was in federal prison for over 3 years due to his own animal activism[5] She attended the Cornwall Consolidated School, and the Groton School in Massachusetts.[6][7] Paul was accepted into Stanford University, but chose not to attend so that she could focus on an acting career.[8]

Career

Paul worked prominently in television from the late eighties onward, perhaps most recognizable in her starring role on Baywatch, from 1992 to 1997. Paul began her career working as a model in New York City, and later moved to Los Angeles when she decided to pursue a career in acting.[8] Her first role was in the television film Paper Dolls (1982), followed by a role in the independent Canadian horror film American Nightmare (1983). Paul then landed a leading role in John Carpenter's horror film Christine (1983), opposite Keith Gordon, followed by a supporting role in the comedy Just the Way You Are (1984).

She later appeared in the sport drama American Flyers (1985) with Kevin Costner, 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), and the comedy Dragnet (1987), opposite Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd.[9] She also starred in the films Death Train (1993) and Nightwatch (1995) opposite Christopher Lee and Pierce Brosnan, as well as the horror films The Paperboy (1994) and Spectre (1996).

Since 1999, she has starred in 15 films for Lifetime Network. She has also starred in the Fox TV series Fire Company 132 and appeared in the last eight episodes of Melrose Place. She guest-starred on Mad Men in 2008. She hosted non-fiction TV shows, including WE's Winning Women and a southern California local environmentalism show, Earth Talk Today.[10][11] She made a cameo appearance with Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan in a deleted scene parodying her Baywatch role.[12] She did a cameo in the comedy spoofs Spy Hard and Sharknado: The 4th Awakens.[13]

In 2015, Paul won Indie Series' Best Supporting Actress in a comedy webseries.[14]

Paul co-wrote and co-produced two documentaries: Jampacked, a documentary on the world population crisis, and The Cost of Cool: Finding Happiness in a Materialistic World. Jampacked received a Bronze Apple Award and first place recognition at the EarthVision Environmental Film and Video Festival. The Cost of Cool won a CINE Golden Eagle Award. She also produced eight PSAs on the benefits of driving electric vehicles for the non-profit Plug In America.[15]

In 2019, Alexandra acted in three movies, Escaping My Stalker,

Personal life

Paul has been married to Ian Murray since 2000. She became a vegetarian at age fourteen after reading the book Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé, and became a vegan in 2010.[8][16]

Paul is childfree by choice.[17]

As an athlete, Paul raced the Hawaii Ironman in 1997.[18] She ran the 2000 Boston Marathon.[19][20] She has also swam the 11 mile Fiji Swim,[21] the 12.5 mile Swim Around Key West [22] and the 2014 Reto Acapulco 14 mile swim,[23] among others.

In 2015, Paul became a certified health coach[24] and has her own wellness coaching business.[25]

Political activism

Paul is an outspoken animal rights, environmental, peace and gay rights activist.[6] She walked 5 1/2 weeks on the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament in 1986. Paul has been arrested for civil disobedience over a dozen times at the Nevada Test Site between 1987 and 2000.[26] In 1989, she was arrested for peacefully advocating on behalf of people with HIV.[27] She was arrested twice in 2003 for civil disobedience protesting the Iraq War and spent five days in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center after refusing to pay the $50 fine. In 2005, she was arrested for protesting the crushing of the EV1, and performed 80-100 hours of community service for electric car organizations.[28][29] Paul's younger brother, Jonathan, is also an animal rights activist, who served 51 months in prison for his role in the arson of a slaughterhouse.[30]

She has traveled to Nicaragua with Operation USA and to South Africa to register voters. Paul volunteered in Sierra Leone with the non profit Population Media Center. In 2006, Paul donated $250 to the Ned Lamont campaign against Joe Lieberman, because Lieberman supported the war in Iraq.[31][32]

She received the 2014 Vegan of the Year by Last Chance for Animals,[33] and in 2007 received a United Nations Environment Programme honor for her contribution to overpopulation issues.[34]

In 2016, Alexandra joined Direct Action Everywhere in an open rescue of several pigs from a factory farm.[35] In 2017, Alexandra joined a sit-in at an Oakland, CA slaughterhouse and was arrested.[36] In 2018, Alexandra was arrested for a civil disobedience action at Sunrise Chicken Farm.[37] In 2019, she was arrested for peacefully protesting at Reichardt Duck Farm and spent 2 days in Sonoma County jail.[38] In September, 2020, Alexandra and 6 other DxE activists were arrested for trying to rescue a pig from a Farmer John slaughterhouse in Vernon, CA.[39]

In discussing her political activism, Paul said:

I am sure there are some who do not like me for my outspokenness and my views, and I totally respect their right to boycott my projects. I actually respect folks who stand up for their beliefs – even if I disagree with them—than the folks who do not care, are afraid to 'get involved', or who cannot be bothered. I admire passion and commitment. A woman once told me she could not watch those slaughterhouse videos because she 'loves animals so much' and it would upset her. I would prefer to hang out with a hunter who believes he is doing the right thing, than a wuss like her.[8]

Filmography

Film

2019 The Estate 2019 Pink Skies Ahead Mercedes

Year Title Role Notes
1983 American Nightmare Isabelle
1983 Christine Leigh Cabot
1984 Just the Way You Are Bobbie
1985 American Flyers Becky
1986 8 Million Ways to Die Sunny
1987 Dragnet Connie Swail
1988 After the Rain Petra Guera
1991 Millions Giulia Ferretti
1991 In Between Amy Budd
1992 Prey of the Chameleon Carrie
1993 Sunset Grill Anita
1994 Nothing to Lose Natasha
1994 The Paper Boy Melissa Thorpe
1995 Cyber Bandits Rebecca Snow
1996 Spectre Maura South
1996 Kid Cop Sarah Hansen Video
1996 Spy Hard Woman in Murphy Bed
1997 Kiss & Tell Bambi
1998 12 Bucks Epiphany Lovejoy
2000 Revenge Laura Underwood
2000 The Brainiacs.com Kara Banks
2001 Above & Beyond Jill Amorosa
2001 10 Attitudes Leslie Video
2001 Facing the Enemy Olivia McCleary
2001 Diary of a Sex Addict Katherine Video
2001 Exposure Jackie Steerman Video
2002 Redemption of the Ghost Audrey Powell
2003 Outrage Lainie Wheeler
2008 Tru Loved Leslie
2008 Murder Dot Com Stacy
2009 Christmas Crash Christine Johnson Video
2009 He's Such a Girl Linda
2009 Family of Four Janice Baker Video
2010 In My Sleep Roxana
2010 The Boy She Met Online Tori Winters
2011 Javelina Lora
2012 16-Love Margo Mash
2012 The Frankenstein Brothers Laurie Martinson
2015 Flirting with Madness Det. Kathy Schumaker
2016 Dirty Asst. D.A. Sara Dunlap
2018 Say Yes Mrs. Muñoz
2020 Finding Sara Aunt Carrie Completed
TBA Wood Floors Sylvia Pre-production
TBA The B Team Alexandra Announced
TBA The Anchor Susan Rogers Announced

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Paper Dolls Laurie Caswell TV film
1984 Getting Physical Kendall Gibley TV film
1987 The Hitchhiker Julie Episode: "Minuteman"
1988 Out of the Shadows Jan Lindsey TV film
1989 Perry Mason Amy Hastings TV films: The Case of the Lethal Lesson, The Case of the Musical Murder, The Case of the All-Star Assassin
1990 Laker Girls Heidi / Jenny TV film
1992–1997 Baywatch Stephanie Holden Main role (seasons 3–6), guest (season 7)
1993 Death Train Sabrina Carver TV film
1993 Johnny Bago Erica Episode: "Spotting Elvis"
1995 Piranha Maggie McNamara TV film
1995 Night Watch Sabrina Carver TV film
1995 Mixed Blessings Beth TV film
1996 Daytona Beach Annie Gibson TV film
1996–1997 L.A. Firefighters T.K. Martin Recurring role
1997 Echo Olivia Jordan TV film
1997 Baywatch Nights Stephanie Holden Episode: "The Eighth Seal"
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Gillian Stanfield Episode: "All That Glitters"
1999 Arthur's Quest Caitlin Regal TV film
1999 Melrose Place Terry O'Brien Recurring role (season 7)
2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Leann Richards Episode: "Destiny in a Bottle"
2000 Green Sails Laura Taylor TV film
2001 Rough Air: Danger on Flight 534 Katy Phillips TV film
2003 Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding Allison TV film
2003 She Spies Christine Black Episode: "Date to Mate"
2004 Saving Emily Cheryl TV film
2005 Landslide Emma Decker TV film
2005 A Lover's Revenge Liz Manners TV film
2006 Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York Dr. Susan Foxley TV film
2006 Love Thy Neighbor Laura Benson TV film
2006 Gospel of Deceit Emily TV film
2006 A.I. Assault Marlon Adams TV film
2006 Trapped! Samantha Reed TV film
2007 Demons from Her Past Allison Buchanan TV film
2008 Mad Men Pauline Phillips Episode: "Maidenform"
2009 A Sister's Secret Katherine TV film
2011 Betrayed at 17 Michelle Ross TV film
2011 Christmas Spirit Winnie TV film
2012 Love at the Christmas Table Eve Reed TV film
2014 Firequake Dr. Eve Carter TV film
2016 Sharknado: The 4th Awakens Holden TV film
2017 Born and Missing Det. Breuer TV film
2018 3rd Eye Merrill Dawson TV series
2020 Escaping My Stalker Sandy TV film
2020 Coffee House Chronicles Episodes: "Good Grief", "Bad Math"

References

  1. "Baywatch Nights' model keeps a lookout for not-so-wholesome role". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  2. "Interview: Actress Alexandra Paul". Movie Geeks United. June 19, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  3. Morales, Tito. "Exclusive: Actress Alexandra Paul Conquers the Bonaire Ecoswim". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  4. Wagner, Joyce (April 19, 1993). "Brother Behind Bars". People. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrAKMRa3qq0
  6. "Biography: Alexandra Paul". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  7. "Alexandra Paul profile". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  8. Meehan, Ryan (April 22, 2015). "10 Questions with Alexandra Paul". First Order Historians. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  9. "CHRISTINE Revisited, Part Two: A Q&A with Alexandra Paul Archived 2015-03-26 at the Wayback Machine, fangoria.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
  10. "Alexandra Paul Hosts Female Extreme Sports Series Premiering April 19". AMC Networks. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  11. "About EarthTalk Today TV". EarthTalk Today. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  12. "'Baywatch' Cast Then & Now". xfinity.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  13. "There Was Just a "Baywatch" Reunion -- Which Lifeguards Will Star In "Sharknado 4"?". Too Fab. March 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. "6th Annual Indie Series Awards: Complete List of Winners". Indie Series Awards. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  15. "Drive Electric". Plugin America. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  16. Staff (November 20, 2014). "We Catch Up With Former 'Baywatch' Star Alexandra Paul!". Life & Style. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  17. Paul, Alexandra (February 17, 2010). "Married, Without Children". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 20, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  18. "Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sports". archives.starbulletin.com. Retrieved Sep 12, 2019.
  19. "boston marathon | The Official Alexandra Paul Website". alexandrapaul.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  20. "Exclusive: Actress Alexandra Paul Conquers the Bonaire Ecoswim - Swimming World News". Swimming World News. 2005-02-23. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  21. "Ultra-Distance Swims With Alexandra Paul". Inside Sport. Retrieved Sep 12, 2019.
  22. http://www.southernmostrunners.com/KW-Swim/SAKW-12/SAKW-AllSolo-F-M-12.txt
  23. "What I did today for 7 hours straight | The Official Alexandra Paul Website". alexandrapaul.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  24. "The Baywatch Actress Alexandra Paul Turns Health & Wellness Coach! - Women Fitness". Women Fitness. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  25. "Alexandra Paul: Health, Wellness & Fitness Coaching in Los Angeles". Alexandra Paul Wellness Coaching. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  26. Caps 2.0. "A Talk with Alexandra Paul". Retrojunk. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  27. Photo, alexandrapaul.com; accessed April 30, 2016.
  28. Profile, alexandrapaul.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
  29. PBS, NOW- (2006). "NOW - Who Killed the Electric Car?". www.pbs.org.
  30. Paul, Caroline (May 24, 2007). "My brother, the 'terrorist'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  31. Lockhart, Brian. "70% of donors to Lamont's campaign are from out of state". The Advocate. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  32. Lechaux & Roussel 2010, pp. 136–39.
  33. 2014 Vegan of the Year, alexandrapaul.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
  34. "Hollywood Actress, Alexandra Paul, to Train Actors in Sierra Leone". Population Media. February 21, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  35. "How a Baywatch Star Saved Miley from Becoming Meat". Direct Action Everywhere. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  36. https://janeunchained.com/2017/10/23/22-animal-activists-arrested-in-open-rescue-at-slaughterhouse/
  37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEDrwLnSJBs
  38. https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2019/06/03/18823714.php
  39. https://www.foxla.com/news/animal-rights-activists-cited-for-attempted-pig-rescue-at-farmer-john-plant

Bibliography

  • Lechaux, Bleuwenn & Violane Roussel (2010). Voicing Dissent: American Artists and the War on Iraq. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-41580-058-7.
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