Alexis Bledel

Kimberly Alexis Bledel[1] (/bləˈdɛl/ blə-DEL; born September 16, 1981) is an American actress and model. She is known for her role as Rory Gilmore on the television series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007), and Emily Malek in The Handmaid's Tale (2017–), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Alexis Bledel
Bledel in 2011
Born
Kimberly Alexis Bledel

(1981-09-16) September 16, 1981
Houston, Texas, U.S.
OccupationActress, model
Years active1996–present
Known forRory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls
Ofglen/Emily in The Handmaid's Tale
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2014)​
Children1

Bledel made her feature film debut as Winnie Foster in Tuck Everlasting (2002), and has since appeared in Sin City (2005), Post Grad (2009), and as Lena Kaligaris in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants film series.

For her work in Gilmore Girls, she received nominations for Satellite, Teen Choice and Young Artist Awards. In 2016, Bledel reprised her role on the Netflix reunion miniseries Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. In addition to her Guest Actress Emmy win in 2017 for The Handmaid's Tale, she has also been nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2018 and was again nominated in the Guest Actress category in 2020 for her work on that show.

Early life

Bledel was born in Houston, Texas, to Nanette (née Dozier), who worked as a gift processor and flight attendant, and Martín Bledel.[2][3] She has a younger brother, Eric.[1] Her father was born and raised in Argentina.[4][5] Her paternal grandfather, Enrique Einar Bledel Huus, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was of Danish and German descent; Enrique was Vice President of Coca-Cola Latin America and the Coca-Cola Inter-American Corporation. Bledel's paternal grandmother, Jean (née Campbell), was originally from New York and had Scottish and English ancestry.[6][7][8] Bledel's mother, Nanette, was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and moved to Mexico City, at the age of eight.[9][10][11] Of her parents' upbringing in Latin America, Bledel has stated: "It's the only culture my mom knows from life, and my father as well, and they made the decision to raise their children within the context they had been raised in."[3][9] Bledel grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, and did not learn English until she began school; she considers herself a Latina.[3][12]

Bledel attended Catholic St. Agnes Academy in Houston, as well as Baptist and Lutheran schools.[13] Her mother encouraged her to try community theater to overcome her shyness.[14] As a child, Bledel appeared in local productions of Our Town and The Wizard of Oz.[15] She was scouted at a local shopping mall and given work as a fashion model.[16]

Career

Career beginnings

Bledel made her television debut in 2000 opposite Lauren Graham in The WB comedy-drama Gilmore Girls, which ran for seven seasons from October 5, 2000, to May 15, 2007.[17] She played Rory Gilmore, the daughter of Lorelai Gilmore (Graham), a single mother. Initially, Rory was a high school student at an exclusive private academy, living with her mother in a small town in Connecticut, but later moved on to college at Yale University, where she, among other things, worked as the editor of the Yale Daily News.[18] Bledel made her feature film debut opposite Jonathan Jackson in the fantasy romantic drama Tuck Everlasting (2002), based on Natalie Babbitt's novel of the same name (1975). Before her work in that film, Bledel was an uncredited extra in the 1998 comedy-drama Rushmore.[19] In 2005, she co-starred in the drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, opposite Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, and Blake Lively, and based on Ann Brashares' novel of the same name. She played Lena Kaligaris, an aspiring artist on a journey with her three best friends, linked over the summer by a pair of "magical" jeans.

Bledel in June 2008

In 2005, Bledel co-starred in the anthology neo-noir crime thriller Sin City where she played Becky, a prostitute. "She's a very professional prostitute. She carries a gun and she kicks ass," said Bledel of her character.[20] In 2006, Bledel co-starred opposite Jay Baruchel in the romantic comedy I'm Reed Fish as the fiancée of Baruchel's title character. After the end of Gilmore Girls, she reprised her role of Lena Kaligaris in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, released in August 2008. The following year, Bledel starred in the comedy Post Grad, which was released on August 21, 2009.

Dramatic roles and critical success

Bledel co-starred opposite Scott Porter and Bryan Greenberg in the romantic comedy The Good Guy, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival April 26, 2009. The film centered around Porter's character Tommy, a Wall Street investment broker whose life falls apart when he helps out Greenberg's character Daniel, a new broker. Bledel played Beth, Tommy's girlfriend. In April 2009, Bledel guest-starred in the NBC medical drama ER in the two-hour series finale titled "And in the End..." as Dr. Julia Wise, a new intern to the hospital.[21] In May 2009, Bledel signed a contract with the modeling division of IMG.[22]

Bledel co-starred opposite James McAvoy and Robin Wright in the historical drama The Conspirator directed by Robert Redford. She played the girlfriend of McAvoy's character Frederick Aiken, the lawyer who defended Mary Surratt, the first woman to be hanged by the federal government of the United States, played by Wright. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States on April 15, 2011.[23] Also in 2010, Bledel starred as the title role in the Canadian drama The Kate Logan Affair. The film was presented at Montreal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma 2010.[24][25]

Bledel performed in the theatre production Regrets by the Manhattan Theatre Club, staged at the New York City Center.[26] It was confirmed in early-March 2013 that Bledel would co-star opposite Jason Ritter in the Fox pilot Friends & Family, an adaptation of the British sitcom Gavin & Stacey as Stacey with Ritter as Gavin.[27] The pilot was picked up for a series and was retitled Us & Them.[28] However, Fox eventually decided not to air the series, which eventually aired in the fall of 2018 on Sony Crackle.[29] 2015 saw Bledel starring with Katherine Heigl as the fiancée to Heigl's character in the film Jenny's Wedding.

On January 29, 2016, Netflix announced a revival of Gilmore Girls with a series of four 90-minute films set around the four seasons, and Bledel's participation was confirmed.[30] In 2017, she appeared as Ofglen in The Handmaid's Tale for Hulu; subsequently, her role was expanded to a regular role for the second season.[31] Her critically acclaimed turn in the role earned Bledel her first Emmy Award nomination and win in the 2017 Creative Arts ceremony in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.[32]

Public image

Bledel has graced the cover of numerous fashion magazines, including Teen Vogue, Glamour, CosmoGirl, Vanity Fair, Lucky, Elle Girl, Parade, Nylon and Seventeen.[33] In 2000, she appeared in print advertisements for Bonne Bell lip balm and Naturistics lip gloss.[34]

She has been included in magazine lists of the world's most beautiful women. In 2002, she was named one of Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars under 25". Bledel was ranked at number 87 on Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 of 2005" list. Bledel was named one of Us Weekly's "25 Most Stylish New Yorkers" in 2010.

Personal life

Bledel and fellow former Gilmore Girls co-star Milo Ventimiglia were in a relationship from December 2002 to June 2006.[35]

In 2012, Bledel began dating Vincent Kartheiser, whose character, Pete Campbell, shared scenes with her character Beth Dawes, during her guest-starring run on Mad Men.[36] The couple announced their engagement in March 2013[37] and married in California, in June 2014.[38] In May 2016, it was revealed that Bledel gave birth to their first child, a son, in the fall of 2015.[39][40]

Bledel supported the 2012 re-election of Barack Obama and urged her fans to vote.[41][42]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Rushmore Student Uncredited
2002 Tuck Everlasting Winifred Foster Jackson
2004 DysEnchanted Goldilocks Short film
2004 Bride and Prejudice Georgina "Georgie" Darcy
2005 Sin City Becky
2005 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Lena Kaligaris
2006 I'm Reed Fish Kate Peterson
2006 Zoom Ace Uncredited
2006 Life Is Short Charlotte Short film
2008 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Lena Kaligaris
2009 The Good Guy Beth Vest
2009 Post Grad Ryden Malby
2009 The Ballad of G.I. Joe Lady Jaye Video short
2010 The Conspirator Sarah Weston
2010 The Kate Logan Affair Kate Logan
2010 Girl Walks into a Bar Kim [43]
2011 Violet & Daisy Violet [44]
2012 The Brass Teapot Payton
2014 Parts per Billion Sarah
2014 Outliving Emily Emily Segment 2
2015 Jenny's Wedding Kitty Friedman
2019 Crypto Katie

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2000–2007 Gilmore Girls Rory Gilmore Lead role
2009 ER Dr. Julia Wise Episode: "And in the End..."
2012 Mad Men Beth Dawes 3 episodes
2013 Remember Sunday Molly Branford Television film: Hallmark Hall of Fame
2014 Us & Them Stacey Main role[lower-alpha 1]
2015 Motive Robin Episode: "Oblivion"
2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Rory Gilmore Lead role
2017–present The Handmaid's Tale Ofglen/Emily Malek Main role

Music videos

Theater
Year Title Role Date Notes
2011 Love, Loss, and What I Wore N/A January 12 – February 13, 2011 [46]
2012 Regrets Chrissie Myers March 27 – April 29, 2012 [47]
2016 College Republicans Lee Atwater April 23, 2016

Awards and honors
Year Work Association Category Result Ref.
2001 Gilmore Girls Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actress Won [48]
Teen Choice Awards TV – Choice Actress Nominated
2002 Gilmore Girls Teen Choice Awards TV – Choice Drama Actress Nominated [49]
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Supporting Young Actress Nominated [50]
OFTA Television Award Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [51]
Family Television Awards Best Actress Won
2003 Tuck Everlasting Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated
Gilmore Girls Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical Nominated
2004 Gilmore Girls Teen Choice Awards TV – Choice Comedy Actress Nominated
2005 Gilmore Girls Teen Choice Awards TV – Choice Comedy Actress Won [52]
Choice TV Chemistry Nominated [52]
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Love Scene Nominated [52]
Movie – Choice Drama Actress Nominated [52]
2006 Gilmore Girls Teen Choice Awards TV – Choice Comedy Actress Won [53]
Choice TV Chemistry Nominated [53]
ALMA Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Series Nominated [54]
Sin City Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
2012 Mad Men Gold Derby TV Awards Drama Guest Actress Won
2017 The Handmaid's Tale Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Won [55]
Gold Derby TV Awards Drama Guest Actress Won
OFTA Television Awards Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series Won [56]
2018 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [57]
2020 Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [58]

Other recognitions
  • 2002: Voted one of Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25"
  • 2005: Ranked #87 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women[59]
  • 2010: Named one of Us Magazine's "25 Most Stylish New Yorkers"[60]

Notes
  1. This series was originally ordered by Fox for broadcast in the 2013–14 season, but was not aired due to creative differences (though it aired in international markets). The series eventually aired its seven produced episodes in the United States in October 2018 through Sony Crackle.

References
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