Kate French

Kate Lauren French (born September 23, 1984) is an American actress and model. She is perhaps best known for her role as Niki Stevens on The L Word.

Kate French
Born
Kate Lauren French

(1984-09-23) September 23, 1984
Occupationactress
Years active2006–present
Spouse(s)Jon Johnson (2010-present)
Children2

Early life

Kate Lauren French was born in Flemington, New Jersey.[1] Her parents, Joan Gocha and William Robinson French are former Ford models. Her mother is now a jewelry designer; and her father works in real estate. French spent her childhood years in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and Lambertville, New Jersey. Her family then moved to New York where they settled in Quogue on Long Island and her mother remarried. French graduated from Westhampton Beach High School in 2003.

Career

Following in her parents' footsteps, French pursued a career in modeling up until her senior year of high school but always had a passion for acting.[2] She first appeared on the big screen in 2006 with a small cameo role in the film Accepted. French's first appearance on the small screen was in 2006, when French starred alongside Tatum O'Neal in the prime-time telenova soap opera Wicked Wicked Games. In 2007 she landed her breakout role when she joined the cast of The L Word playing closeted lesbian actress, and girlfriend of Jenny Schecter, Niki Stevens, appearing in seasons 5 and 6.[3] French also had a role in the teen drama series South of Nowhere as Sasha Miller, a love interest of Aiden Dennison. French then appeared in two episodes of the teen drama Gossip Girl as Elle, a mysterious nanny.[4] In 2010 French had a recurring role as Renee on One Tree Hill and later had a recurring guest role as Riley Westlake in the Hawaii-set teen drama Beyond The Break. In 2009 French played a supporting role in the independent horror film Sutures and then had a leading role in the independent romantic comedy Language of a Broken Heart, which was selected for the Hollywood Film Festival in 2011. French featured in the rock musical film Girltrash: All Night Long, which was released in 2014. In 2011, French starred alongside Jason Ritter in the short film, Atlantis, a romance film centered around two strangers who fall in love in the lead up to the final launch of the NASA space shuttle Atlantis.[5] and had a leading role in the independent thriller The Red House.[6] French also had a guest role on the television series Up All Night. In 2012, it was announced that French had a supporting role in the independent thriller Channeling.[7] French had a minor role in the indie feminist film Farah Goes Bang directed by Meera Menon. French is attached to the psychological thriller Liquorice. She starred 2014 in the Drama horror film Echoes and was awarded at FilmQuest Cthulhu as Best Actress for this role.[8]

Other work

In 2010, French appeared in television advertisements for Bud Light and 7 Up. In 2011, she appeared in advertisements for sunglasses brand Raen Optics. In 2012, French featured in a television commercial for car company GMC and in 2018 she appeared in the 'Fansville' campaign for Dr Pepper.

Personal life

French studied at the University of California, Santa Barbara before dropping out to start an acting career. After dropping out of college, French lived in San Diego briefly before moving to Los Angeles to start her acting career. French is good friends with writers Angela Robinson and Alex Kondracke. In her spare time, French enjoys surfing, water skiing and hiking with her pet dogs. French supports the Surfrider Foundation. In 2008, she appeared alongside comedian Kathy Griffin in a pro-same-sex marriage ad urging California voters to vote against Proposition 8. On September 25, 2010, French married photographer Jon Johnson at her parents' estate in Quogue. She is sometimes featured in his work. They live in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles and have two children: a son, Henry William Johnson; and a daughter, Chapel DeFreine Johnson.[9][10] French launched a vintage-inspired jewelry line, The Inheritance LA, in 2015.[11]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Accepted Glen's Party Girl #2 Cameo
2009 Fired Up! Cute Captain Cameo
2009 Sutures Shannon Supporting role
2010 K Citizen Mindy Short film
Lead role
2011 Language of a Broken Heart Emma Lead role
Nominated – California Independent Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2011 Atlantis Allison Talbot Short film
Lead role
2013 Channeling Tara Supporting role
2013 Farah Goes Bang Katie Supporting role
2014 Girltrash: All Night Long Sid
2014 The Red House Shelby Gordon Lead role
Post-production
2014 Echoes (2014 film) Anna Parker Lead role
Won - Best Actress at the Filmquest Film Festival 2014
2014 Horrible Parents Kate Short film
Cameo
2016 Last Man Club Romy Lead role
Won - Best Actress at the Worldfest Film Festival 2016

Won - Best Actress at the Burbank International Film Festival

2016 Blood is Blood Sara Lead role
2016 Liquorice Jade Attached
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2006–2007 Wicked Wicked Games Brooke Crawford Telenovela; Supporting role; 50 episodes
2007
2008
South of Nowhere Sasha Miller "Spencer's New Girlfriend" (season 3: episode 4)
"The Truth Hurts" (season 3: episode 5)
"Fighting Crime" (season 3: episode 6)
"Career Day" (season 3: episode 9)
"Love and Kisses" (season 3: episode 12)
2008
2009
The L Word Niki Stevens / Jesse Recurring role; 15 episodes
2009
2012
Gossip Girl Elle "Carnal Knowledge" (season 2: episode 17)
"The Age of Dissonance" (season 2: episode 18)
"The Return of the Ring" (season 5: episode 24)
2009 CSI: Miami Rita "Chip/Tuck" (season 7: episode 21)
2009 Beyond the Break Riley Westlake "All Riled Up" (season 3: episode 11)
"Would I Lie to You?" (season 3: episode 12)
"Wronged" (season 3: episode 13)
"Worked" (season 3: episode 14)
2009 One Tree Hill Renee Recurring role; 7 episodes
2011 Up All Night Jessie "Hiring and Firing" (season 1: episode 9)
2012 Cubicle Cowboy Vicki Overton Pilot
Producer
2013 Major Crimes Jennifer O'Brien "Final Cut" (season 2: episode 1)
2013 The Education of Eddie & Mortimer Lacey Pilot
Producer

References

  1. "Kate French". Maxim. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011. Kate French, Age: 23, Hometown: Flemington, New Jersey
  2. Prato, Alison (April 28, 2009). "Bright Lights, Inked City". Inked Magazine. Los Angeles.
  3. Orange, B.Alan (July 11, 2007). "Kate French Joins Showtime's The L Word". Movie Web. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  4. "GOSSIP GIRL CASTING SCOOP!". OK!. January 6, 2009.
  5. "Movie was filmed as space shuttle Atlantis took off from KSC". Orlando Sentinel. July 9, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  6. Hallam, Scott (11 April 2012). "Post-Production Wrapping... Prepare for The Red House". Dread Central. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  7. McNary, Dave (January 29, 2012). "Handley joins indie 'Channeling'". Variety. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  8. McNary, Dave (February 19, 2015). "Kate French FilmQuest Film Festival, winning Best Actress". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  9. "Kate French - Your Zen Mama". Your Zen Mama. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  10. "Kate French on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  11. "Ep21 – Kate French". Stamie & Tracy Show Podcast. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
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