Alexis Bledel

Alexis Bledel
Bledel in 2011
Born
Kimberly Alexis Bledel

(1981-09-16) September 16, 1981 (age 43)[1][2]
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1996–present
WorksFull list
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2014; div. 2022)​
Children1
AwardsFull list

Kimberly Alexis Bledel[3] (/bləˈdɛl/ blə-DEL; born September 16, 1981[1][2]) is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles as Rory Gilmore on the television series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007) and Emily Malek in The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2021). Bledel also had a recurring role in Mad Men in 2012 and reprised her role as Rory Gilmore in the Netflix revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016).

Bledel made her feature film debut as Winnie Foster in the Disney live-action adaptation of Tuck Everlasting (2002), and went on to appear in Sin City (2005), Post Grad (2009), and as Lena Kaligaris in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and its sequel (2008).

Bledel has received various awards and nominations for her work. For her role in Gilmore Girls, she received nominations for Satellite, Teen Choice, and Young Artist Awards. For her role in The Handmaid's Tale, she has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She has also received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Drama Series.

Early life and family

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Bledel was born on September 16, 1981,[1] in Houston, Texas,[2] to Nanette (née Dozier), who worked as a gift processor and flight attendant, and Martín Bledel.[4][5] She has a younger brother, Eric.[3] Her father is from Argentina.[6][7] Her mother was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and her family moved back to Mexico when she was eight.[8][9][10] 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, Irish, and English ancestry.[11][12][13] Of her parents' upbringing in Latin America, Bledel said: "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."[5][8] Bledel grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, and did not learn English until she began school.[14] She identifies as Latina.[5][15]

Bledel attended Baptist and Lutheran schools, and graduated from the Catholic St. Agnes Academy in Houston in 1999.[16][17] Her mother encouraged her to try community theater to overcome her shyness.[18] As a child, Bledel appeared in local productions of Our Town and The Wizard of Oz.[19] She was scouted at a local shopping mall and given work as a fashion model.[20] Bledel attended NYU before dropping out when she was cast in Gilmore Girls at the age of 18.[21]

Career

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2000–2008: Debut and rise to stardom

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Bledel made her television debut in 2000 opposite Lauren Graham in The WB (now CW) comedy-drama Gilmore Girls, which ran for seven seasons from October 5, 2000, to May 15, 2007.[22] 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.[23] 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.[24] In 2005, she co-starred in the drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, opposite Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, and Blake Lively, 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.[25] 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.

2009–present: Continued recognition

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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.[26] In May 2009, Bledel signed a contract with the modeling division of IMG.[27]

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.[28] 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 in 2010.[29][30]

Bledel performed in the theatre production Regrets by the Manhattan Theatre Club, staged at the New York City Center.[31] 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.[32] The pilot was picked up for a series and was retitled Us & Them.[33] However, Fox eventually decided not to air the series, which eventually aired in the fall of 2018 on Sony Crackle.[34] 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.[35] In 2017, she appeared as Ofglen, later known as Emily Malek in The Handmaid's Tale for Hulu; subsequently, her role was expanded to a regular role for the second season.[36] Her critically acclaimed performance 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.[37] She departed after the fourth season.[38]

Public image

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Bledel in 2017

Bledel has appeared on the cover of numerous fashion magazines, including Teen Vogue, Glamour, CosmoGirl, Vanity Fair, Lucky, Elle Girl, Parade, Nylon, and Seventeen.[39] In 2000, she appeared in print advertisements for Bonne Bell lip balm and Naturistics lip gloss.[40]

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

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Bledel and fellow former Gilmore Girls co-star Milo Ventimiglia were in a relationship from December 2002 to June 2006.[41]

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.[42] The couple announced their engagement in March 2013[43] and married in California in June 2014.[44] Bledel gave birth to their son in the fall of 2015.[45][46] On August 10, 2022, Kartheiser filed for divorce from Bledel;[47] the divorce was finalized on August 30.[48]

Bledel supported the 2012 re-election of Barack Obama and urged her fans to vote.[49][50]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Rushmore Student Uncredited[51]
2002 Tuck Everlasting Winifred Foster Jackson
2004 DysEnchanted Goldilocks Short film
Bride and Prejudice Georgina "Georgie" Darcy
2005 Sin City Becky
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Lena Kaligaris
2006 I'm Reed Fish Kate Peterson
Zoom Ace Uncredited[citation needed]
Life Is Short Charlotte Short film
2008 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Lena Kaligaris
2009 The Good Guy Beth Vest
Post Grad Ryden Malby
The Ballad of G.I. Joe Lady Jaye Video short
2010 The Conspirator Sarah Weston
The Kate Logan Affair Kate Logan
Girl Walks into a Bar Kim [52]
2011 Violet & Daisy Violet [53]
2012 The Brass Teapot Payton
2014 Parts per Billion Sarah
Outliving Emily Emily Hanratty Segment 2: "Discord"
2015 Jenny's Wedding Kitty Friedman
2019 Crypto Katie

Television

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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[a]
2015 Motive Robin Gould Episode: "Oblivion"
2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Rory Gilmore Lead role
2017–2021 The Handmaid's Tale Ofglen/Emily Malek Main role

Theater

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Year Title Role Date Notes
2011 Love, Loss, and What I Wore N/A January 12 – February 13, 2011 [54]
2012 Regrets Chrissie Myers March 27 – April 29, 2012 [55]
2016 College Republicans Lee Atwater April 23, 2016 [56] Staged reading of screenplay

Music videos

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Awards and recognition

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Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Alexis Bledel
  • 2002 — Voted one of Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25"
  • 2005 — Ranked No. 87 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women[58]
  • 2010 — Named one of Us Magazine's "25 Most Stylish New Yorkers"[59]

Notes

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  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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  1. ^ a b c "Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 12–18". Associated Press. September 7, 2021. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Cast Bio for Alexis Bledel on TheWB.com". The WB.com. Warner Bros. Television. October 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 10, 2004. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Alexis Bledel Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  4. ^ Tucker, Cody (November 18, 2010). "Alexis Bledel to co-star in new film". Ultimate Bellaire. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "Latina – Google Books". Latina. 8 (6–11). 2004. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2013. A native of Phoenix, Nanette moved with her family at age 8 to Guadalajara (and later to Mexico City), where she developed "a Mexican soul," she says... It's a legacy Alexis feels strongly connected to — and proud of. "In general I think Latinos know how to live and eat and sleep and spend time with their families," she says.
  6. ^ Brady, James (August 3, 2008). "In Step With Alexis Bledel". Parade Magazine. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  7. ^ Presenter: David Letterman (May 25, 2007). "Alexis Bledel on David Letterman (05-27-07)". Late Show with David Letterman. New York, NY. CBS. Archived from the original on October 31, 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Latina – 006 – AlexisFan.net – Photo Gallery". AlexisFan.net. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  9. ^ "Gilmore Girls' Bledel graduates to film". CNN. October 28, 2002. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  10. ^ Hernandez, Lee (November 16, 2012). "40 Stars You Never Knew Were Mexican". HuffPost. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  11. ^ "OBITUARIES: ATLANTA: Bledel, ex-counsel for Coca-Cola". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. June 3, 2003. p. B4. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  12. ^ Annual Report of the Director – Google Books. Vol. 28. New York: Institute of International Education. 1947. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  13. ^ Blædel, Finn H. (1954). Slægten Blædel (PDF) (in Danish). p. 60. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
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  15. ^ EFE (June 7, 2005). "Alexis Bledel es latina, pero no para Hollywood". www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Nome, Valerie (August 22, 2009). "Red Carpet Confidential: Alexis Bledel Grows Up". OK!. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  17. ^ Cosgrove, Chris (September 6, 2018). "Can you identify these Emmy nominees by their yearbook photos?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
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  20. ^ "Today's celebrity birthdays – Sept. 16". NJ.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  21. ^ Alexis Bledel conta como foi o teste para Gilmore Girls, August 14, 2017, retrieved May 17, 2023. Gilmore Girls Brasil
  22. ^ Bradley, Laura. "How Gilmore Girls Found Its Brightest Stars". HWD. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  23. ^ Glamour (February 22, 2017). "10 "Gilmore Girls" Moments That Will Totally Make You Cringe Now". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  24. ^ Heitmueller, Karl (December 14, 2004). "Rewind: Director Wes Anderson Gets Deep Again With 'Aquatic'". MTV. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  25. ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 26, 2005). "Girl Talk with Alexis Bledel". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  26. ^ "Alexis Bledel on ER Finale". Crushable. March 1, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  27. ^ "Alexis Bledel Is An IMG Model". Lime Life. May 21, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  28. ^ Grabert, Jessica (June 1, 2011). "The Conspirator Comes To Blu-Ray And DVD With A Slew Of Historical Extras". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  29. ^ "Programming 2010 Édition". nouveaucinema.ca. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  30. ^ Anh Khoi Do (September 29, 2010). "Line-Up of Canadian Films at the Festival du nouveau cinéma". The Cultural Post. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  31. ^ "Alexis Bledel Joins Cast of Manhattan Theatre Club's Regrets". broadway.com. February 8, 2012. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  32. ^ Ausiello, Michael (March 2, 2013). "Gilmore Gah! Jason Ritter Trades Lauren Graham for Alexis Bledel in Fox's Friends & Family Pilot". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  33. ^ Ausiello, Michael (May 8, 2013). "Fall TV Scoop: Fox Orders 5 Comedies, Including Chris Meloni's Jack and Ritter-Bledel Sitcom". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  34. ^ Roots, Kimberly (October 11, 2013). "Fox (Essentially) Cancels Us & Them". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  35. ^ Ausiello, Michael (January 29, 2016). "Gilmore Girls Revival Officially a Go at Netflix; Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop and More Returning". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  36. ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 22, 2017). "Alexis Bledel Returning to 'The Handmaid's Tale' in Season 2 — Regular". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  37. ^ Mehta, Maitra (July 13, 2017). "Lauren Graham Congratulates Alexis Bledel On Her Emmy Nom Just Like A Proud Gilmore Mom". Bustle. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  38. ^ Nemetz, Dave (May 27, 2022). "The Handmaid's Tale: Alexis Bledel Exiting Ahead of Season 5". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  39. ^ "Alexis Bledel Magazine Cover Photos – List of magazine covers featuring Alexis Bledel – FamousFix". FamousFix.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  40. ^ "PHOTOS: Alexis Bledel's Blast From The Past". HuffPost. September 17, 2013. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  41. ^ "Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel, Boyfriend Split – Breakups, Alexis Bledel, Milo Ventimiglia: People.com". Archived from the original on October 5, 2007.
  42. ^ Gay, Verne (June 20, 2012). "Report: Alexis Bledel, Vincent Kartheiser an item". Newsday.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  43. ^ Ravitz, Justin (March 20, 2013). "Alexis Bledel, Vincent Kartheiser Engaged! Mad Men Costars to Marry". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  44. ^ Loinaz, Alexis (August 6, 2014). "Vincent Kartheiser and Alexis Bledel Are Married!". People. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  45. ^ "Alexis Bledel Welcomes First Child With Husband Vincent Kartheiser". Us Weekly. May 18, 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  46. ^ "Surprise – Vincent Kartheiser and Alexis Bledel Have a Son!". People. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  47. ^ Wynne, Kelly (August 17, 2022). "Vincent Kartheiser Files for Divorce from Alexis Bledel After 8 Years of Marriage". People. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  48. ^ "Alexis Bledel and Vincent Kartheiser Finalize Their Divorce After 8 Years of Marriage | Entertainment Tonight". August 31, 2022.
  49. ^ "Alexis Bledel Covers 2012 Election, Endorses Barack Obama On Twitter". HuffPost. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  50. ^ Bart, Kathleen. "Alexis Bledel: Why I Vote". Take Part. Archived from the original on March 10, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  51. ^ "Alexis Bledel in Rushmore". YouTube. February 25, 2008. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  52. ^ "Alexis Bledel Completes "Girl Walks Into a Bar"". Gilmore News. Arieanna. September 25, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  53. ^ McNary, Dave (September 22, 2010). "Indie lures Bledel in for kill". Variety. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  54. ^ Hetrick, Adam (January 12, 2011). "Nikki Blonsky, Alexis Bledel, Judy Gold Explore Love, Loss, and What I Wore Starting Jan. 12". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  55. ^ "Alexis Bledel, Set for the Stage". Interview Magazine. March 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  56. ^ "Black List Live! presents COLLEGE REPUBLICANS". eventbrite.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  57. ^ "10 TOTALLY UNEXPECTED CELEBRITY CAMEOS IN MUSIC VIDEOS FROM THE SCENE". altpress.com/. Alt Press. May 29, 2017. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  58. ^ "2005 Hot 100". Maxim. May 2005. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  59. ^ "25 Most Stylish New Yorkers". US Magazine. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
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