Alexandra Paul
| Alexandra Paul | |
|---|---|
 Paul at a pet adoption event | |
| Born |
Alexandra Elizabeth Paul July 29, 1963 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1982—present |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Ian Murray (2000—present) |
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).
She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992–97. She has performed in a total of over 100 movies and television programs.[2]
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.[3] Paul was raised alongside her identical twin sister, Caroline, and younger brother, Jonathan, in the rural town of Cornwall, Connecticut.[4] According to Paul, her mother was "a very liberal Democrat and [her] father was a very conservative Republican."[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 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] Paul worked prominently in television from the late eighties onward, perhaps being most remembered for her starring role on Baywatch, from 1992 to 1997. She also starred in the films Death Train (1993) and Nightwatch (1995) opposite Christopher Lee and Pierce Brosnan,[10] as well as the horror films The Paperboy (1994) and Spectre (1996).
Since 1999, she has starred in 14 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.[10] She hosted non-fiction TV shows, including WE's Winning Women and a southern California local environmentalism show, Earth Talk Today.[11][12] 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.[13] She did a cameo in the comedy spoofs Spy Hard and 2016's Sharknado 4.[10][14]
In 2015, Paul won Indie Series' Best Supporting Actress in a comedy webseries.[15]
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.[10] She also produced eight PSAs on the benefits of driving electric vehicles for the non-profit Plug In America.[16]
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][17]
Paul is childless by choice.[18]
Political activism
Paul is an outspoken animal rights, environmental, peace and gay rights activist.[6][19] 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.[20] In 1989, she was arrested for peacefully advocating on behalf of people with HIV.[21] 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 100 hours of community service.[22] 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.[23]
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.[24][25]
She received the 2014 Vegan of the Year by Last Chance for Animals,[26] and in 2007 received a United Nations Environment Programme honor for her contribution to overpopulation issues.[27]
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
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Paper Dolls | Laurie Caswell | Television film |
| 1983 | American Nightmare | Isabelle | |
| 1983 | Christine | Leigh Cabot | |
| 1984 | Getting Physical | Kendall Gibley | Television film |
| 1984 | Just the Way You Are | Bobbie | |
| 1985 | American Flyers | Becky | |
| 1986 | 8 Million Ways to Die | Sunny | |
| 1987 | Dragnet | Connie Swail | |
| 1988 | Out of the Shadows | Jan Lindsey | Television film |
| 1988 | After the Rain | Petra Guera | |
| 1989 | Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin | Amy Hastings | Television film |
| 1989 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder | Amy Hastings | Television film |
| 1989 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson | Amy Hastings | Television film |
| 1990 | Laker Girls | Heidi/Jennie | Television film |
| 1991 | In Between | Amy | |
| 1991 | Miliardi | Giulia Ferretti | |
| 1992 | Prey of the Chameleon | Carrie | |
| 1992 | Kuffs | The Chief's Wife | uncredited |
| 1993 | Sunset Grill | Anita | |
| 1993 | Death Train | Sabrina Carver | Television film |
| 1994 | The Paperboy | Melissa Thorpe | |
| 1994 | Nothing to Lose | Natasha | |
| 1995 | Cyber Bandits | Rebecca Snow | |
| 1995 | Baywatch: Forbidden Paradise | Lt. Stephanie Holden | |
| 1995 | Piranha | Maggie McNamara | Television film |
| 1995 | Night Watch | Sabrina Carver | Television film |
| 1995 | Mixed Blessings | Beth | Television film |
| 1995 | Daytona Beach | Annie Gibson | Television film |
| 1996 | Spectre | Maura South | Also known as: House of the Damned |
| 1996 | Kid Cop | Sarah Hansen | |
| 1996 | Spy Hard | Woman in Murphy Bed | |
| 1997 | Kiss & Tell | Bambie the Manicurist | |
| 1997 | Naked in the Cold Sun | ||
| 1997 | Echo | Olivia Jordan | Television film |
| 1998 | 12 Bucks | Epiphany Lovejoy | |
| 1999 | Revenge | Laura Underwood | |
| 1999 | Arthur's Quest | Caitlin Regal | Television film |
| 2000 | For the Love of May | Emily | |
| 2000 | Exposure | Jackie Steerman | |
| 2000 | Green Sails | Laura Taylor | Television film |
| 2000 | The Brainiacs.com | Kara Banks | |
| 2001 | 10 Attitudes | Leslie | |
| 2001 | Above & Beyond | Jill Amorosa | |
| 2001 | Facing the Enemy | Olivia McCleary | |
| 2001 | Danger on Flight 534 | Katy Phillips | Television film |
| 2001 | Diary of a Sex Addict | Katherine | |
| 2001 | Breaking Up Really Sucks | Charlie | |
| 2001 | The Cost of Cool: Finding Happiness in a Materialistic World | Herself | Golden Eagle Award |
| 2002 | Redemption of the Ghost | Audrey Powell | |
| 2003 | A Woman Hunted | Lainie Wheeler | |
| 2003 | Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding | Allison Ford | Television film |
| 2004 | Landslide | Emma Decker | |
| 2004 | Saving Emily | Cheryl | Television film |
| 2005 | A Lover's Revenge | Liz Manners | |
| 2006 | Love Thy Neighbor | Laura Benson | Television film |
| 2006 | Who Killed the Electric Car? | Herself | Documentary |
| 2006 | Trapped! | Samantha | Television film |
| 2006 | Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York | Susan | Television film |
| 2006 | Borat | Herself | Scene cut |
| 2006 | Gospel of Deceit | Emily Wendell | Television film |
| 2006 | A.I. Assault | Marlon Adams | Television film |
| 2007 | Demons from Her Past | Allison | Television film |
| 2007 | Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness | Mall Gal | |
| 2007 | He's Such a Girl | Linda | |
| 2008 | A Date with Murder (Murder Dot Com) | Stacy | |
| 2008 | Tru Loved | Leslie | |
| 2008 | Family of Four | Janice Baker | |
| 2009 | A Sister's Secret | Katherine | Television film |
| 2009 | Christmas Crash | Christine Johnson | |
| 2010 | In My Sleep | Roxana | |
| 2010 | The Boy She Met Online | Tori Winters | |
| 2010 | The Frankenstein Brothers | Laurie Martinson | |
| 2010 | What Is the Electric Car? | Herself | Documentary |
| 2011 | Betrayed At 17 | Michelle Ross | Television film |
| 2011 | Christmas Spirit | Winnie | Television film |
| 2012 | Love at the Christmas Table | Eve Reed | Television film |
| 2012 | 16-Love | Margo Mash | |
| 2013 | Mentor | Alexandra | Indie Series Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2014 | Firequake | Dr. Eve Carter | |
| 2014 | Dinner at Le Cruel | Wife | Short film |
| 2015 | The Bride He Bought Online | Det. Kathy Schumaker | |
| 2015 | Dirty | Asst. DA Sara Dunlap | |
| 2016 | Sharknado: The 4th Awakens | Stephanie Holden - Astro-X Rocket Scientist | Television film |
- Television
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Hitchhiker | Julie | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Johnny Bago | Erica | 1 episode |
| 1992–97 | Baywatch | Lt. Stephanie Holden | 66 episodes |
| 1997 | Baywatch Nights | Stephanie Holden | 1 episode |
| 1996–97 | L.A. Firefighters | Firefighter T.K. Martin | 7 episodes |
| 1998 | The Love Boat: The Next Wave | Gillian Stansfield | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Melrose Place | Terry O'Brien | 8 episodes |
| 2000 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Leann Richards | 1 episode |
| 2002 | Rendez-View | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2003 | She Spies | Christine Black | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Mad Men | Pauline Phillips | 1 episode |
References
- ↑ "Alexandra Paul Height". Celeb Heights. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- ↑ "Baywatch Nights' model keeps a lookout for not-so-wholesome role". L.A. Times profile of Alexandra Paul. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ↑ "Interview: Actress Alexandra Paul". Movie Geeks United. June 19, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ↑ Morales, Tito. "Exclusive: Actress Alexandra Paul Conquers the Bonaire Ecoswim". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ↑ Wagner, Joyce (April 19, 1993). "Brother Behind Bars". People. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- 1 2 "Biography: Alexandra Paul". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- ↑ "Alexandra Paul profile". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 Meehan, Ryan (April 22, 2015). "10 Questions with Alexandra Paul". First Order Historians. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ↑ "CHRISTINE Revisited, Part Two: A Q&A with Alexandra Paul, fangoria.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Alexandra Paul at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "Alexandra Paul Hosts Female Extreme Sports Series Premiering April 19". AMC Networks. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "About EarthTalk Today TV". EarthTalk Today. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "'Baywatch' Cast Then & Now". xfinity.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "There Was Just a "Baywatch" Reunion -- Which Lifeguards Will Star In "Sharknado 4"?". Too Fab. March 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "6th Annual Indie Series Awards: Complete List of Winners". Indie Series Awards. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Drive Electric". Plugin America. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ Staff (November 20, 2014). "We Catch Up With Former 'Baywatch' Star Alexandra Paul!". Life & Style. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- ↑ Paul, Alexandra (April 19, 2010). "Married, Without Children". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Q&A With Vegan Actor Alexandra Paul". PETA. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- ↑ Caps 2.0. "A Talk with Alexandra Paul". Retrojunk. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ↑ Photo, alexandrapaul.com; accessed April 30, 2016.
- ↑ Profile, alexandrapaul.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
- ↑ Paul, Caroline (May 24, 2007). "My brother, the 'terrorist'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Lechaux & Roussel 2010, pp. 136–39.
- ↑ 2014 Vegan of the Year, alexandrapaul.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
- ↑ "Hollywood Actress, Alexandra Paul, to Train Actors in Sierra Leone". Population Media. February 21, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
Bibliography
- Lechaux, Bleuwenn & Violane Roussel (2010). Voicing Dissent: American Artists and the War on Iraq. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-41580-058-7.
External links
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