Alexandra Powers

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Alexandra Powers
Born
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1980–2001
Spouse(s) Barry Del Sherman
(m. 1993–199?) [1]
Gavin Potter
(m. 2000–?)
Mother Katharyn Powers

Alexandra Powers is an American former actress and Scientologist. [2] [3]

Contents

Early life

Powers was born in New York City. She grew up in an "artsy, liberal environment" on both coasts with her divorced parents. Her father teaches acting. [1] She said in an interview that her parents "encouraged me to find my own truth". Commenting on her faith, she stated "I pray whenever I feel sad. And I believe that whatever is right will work out." In that same interview, she said that her father was Roman Catholic and her mother Katharyn Powers was interested in metaphysics. [4] Powers' mother wrote for television programs including Fantasy Island and Charlie's Angels. At the age of six, Powers announced her intentions to become an actress. [5]

Career

Powers appeared in various television and film roles, including Cast a Deadly Spell , [6] 21 Jump Street , [7] and Dead Poets Society . [8] In the film Rising Sun , Powers portrayed a prostitute who attempted to seduce the character played by actor Wesley Snipes. [9] She also had a recurring role on the NBC legal drama L.A. Law . She portrayed "Dusty Brown" in the NBC miniseries A Matter of Justice. [10] On being successfully cast in the NBC program Tonya and Nancy, Powers commented, "In a lot of ways, it's the role of the year". [11] For the program, she received ice-skating lessons from Dody Teachman, former coach to Tonya Harding. [11] In a review for The Orlando Sentinel , Powers received a positive reception: "It should be said that Powers, the Christian lawyer on L.A. Law, is a dead ringer for Tonya ... and that she delivers a convincing performance." [12]

Personal life

In the early 1990s, Powers said she did not adhere to any religion: "I've sort of looked and searched. I was a Buddhist for about six months." She was married to actor Barry Del Sherman in December 1993, and publicly lamented: "I have to take my ring off when I go to work. And that makes me sad, because I put the ring on and I don't want to ever have to take it off." [1]

In the late 1990s she started following the set of beliefs and practices invented by the American author L. Ron Hubbard, and by 2000 had married Gavin Potter and joined Hubbard's Sea Organization of the Church of Scientology. [3]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983 The Prodigal Nancy Pringle
1985 Mask Lisa
1988 Plain Clothes Daun-Marie Zeffer
1989 Sonny Boy Rose
Dead Poets Society Chris Noel
1992 The Player Herself
1993 The Seventh Coin Ronnie Segala.k.a.Worlds Apart
Rising Sun Julia
1996 Last Man Standing Lucy Kolinski
RaceSylvie
1997 Out to Sea Shelly
1998One Hell of a GuyCassie Springer Direct-to-video
1999 Storm Major Tanya GoodmanDirect-to-video;
a.k.a.Twister II: Extreme Tornado
2001 Zigs Saraa.k.a.Double Down

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983 Jennifer Slept Here Cassidy1 episode
T. J. Hooker Sally1 episode
1984 Silence of the Heart Andrea Television movie
1986 Highway to Heaven Arlene1 episode
Family Ties Erin2 episodes
1987 CBS Schoolbreak Special Laura Sanders1 episode
1988 CBS Summer Playhouse Beth1 episode
Unholy MatrimonyPatricia "Trish" JaworskyTelevision movie
1989 The Hogan Family Princess Julia3 episodes
1990Dangerous PursuitTelevision movie
21 Jump Street Officer Kati Rocky2 episodes
1991 Cast a Deadly Spell Olivia HackshawTelevision movie
1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Gloria1 episode
A Matter of Justice Kathy Charlene "Dusty" BrownTelevision movie
1993–1994 L.A. Law Jane Halliday22 episodes
1994 Tonya and Nancy: The Inside Story Tonya Harding Television movie
Following Her Heart Nola LundquistTelevision movie
1997C-16: FBIDana Morrison1 episode
1998Nobody Lives ForeverDetective Mary Ellen "Dusty" DustinTelevision movie
Maximum Bob Angelyne Linklater1 episode
Fantasy Island 1 episode
1999 Brimstone Ann "Sally" McGee1 episode

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gordinier, Jeff (December 3, 1993). "She's No Saint". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  2. ↑ Loynd, Ray (April 29, 1994). "Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story". Variety. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  3. 1 2
  4. ↑ Davis, James D. (October 27, 1993). "Higher law - Alexandra Powers' devout, virginal character on 'L.A. Law' in many ways reflects her own views". Sun-Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel Company. p. 1.
  5. ↑ Scheck, Frank (March 10, 1994). "'L.A. Law' Actress Relishes Her Role as Christian Lawyer - Alexandra Powers talks about staying clear of religious stereotypes". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 11.
  6. ↑ J. O'Connor, John (September 10, 1991). "Review/Television; A Detective and Sci-Fi In Los Angeles Magic". The New York Times .
  7. ↑ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television. Penguin Books. p. 870. ISBN   0-14-024916-8.
  8. ↑ Molinari, Matteo; Jim Kamm (2002). Oops! They Did It Again!: More Movie Mistakes That Made the Cut. Citadel. p. 62. ISBN   0-8065-2320-4.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Peter (August 19, 1993). "'L.A. Law' gets lawyer who keeps the faith". USA Today. Gannett Co., Inc. p. 3D.
  10. ↑ Bark, Ed (Dallas Morning News) (November 7, 1993). "Alexandra Powers' virgin role gives a new look to 'L.A. Law' - playing 'A Matter of Justice' temptress helped her". The Buffalo News. p. TV3.
  11. 1 2 Philadelphia Inquirer (April 15, 1994). "Alexandra Powers of 'L.A. Law laces up an attitude for Tonya role". The Orlando Sentinel. Sentinel Communications Co. p. A2.
  12. ↑ Dawson, Greg (April 30, 1994). "'Tonya and Nancy'". The Orlando Sentinel. Sentinel Communications Co. p. 3; Style.
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