Lauren Collins

Last updated
Lauren Collins
Lauren Collins at a CFC event in L.A. 2018 (40065303585).jpg
Collins in 2018
Born
Lauren Felice Collins

(1986-08-29) August 29, 1986 (age 38)
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present
Spouse
(m. 2018)
Children2

Lauren Felice Collins (born August 29, 1986) is a Canadian actress, best known for portraying Paige Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation . She has also had supporting roles in the films Take the Lead (2006) and Charlie Bartlett (2007). In 2013, she appeared in multiple episodes of the sketch comedy Kroll Show , as well as a recurring guest role in the fourth season of the FX series The Strain (2017).

Contents

Early life

Collins was born in Thornhill, Ontario, the daughter of Sari (née Bresver) and Stan Collins. [1] [2] Her father was born in London, England. [3] Collins was raised Jewish. [4] She has one brother, and her first cousin once-removed is Spencer Rice, one of the stars of Kenny vs Spenny . She is a graduate of Thornlea Secondary School. [5]

Career

Collins first began acting in 1998, with roles in various television series including Once a Thief , Noddy and I Was a Sixth Grade Alien . From 2000 to 2001, she had a recurring role on In a Heartbeat before landing the role of Paige Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001. She would stay on Degrassi until her departure in 2008. [6]

She also portrayed Derek's ex-girlfriend Kendra on Life with Derek . She has also appeared in numerous theatrical productions, playing the title roles in Alice in Wonderland and the production of Annie , and starring in the made-for-television film Virtual Mom.

In 2006, Collins made her feature film debut in Take the Lead , appearing alongside Antonio Banderas. [7] The following year she appeared in Charlie Bartlett (starring Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey Jr.). [8] In 2008, she co-starred in the direct-to-DVD feature Picture This , opposite Ashley Tisdale and fellow Degrassi alumnus Shenae Grimes. [9] After YouTube celebrity Shane Dawson expressed his interest in watching the Degrassi series, Collins starred in a parody video released March 6, 2010. [10] She once again worked with Disney Channel and Tisdale on the 2011 High School Musical spin-off feature, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure , playing the role of Tiffani. [11]

From 2013 to 2014, Collins hosted MTV's 1 Girl 5 Gays replacing Aliya Jasmine Sovani, who had been hosting the show for 4 seasons. [12]

In 2014, she co-wrote and starred in the short film Zero Recognition, directed by Ben Lewis, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. [13] Between 2013 and 2014, Collins appeared in four episodes of the sketch comedy series Kroll Show . [14]

Collins reunited with her former Degrassi co-stars, in 2018, for Drake's "I'm Upset" music video. [15]

In 2023, she was cast as a lead, alongside Megan Follows, in a six-part short-form comedy, My Dead Mom. [16] In 2025, Collins appeared as Claire Frankenstein, the late mother of Victor Frankenstein, in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein , which is scheduled for release on October 17, 2025. [17]

Personal life

Collins and actor Jonathan Malen married in October 2018. [18] Collins revealed on Instagram that she gave birth to a boy named Charlie Sebastian Malen on March 6, 2020. Their second son, Leo Wilder Malen, was born April 27, 2023. [19]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998Valentine's DayYoung AlmaAlso known as: Protector
2006 Take the Lead Caitlin
2007 Charlie Bartlett Kelly
2008 Picture This Alexa
2011Servitude Krissy
2014Zero Recognition [13] DemiShort film
Writer
2015 Farhope Tower Judy
2016 Sadie's Last Days on Earth Writer
2017Apart from EverythingProducer
Lolz-itaShort film
Producer
2018NKPC: New Kid Placement Committee LillyShort film
The Christmas Chronicles Woman at Another Table
Nose to Tail Beth
2019 Run This Town Sammi
2020Serious LeesCaitShort film
2025 Frankenstein Claire Frankenstein

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998Real Kids, Real AdventuresMeggieSeason 1, episode 6: "Earthquake: The Hayes Stuppy Story"
Blood on Her HandsRuby CollinsTelevision film
Once a Thief Cleo at 13Episode 20: "Politics of Love"
Tempting Fate RubyTelevision film
Happy Christmas, Miss KingLibby HubbleTelevision film
1998–1999 Noddy Rox3 episodes
1999 Rocky Marciano Mary AnneTelevision film
I Was a Sixth Grade Alien Lindy May21 episodes
Restless SpiritsRhondaTelevision film
2000Virtual MomLucy FosterTelevision film
Deliberate IntentErin SmollaTelevision film
BabyPortia PinterTelevision film
2000–2001 In a Heartbeat Brooke Lanier18 episodes
2001What Girls LearnSusieTelevision film
2001–2008 Degrassi: The Next Generation Paige Michalchuk 143 episodes
2003 Blue Murder Shannon BradySeason 3, episode 12: "Necklace"
Mutant X Megan MorrisonSeason 2, episode 19: "One Step Closer"
Bury the Lead Sara ChaseSeason 1, episode 12: "The RASH Troops of Error"
2004 Renegadepress.com AmandaSeason 1, episode 4: "Skin Deep"
2005 Totally Spies! Terra / GazellaVoice; 2 episodes
Radio Free Roscoe Blaire2 episodes
2005-2011Degrassi: MinisPaige Michalchuk18 episodes
2006 Booky Makes Her Mark Ada-MayTelevision film
Angela's Eyes Heather KeeneEpisode: "Political Eyes"
2006–2009 Life with Derek Kendra10 episodes
2007 Grossology NaomiVoice; 2 episodes
2007–2009 The Best Years Alicia O'Sullivan8 episodes
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood Paige MichalchukTelevision film
Willa's Wild Life SaraVoice
Episode 1: "Happy Willa's Dad's Day / Willa's Wild Pony Tale"
2009-2011 Being Erica Young Barbera Strange3 episodes
2011 She's the Mayor TV ReceptionistEpisode 4: "Proclamation"
Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Tiffani Disney Channel Original Movie
2013Long Story, ShortLucy8 episodes
Murdoch Mysteries: Nightmare on Queen StreetRebeccaMiniseries
2013–2014 1 Girl 5 Gays Herself / Host27 episodes
Kroll Show Collette / Mary Belle Edwards4 episodes
2013–2015 The Day My Butt Went Psycho! Paige the CheerleaderVoice
2016 Slasher EMTSeason 1: "The Executioner," episode 7: "In the Pride of His Face"
Degrassi: Next Class Paige MichalchuckSeason 2, episode 5: "#ThrowBackThursday"
2017 Conviction Lucy BatesEpisode 10: "Not Okay"
The Strain Sophie4 episodes
2018Killer HighCarrieTelevision film
The Rick Mercer Report Daughter1 episode
2018–2019 Impulse Meghan Lingerman4 episodes
2019 The Hot Zone Rebecca2 episodes
2021 Sex/Life Mrs. Brenda2 episode
What We Do in the Shadows MegSeason 3, episode 2: "The Cloak of Duplication"
Hudson & Rex Olive ChambersSeason 4, episode 4: "Leader of the Pack"
Canadian Reflections CaitTV series short
Episode: "Serious Lees"
2023 Pretty Hard Cases Yolanda Pesci2 episodes
2024 My Dead Mom EmmyWeb series
TBA Slip Rose

Music videos

YearTitleDirectorArtist
2018 I'm Upset Karena Evans Drake

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryTitle of workResult
2002 Young Artist Award Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama)Degrassi: The Next Generation(Shared with cast)Won
2003Nominated
2004 Gemini Award Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesRenegadepress.com(Episode "Skin Deep")
2006Young Artist AwardBest Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama)Degrassi: The Next Generation(Shared with cast)
2008Gemini AwardBest Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDegrassi: The Next Generation(Episode "Talking in Your Sleep")

References

  1. "Parkinson Society Canada's SuperWalk raises record amount". News-Medical.net. August 1, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  2. "Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel - Service Details". benjaminsparkmemorialchapel.ca.
  3. Baylen, Ashley (April 11, 2011). "Top 20 Jews in the Arts - Lauren Collins". Shalom Life. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012.
  4. Glassman, Marvin (August 25, 2010). "Local actress hopes for Hollywood stardom". Jewish Tribune. Archived from the original on September 30, 2010.
  5. Lagerquist, Jeff (February 1, 2014). "Turning the Paige". Thornhill Post. Retrieved May 7, 2017 via PressReader. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. Walsh, Savannah (2018-06-14). "Where Is Paige From 'Degrassi' Now In 2018? Lauren Collins Is Owning Her Roots". Bustle. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  7. Lemire, Christy. "'Take the Lead' misses genuineness of the real thing". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  8. "In 'Charlie Bartlett,' the Teen Therapist Is In". npr. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  9. Chang, Rachel (July 20, 2008). "Picture This: High School Musical Meets Degrassi". Seventeen. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  10. Powell, Jenni (5 March 2010). "Shane Dawson and The Fine Brothers Take On 'Degrassi' Once More". TubeFilter. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. "BBC One - Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure". BBC. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  12. Donahue, Anne T. (January 22, 2013). "Lauren Collins is the new host of MTV's '1 Girl, 5 Gays'". Yahoo! News Canada. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Zero Recognition". TIFF.net. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  14. Busis, Hillary (January 23, 2014). "Watch ex-'Degrassi' star Lauren Collins in excellent 'Degrassi' parody". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  15. Clark, Anne Victoria (2018-06-14). "Drake Throws a Degrassi Reunion in 'I'm Upset' Video". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  16. Goldbart, Max; Whittock, Jesse (2023-11-09). "Lauren Collins & Megan Follows To Lead Crave Short-Form Comedy 'My Dead Mom', LoCo Motion Pictures Producing". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  17. Tanenbaum, Ross (August 1, 2025). "Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein Cast & Character Guide". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on August 24, 2025.
  18. Média, Bell. "Former 'Degrassi' Star Lauren Collins Engaged" . Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  19. Andaloro, Angela (4 May 2023). "Degrassi's Lauren Collins Welcomes Baby No. 2, Son Leo Wilder, After 'Less Than an Hour' of Labor". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-04-08.