Melinda Page Hamilton | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 22, 1974 New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) New York University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Children | 1 |
Melinda Page Hamilton (born August 22, 1974) is an American actress, best known for her role as Odessa Burakov in the Lifetime comedy-drama series Devious Maids , and for her leading role in the independent film Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006). She has had recurring roles on Desperate Housewives , Mad Men , and Big Love .
Hamilton was born in New York City. [1] She attended Princeton University and later the Tisch School of the Arts in New York University. [2] She starred in a number of theatre productions, including as the title character in the original stage production of Cornelia, written by Mark V. Olsen. [2] She made her television debut in the episode of NBC legal drama Law & Order in 1997, and as of 2003, began playing regular guest-starring roles in shows including Star Trek: Enterprise , Nip/Tuck , Ghost Whisperer , Criminal Minds , The Closer , Castle , NCIS , Modern Family , and True Blood . Her memorable 2003 Star Trek: Enterprise role of Feezal, the alien scientist and second wife of Doctor Phlox, explored the concept of polyamory.
She had a supporting role in the 2004 film Promised Land , and the lead role in the 2006 film Sleeping Dogs Lie . She also appeared in the films Corporate Affairs (2008), Not Forgotten (2009), and God Bless America (2011).
On television, she had recurring roles in the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives as Sister Mary Bernard, a nun pursuing a married man, and on the AMC period drama Mad Men, as Anna Draper, polio survivor and widow of the man whose identity Don Draper stole in Korea. [3] She also guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice , and on several of the shows in the CSI franchise: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: NY , and CSI: Miami . She also appeared in HBO drama series Big Love from 2009 to 2010.
In 2013, Hamilton appeared as Odessa Burakov in the first two seasons of the Lifetime comedy-drama series Devious Maids , [1] [4] for which she adopted a Russian accent. [2] In 2015, she had recurring roles in the USA Network series Dig , [5] and the SundanceTV drama, Rectify . [6]
She had the recurring role of Special Agent Telesco in the ABC Drama series How to Get Away with Murder . She also appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series The Peripheral . [7]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Promised Land | Marisa | |
| 2006 | Sleeping Dogs Lie | Amy | Nominated - Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor |
| 2007 | Driftwood | Blaire Farrow | Short film |
| 2008 | Corporate Affairs | Chris | |
| 2009 | Not Forgotten | Deputy Mindy | |
| 2009 | The Horseman | Abigail Cooper | Short film |
| 2011 | God Bless America | Alison | |
| 2020 | M.O.M. (MOTHERS OF MONSTERS) | Abbey Bell |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Law & Order | Jane Spoonser | Episode: "Denial" |
| 2003 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Feezal | Episode: "Stigma" |
| 2004 | CSI: Miami | Julie Bryant | Episode: "Slow Burn" |
| 2004 | Everwood | Mary Kelly | Episode: "There Is a Reaction" |
| 2004 | Medical Investigation | Sarah Doyle | Episode: "Alienation" |
| 2005 | Numb3rs | Jennifer Nash | Episode: "Soft Target" |
| 2005 | Nip/Tuck | Colleen Eubanks | Episode: "Hannah Tedesco" |
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Kayla Stanfield / Tara Stanfield | Episode: "Bad Beat" |
| 2005–2006 | Desperate Housewives | Sister Mary Bernard | Three episodes |
| 2005–2007 | Cold Case | Janie Stillman | Episodes: "Revenge" and "Blood on the Tracks" |
| 2007 | Raines | Connie Webb | Episode: "5th Step" |
| 2007 | Ghost Whisperer | Jane Taylor | Episode: "Holiday Spirit" |
| 2008 | Criminal Minds | Claire Bates | Episode: "The Instincts" |
| 2008 | Without a Trace | Dr. Sally Moss | Episode: "Push Comes to Shove" |
| 2008–2010 | Mad Men | Anna Draper | Recurring role |
| 2009 | The Closer | Beth Gibson | Episode: "Good Faith" |
| 2009 | The Mentalist | Katie | Episode: "Crimson Casanova" |
| 2009 | Castle | Diana Harris | Episode: "Nanny McDead" |
| 2009 | Private Practice | Donna Keating | Episode: "What You Do for Love" |
| 2009 | Bones | Georgia Hartmeyer | Episode: "The Goop on the Girl" |
| 2009–2010 | Big Love | Malinda | Recurring role |
| 2010 | NCIS | Vanessa Tillman | Episode: "Ignition" |
| 2010 | The Glades | Sara Weston | Episode: "Cassadaga" |
| 2010 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Jennifer Stanley | Episode: "That's Me Trying" |
| 2011 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Jody Cambry | Episode: "The List" |
| 2011 | Law & Order: LA | Attorney | Episode: "Angel's Knoll" |
| 2012 | Modern Family | Sandy | Episode: "Election Day" |
| 2012 | True Blood | Jill Steeler | Episode: "Whatever I Am, You Made Me" |
| 2012 | Vegas | Ginny | Episode: "Estinto" |
| 2013–2014 | Devious Maids | Odessa Burakov | Recurring role |
| 2014 | Hart of Dixie | Marian | Episode: "Star of the Show" |
| 2014 | NCIS: New Orleans | Catherine Wilson | Episode: "Watch Over Me" |
| 2014 | Killer Women | DEA Agent | Episode: "Queen Bee" |
| 2014 | Masters of Sex | Anne Palmateer | Episode: "Kyrie Eleison" |
| 2015 | Dig | Sandra | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Jane the Virgin | Alexis Falco | Episode: "Chapter Eighteen" |
| 2015 | iZombie | Dr. Maddy Larson | Episode: "Astroburger" |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Ms. Bellings | Episode: "X Marks the Spot" |
| 2015 | True Detective | Gena's Attorney | Episode: "Other Lives" |
| 2015 | Rectify | Therapist | Episode: "Thrill Ride" |
| 2016 | Grimm | Joan Vark | Episode: "The Believer" |
| 2017–2018 | Damnation | Connie Nunn | Main cast |
| 2017–2019 | How to Get Away with Murder | Claire Telesco | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Mrs. America | Mary Frances | Recurring role, miniseries |
| 2020 | Messiah | Anna Iguero | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Dirty John | Kerry Wells | Episode: "Perception Is Reality" |
| 2022–present | The Peripheral | Ella | Main cast |
| 2024 | High Potential | Episode: "Dirty Rotten Scoundrel" |
