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Melissa Marie Benoist, born October 4, 1988[1], is an American actress and singer. She is known for her role as Kara Zor-El/Kara Danvers (Supergirl) on Supergirl along with other appearances in the Arrowverse franchise. She had a main role in Glee for two seasons.

Personal Life[]

Benoist was born to Jim and Julie Benoist[2] in Littleton, Colorado. She went to Arapahoe High School in Littleton.[2] In high school, Melissa felt like an outsider and was made fun of. She did a lot of extracurricular theater shows. She says she was a wallflower and spent a lot of time by herself, like eating lunch, but she was okay with it.[3] She graduated from Arapahoe in 2007.[4] Instead of attending graduation parties, she performed the play "Evita" with other cast members at the shut-down Country Dinner Playhouse.[5] She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2011.[6]

She was in a relationship with Glee co-star Blake Jenner with them becoming engaged in 2013. It was reported that the couple got married in 2015, however claims were reported that the couple married in 2013.[7][8][9][10] Benoist would file for divorce citing irreconcilable differences for the reason in December 2016 and it would be finalized in December 2017.[10]

She has been in a relationship with Chris Wood since 2017; the couple announced their engagement in February 2019.[11] They were married on September 1, 2019.[12] Their couple's son, Huxley Robert, was born in September 2020.[13]

Career[]

Melissa made her film debut in Tennessee. In May,[14] she auditioned for Glee in New York at the Roundabout Theatre Company. She sang different songs for her five auditions: "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor, "King of Anything"

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Melissa Benoist

by Sara Bareilles, a Colbie Caillat song, and some musical theater songs. In July,[14] she got two screen tests in California for Ryan Murphy, the casting directors, and executive producers. Because the creators had been looking for Marley for a long time, she started working the day she found out she got the job.[3][15]

She and Darren Criss appear with Josh Duhamel in the opening of the 2013 Kids' Choice Awards.[16]

She was chosen, along with fellow Glee cast members Jacob Artist, Dean Geyer, and Becca Tobin as an ambassador for Coca Cola's new product, P10 300 ml Coke Mismo.[17][18] In June 2013, they were flown to Manila, Philippines to endorse the product by visiting different malls and meeting with fans.[19][20]

She was recently cast in Imagine, an indie film. She will portray Jamie, a desk clerk at a hotel frequented by one of her favorite rock stars of all time.[21]

Benoist was announced, in January 2015, to be tapped to portray Kara Zor-El/Kara Danvers (Supergirl) in the CBS's series, Supergirl.[22]. The series migrated to Vancouver and the CW network for its second season.

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Tennessee Laurel (age 18)
2010 The Good Wife Molly ("Nine Hours")
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ava ("Wet")
Blue Bloods Renee ("Privilege")
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jessalyn Kerr ("Delicate")
2011 Homeland Stacy Moore ("Grace" and "Clean Skin")
2012 Glee Marley Rose 2012 - 2014, recurring/main role (35 episodes)
2014 Whiplash Nicole
2015 Band of Robbers Becky Thatcher
The Longest Ride Marcia
Danny Collins Jamie
Supergirl Kara Danvers/Supergirl 2015 - 2021, main role/director (126 episodes)
2016
Arrow 2016 - 2018, 2020 (5 episodes)
DC's Legends of Tomorrow 2016 - 2017, 2020 (3 episodes)
The Flash 2016 - 2019 (5 episodes)
Patriots Day Katherine Russell
Lowriders Lorelei
2017 Billy Boy Jennifer
Sun Dogs Tally Petersen
2018 Freedom Fighters: The Ray Overgirl voice
Waco Rachel Koresh miniseries (6 episodes)
2019 Batwoman Kara Danvers/Supergirl ("Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two")
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Chronic
The Stew Susan short
2020 Robot Chicken Laura/Malorie Hayes voice ("Sundancer Craig in: 30% of the Way to Crying")


Theatre[]

Year Title Role Notes
2000 The Sound of Music Little Brigitta[2] Town Hall Arts Center production
2006[23] Bye Bye Birdie Kim McAfee[24] Town Hall Arts Center production
2006 A Month in the Country Vera Town Hall Arts Center production
2006[24] A Chorus Line Bebe Town Hall Arts Center production
2007 Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella Title Character Town Hall Arts Center production
2007 Footloose Ariel[25] Town Hall Arts Center production
2007[26] Evita Peron's young mistress[27] Country Dinner Playhouse's final production
2009[28] Throughly Modern Millie Millie Dilmount Marymount Manhattan College production
2009[29] As You Like It Rosalind Marymount Manhattan College production
2011[30] The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown Kelly Goodspeed Musical production

Links and Social Networks[]

Quotes[]

I believe in making my opportunities and that I am responsible for my own future. I am going to be really careful about it and take it one step at a time, and hopefully it will turn out for the best. But I love it so much I don't think I would give it up for anything else.[2]

—Melissa Benoist

Trivia[]

  • She was a fan of Glee before she joined the cast.[3]
  • Like the character she portrays, she also comes from a single parent family.[3]
  • She went to Marymount Manhattan College[24] and graduated in 2011. Jenna Ushkowitz also attended, but graduated in 2007.[6]
  • She likes Marley's wardrobe.[3]
  • She has two sisters named Jessica and Kristina.
  • She likes singing classic jazz and would like to sing any Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, or Etta James. If she could sing a contemporary song, she would sing something by Mumford & Sons.[3]
  • She loves the song "At Last" by Etta James.[3]
  • Her passion lies in acting rather than singing and she is interested in doing movies.[3]
  • She hopes girls watching find strength in Marley's struggles.[3]
  • She loves female singer-songwriters.[3]
  • She is obsessed with Michael Fassbender.[31]
  • She saw Matthew Morrison on Broadway in New York. She loved his performance in "A Light in the Piazza."[24]
  • In 2006, she was one of Denver Post's five "Can't Miss Kids."[2]
  • As a teen, she performed anonymously at Disneyland for three summers with the Academy of Theatre Arts run by Paul Dwyer and Alann Worley in Littleton.[27]
  • She was in a relationship with Nicholas Vorderman, who is a photographer.[32]
  • She has three tattoos: a wolf on her left wrist, a feather and the word "free" on the back of her neck, and a bicycle on her left foot.[33]
  • Her dog Farley is something that always makes her feel better.[34]
  • She has always wanted to visit Rio de Janeiro and see the Amazon.[35]
  • One of her guilty pleasure songs is MMMBop by Hanson.[36]
  • She would choose Legolas over Gimli.[37]
  • Her first time overseas was to the Philippines as a Coca Cola ambassador.[20]
  • She and AnnaSophia Robb went to the same high school.[38] They were both up for Choice Television Breakout Star at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards.
  • The recording studio was her biggest obstacle when she first began the show. She had rarely used one before and found it challenging.[39]
  • She says she is terrible at athletics.[15]
  • Her best friends are Jacob and Becca (confirmed in an interview).
  • She is the second Glee actor to play a DC superhero (Supergirl) in her own show, following Grant Gustin.
    • Interestingly, the characters of Jake and Ryder sang Superman to her in Dynamic Duets. Supergirl is Superman's cousin in the comics.
  • She is the only alive former series regular not to appear in any form during the final season.
    • She was invited in the series finale for I Lived performance, but was unable to come due to her Supergirl commitment.
  • She was the first Glee actress to have an Oscar-winning film.
  • She is one of five actors in Glee to also be in Supergirl. The others are Blake Jenner, Peter Facinelli, Grant Gustin and Darren Criss.
  • She met both her ex-husband and current husband on television shows that they worked on and played romantic interests. (Blake Jenner - Glee, Chris Wood - Supergirl)

Gallery[]

Videos[]

References[]

  1. Melissa Benoist
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Can't miss kids September 2006.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Melissa Benoist Reveals How She Landed the Role of Marley Rose on 'Glee' November 2012.
  4. Congratulations, Arapahoe High School grads May 2007.
  5. Moore: "Evita" players make passionate exit May 2007.
  6. 6.0 6.1 From MMC to McKinley High: Alumna Melissa Benoist October 2012.
  7. Blake Jenner, Melissa Benoist Engaged: Glee Costars Set to Tie the Knot July 2013.
  8. Glee's Melissa Benoist and Blake Jenner Reveal Wedding Plans
  9. Melissa Benoist, Blake Jenner Are Married! Details on the Glee Costars' Secret Wedding
  10. 10.0 10.1 Supergirl's Melissa Benoist Files for Divorce From Blake Jenner
  11. Melissa Benoist Is Engaged to Her Supergirl Costar Chris Wood: 'It Will Always Be Yes'
  12. Supergirl Stars Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood Are Married
  13. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFkh__nH-Va/?igshid=2sqmlsna1btl
  14. 14.0 14.1 Who Is Melissa Benoist? All About Glee Season 4's Marley November 2012.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Q&A: Melissa Benoist on Glee December 2012.
  16. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYVPmXZGi2k March 2013.
  17. The Cast of GLEE FOR COKE June 2013.
  18. SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED: COKE LAUNCH WITH GLEE STARS June 2013.
  19. ‘Glee’ cast members invade 3 malls June 2013.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Newest ‘Glee’ stars overwhelmed by Pinoys’ welcome June 2013.
  21. Melissa Benoist Joins ‘Imagine’; Natalie Dormer Cast In ‘Posh’; Carter Jenkins Leads ‘Skate God’
  22. ['Supergirl': Melissa Benoist 'Glee' as CBS' 'Supergirl' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/supergirl-melissa-benoist-glee-whiplash-754208]
  23. “Glee” fans: Meet Melissa Benoist in photos, video August 2012.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Transcript: Melissa Benoist talks with glee about "Glee" September 2012.
  25. Review: "Footloose" March 2007.
  26. Not Found
  27. 27.0 27.1 "Glee" adds a new cast member from Colorado: Melissa Benoist September 2012.
  28. Gimme Gimmie from MILLIE at MMC May 2009.
  29. Act 3 Scene 2 (Part 2) from AS YOU LIKE IT at MMC April 2010.
  30. Meghann Fahy Is Samantha Brown in New Goodspeed Musical; Andrew Durand, Stephen Bogardus Co-Star August 2011.
  31. 2012 Breakout Stars: Melissa Benoist Pulls Back the Glee Curtain December 2012.
  32. Does Glee’s Melissa Benoist Have a Boyfriend? October 2012.
  33. Tattoos
  34. @laristocco_ my pup, Farley. #girlsbestfriend September 2012.
  35. @leo_barros3 I've always wanted to visit Rio de Janeiro & would love to see the Amazon. September 2012.
  36. @KalanaFalana @gleeks Mine too mine too mine too!!! WHY did we not enter hanson-world?! March 2013.
  37. @MelissaBenFans tough call... BUT i'd have to say Legolas. :) i mean, elves are pretty badass. #superdweebandidontcarewhoknowsit August 2012.
  38. How bout this for a small world... #melissabenoist & I both went to the same high school! & now both #TCA noms.... July 2013.
  39. Glee's New Girls on Rachel-Quinn Comparisons, Rivalries, and Being "Thrown in the Deep End" September 2012.
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