Mädchen Amick

Mädchen Amick ( ; born December 12, 1970) is an American actress and television director. She is known for her starring role as Shelly Johnson on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991), its prequel film '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992) and its revival television series '' Twin Peaks: The Return'' (2017). She appeared in the pilot episode of ''Baywatch'' (1989). She was a series regular on ''Central Park West'' (1995–1996), '' Freddie'' (2005–2006), and '' Witches of East End'' (2013–2014) and as Wendall Meade in '' ER'' (2004). In film, she had starring roles in '' Sleepwalkers'' (1992) and '' Dream Lover'' (1993). She also portrayed Alice Cooper on The CW's drama television series '' Riverdale'' (2017–2023).

Early life

Mädchen Elaina Amick was born in Sparks, Nevada, a city that borders Reno, the daughter of Judy (née Ross), a medical office manager, and Bill Amick, a musician. Amick's parents are of partial German descent; the name ''Mädchen'' (German for ''girl'') was chosen by her parents because they wanted an unusual name. She is also of Norwegian, Swedish, English and Irish descent. As a young girl, Amick was encouraged by her parents to follow her creative instincts. She learned to play the piano, bass, violin and guitar and took lessons in tap, ballet, jazz and modern dance. In 1987, at the age of 16, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.

Career

After moving to Los Angeles, Amick began her career with guest roles on '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1989) and ''Baywatch'' (1989). Amick got her first break when director David Lynch chose her to play waitress Shelly Johnson on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991). Amick's character endured physical abuse at the hands of her criminal husband, Leo, and was one of the most popular characters. Amick went on to work twice more with Lynch—reprising her role as Shelly in the prequel film '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992) and in seven episodes of the 2017 ''Twin Peaks'' revival series.

In 1990, Amick was cast as Mandy in '' Don't Tell Her It's Me'' and portrayed Amy in Tobe Hooper's horror film '' I'm Dangerous Tonight''. In 1991, Amick was cast in '' The Borrower''. In 1992, Amick portrayed the heroine Tanya Robertson in the Stephen King horror film '' Sleepwalkers''. The following year, she starred in the thriller film '' Love, Cheat & Steal'' (1993).

In 1993, Amick was cast as Lena Mathers in the feature film '' Dream Lover'', a thriller in which she co-starred with James Spader. In 1995, she and Spader were reunited in the TV movie '' The Courtyard''. That same year, Amick appeared in the romantic comedy '' French Exit''. In 1996, Amick was cast in the science fiction thriller ''Bombshell''. Amick's return to network television came in the fall of 1995 with the much-publicized CBS primetime soap opera ''Central Park West''. In 1997, she appeared in the film ''Wounded''. In 1998, Amick costarred for one season in the reboot of '' Fantasy Island'' on ABC alongside Malcolm McDowell.

After a decade of roles that failed to ignite the publicity ''Twin Peaks'' had, Amick gradually became a noticeable face in television with recurring roles on ''Gilmore Girls'', '' ER'', '' Jake in Progress'', and ''Joey''. In 2006, Amick was a regular in the sitcom '' Freddie'', which was subsequently canceled.

Amick guest-starred in a number of episodes of the serial thriller '' Kidnapped'' on NBC, playing a strange and deadly assassin. She also had a recurring role in the second season of ''Dawson's Creek'' as the lead character's substitute film studies teacher. In 2007, she had a lead role in the short-lived CBS musical series '' Viva Laughlin''.

Amick had a recurring role in season 2 of ''Gossip Girl'' as Nate Archibald's "cougar" love interest, and she also appears in the second season of the Showtime series ''Californication''. In 2008, Amick starred as Christian Slater's wife on the NBC series '' My Own Worst Enemy''. In 2010, Amick played Danielle Marchetti on the FX series ''Damages''.

In 2011, she appeared in the post-apocalyptic film ''Priest''. In 2013, Amick began starring in the Lifetime supernatural drama '' Witches of East End'' opposite Julia Ormond, Rachel Boston and Jenna Dewan. Amick's character Wendy Beauchamp was originally a guest star, but she became a permanent character after shooting the pilot episode. On August 6, 2015, Amick joined the cast of '' American Horror Story: Hotel'' as a mother whose son is ailing. Since 2017, Amick has starred as Alice Cooper, Betty Cooper's mother, on the CW television series '' Riverdale''.

Personal life

Amick married her boyfriend of 8 years David Alexis on December 16, 1995. Together they have two children: son Sylvester Time Amick-Alexis and daughter Mina Tobias Amick-Alexis (known professionally as Mina Tobias). Tobias, a musician, released her single "Freedom" in 2018, the music video for which pays homage to ''Twin Peaks''.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

References

External links

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Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amick, Madchen
Living people
1970 births
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
Actresses from Nevada
American film actresses
American people of English descent
American people of German descent
American people of Irish descent
American people of Norwegian descent
American people of Swedish descent
American television actresses
People from Sparks, Nevada