Jessica Capshaw

Jessica Capshaw

Jessica Capshaw (2015)
Born Jessica Brooke Capshaw
August 9, 1976
Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Alma mater Brown University
Occupation Actress
Years active 1997–present
Spouse(s) Christopher Gavigan (2004–present)
Children 3
Parent(s) Kate Capshaw
Relatives Steven Spielberg (stepfather)
Sasha Spielberg (half-sister)
Theo Spielberg (adopted brother)

Jessica Brooke Capshaw (born August 9, 1976) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Jamie Stringer in The Practice and Dr. Arizona Robbins on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. She was introduced in the latter show's fifth season as an attending surgeon and the new head of pediatric surgery.[1] Originally contracted to appear in three episodes, Capshaw's contract was extended to the remainder of the fifth season, with her becoming a series regular in the sixth season.

Early life

Capshaw was born in Columbia, Missouri, the daughter of actress and producer Kate Capshaw, and Robert Capshaw, a sales manager, marketing director, business executive, and high school principal.[2] She is the stepdaughter of director Steven Spielberg.[3] She graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in 1994 and Brown University in 1998[4] with an English degree. She then attended acting classes at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London.[1]

Career

In the 2001 slasher film Valentine, Capshaw played Dorothy Wheeler. In 2009, she became a regular on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. It was first reported in December 2008 that Capshaw would be joining the cast of Grey's Anatomy as pediatric surgeon Arizona Robbins, for a multi-episode arc.[5] Initially scheduled to appear in three episodes of the show's fifth season, series creator Shonda Rhimes later extended Capshaw's contract to appear in all of the season's remaining episodes,[6] becoming a series regular in the sixth season.[7]

She was established as a love-interest for orthopedic resident Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez). Series creator Shonda Rhimes was pleased with the chemistry between Robbins and Torres, citing the addition of Capshaw to the cast as an element of the season of which she was most proud. Speaking of the new addition, Rhimes said: "I love Jessica Capshaw, and when I say love I mean love. She couldn't be a more wonderful person, and I feel like the chemistry Arizona and Callie have feels like the Meredith and Derek chemistry to me. I find them delightful to watch."[8] Initial media reaction to the character was positive. Matt Mitovich of TV Guide described her as a "fan favorite", and Chris Monfette for IGN praised the addition of "fresh, new characters", such as Robbins over the course of the season.[9][10][11]

Personal life

Capshaw married Christopher Gavigan, a children's environmental health advocate and co-founder of The Honest Company, on May 22, 2004 at her family's East Hampton estate.[12] Capshaw has three children with her husband: son Luke Hudson (born September 8, 2007) [13] and daughters Eve Augusta (born October 20, 2010),[14] and Poppy James (born June 20, 2012).[15] Capshaw is best friends with Rizzoli & Isles star Sasha Alexander. The pair were repeatedly told they looked alike and eventually struck up conversation after meeting at an audition.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 The Locusts Patsy
1998 Denial Marcia
1999 The Love Letter Kelly
2000 Killing Cinderella Beth
2000 Big Time Claire Short film
2001 Valentine Dorothy Wheeler
2002 The Mesmerist Daisy Valdemar
2002 Minority Report Evanna
2003 View from the Top Royalty International Flight Attendant Uncredited
2006 The Groomsmen Jen
2007 Blind Trust Cassie Stewart
2014 The Hero of Color City Duck

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 ER Sally McKenna 1 episode: "Rites of Spring"
1999-2000 Odd Man Out Aunt Jordan Main cast
13 episodes
2001 The Back Page TV Movie
2002-2004 The Practice Jamie Stringer Main cast
Season 7 & 8; 42 episodes
2005 Into the West Rachel Wheeler 1 episode: "Manifest Destiny"
2006 Thick and Thin Mary Unaired
2006 Bones Rebecca Stinson 2 episodes: "Mother and Chlid in the Bay", "The Truth in the Lye"
2007 The L Word Nadia Karella 3 episodes: "Livin' La Vida Loca", "Lassoed", "Layup"
2009 Head Case 1 episode: "Tying the Not"
2009-present Grey's Anatomy Dr. Arizona Robbins Recurring cast (season 5)
series regular (season 6-present)
2010 One Angry Juror Sarah Walsh TV Movie

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Character Bios". ABC.com. Retrieved 2009.
  2. ↑ Jessica Capshaw Biography (1976–) at Film Reference
  3. ↑ Jessica Capshaw - IMDB bio
  4. ↑ "Reunion Report 1998". Brown Alumni Magazine. July–August 2003.
  5. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (December 3, 2008). "'Grey's Anatomy' Exclusive: Eric Stoltz lands killer role". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  6. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (February 26, 2009). "'Grey's' exclusive: Jessica Capshaw inks contract!". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  7. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (June 17, 2009). "Exclusive: 'Grey's Anatomy' promotes Jessica Capshaw". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  8. ↑ Marsi, Steve. "Jessica Capshaw Promoted to Full Time Cast Member". TV Fanatic. SheKnows Entertainment. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  9. ↑ Mitovich, Matt (June 19, 2009). "ABC Makes It Official: Heigl Is Staying on Grey's". TV Guide. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  10. ↑ Monfette, Chris (May 29, 2009). "Grey's Anatomy: Season 5 Review". IGN. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  11. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (May 15, 2009). "Exclusive: 'Grey's' boss on finale's Izzie-George shocker, Mer-Der 'wedding,' and more!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Christopher Gavigan". Penguin.com.
  13. ↑ http://celebritybabies.people.com/2007/10/03/jessica-capshaw/
  14. ↑ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20438253,00.html
  15. ↑ http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/06/21/jessica-capshaw-christopher-gavigan-welcome-daughter-poppy-james/

External links