Alexa Havins

Alexa Havins

Havins at the San Diego Comic-Con International in 2011.
Born Alexa Carole Havins
(1980-11-16) November 16, 1980
Artesia, New Mexico, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 2003–present
Spouse(s) Justin Bruening (m. 2005)
Children 1

Alexa Carole Havins (born November 16, 1980) is an American actress. She first came to prominence in 2003, when she became the originating actor in the role of Babe Carey Chandler on the soap opera All My Children. Her role as the flawed but good Babe Carey earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2005 and recognition as being half of one of the show's most popular soap opera pairings.

Havins has made guest appearances in a number of television shows, as well as a number of independent films. In 2011, she joined the main cast for Torchwood's fourth series, Torchwood: Miracle Day, airing on BBC Worldwide and US premium television network Starz.[1]

Early life

Alexa Havins was born in Artesia, New Mexico on November 16, 1980. As a child and adolescent, she was raised in Chandler, Arizona, later attending Chandler High School.[2] Coincidentally, her mother often called her Babe. Her childhood nickname was the "Ice Maiden" because she was "deathly shy".[3]

Havins was first introduced to entertainment at age 3 when she discovered dancing.[4] At the age of five, she was already performing professionally with a jazz ensemble. However, it was not until she was discovered by renowned acting coach, Jean Fowler, who encouraged her move to New York City, that she began to turn her talent into a professional career.[5] There, she attended the prestigious Circle in the Square Theatre School, where her love for acting would develop. While in Los Angeles, California, Havins met and studied closely under the legendary acting coach Brian Reise. The two have remained close friends, and he continues to be a mentor to her to this day.[4]

Career

Before her role as Babe Carey Chandler on All My Children, Havins was a professional dancer.[2] She changed her focus to acting, carrying a principle with her: "Always hold on to your morals and values because this business can be very deceiving. I turned down a lot of things because there was nudity required," she said.[2]

During her time on the series, Havins earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series[2] and a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress.[6] In a baby switch storyline set into motion by two shows, All My Children and One Life to Live, she portrayed the character on One Life to Live as well.[2]

Other acting compliments include her character's romantic pairing with Jacob Young's JR Chandler, often cited for their romantic chemistry. "The on-screen chemistry she shares with Emmy-winning co-star Jacob Young is simply sizzling and truly magnetizing," stated soap opera site Soapcentral.[7] The two actors' dynamic as the pair made their characters well known in the top ten couples lists for one of today's most popular soap opera couples.[8]

While still on contract with All My Children, Havins appeared in films Joe Killionaire,[2] the 2004 horror-comedy by writer-director Sean Morton, Tracy Michele Tabb's 26-minute 2005 romantic comedy First Kiss,[2] Travis Betz's 2006 horror Joshua,[2] and Ash Christian's original off-beat 2006 comedy feature Fat Girls.[2]

In addition, Havins guest-starred in a June 2006 episode of FX's critically praised series Rescue Me,[2] as well as guest-starred on the pilot episode of On and Off, though this series was never aired.[2]

On stage, Havins received credit in a production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie,[2] where she portrayed Laura, the painfully shy girl who has a troubled relationship with her aging mother. She also portrayed the lead role of 12-year-old tomboy Frankie Addams, in the stage version of Carson McCullers' 1946 novel The Member of the Wedding.[2] Another project for Havins was the film Brooklyn Rules, a mob drama by Michael Corrente set in 1985 Brooklyn, which had a limited release on May 18, 2007, starring Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Mena Suvari and Scott Caan.[2] Havins was later busy with filming in Keith Schwebel's low-budget indie flick titled Desert Fox.[2]

On September 4, 2007, it was confirmed by Soap Opera Digest that Havins would be leaving All My Children and that actress Amanda Baker would be taking over the role.[9] Havins departed the show on October 8, 2007, to pursue other acting ventures.

In 2008, Havins appeared in the film 27 Dresses, starring Katherine Heigl of Grey's Anatomy fame. Havins portrayed a bride. She also appeared in the film Old Dogs.[10]

In 2011, Havins joined John Barrowman, Eve Myles and Mekhi Phifer as part of the main cast for Torchwood's fourth series, Torchwood: Miracle Day, airing on BBC Worldwide and US premium television network Starz.[1] She portrays character Esther Drummond, "an innocent, in a world of assassins, liars and zealots". She also filmed guest spots on CSI: NY and Grey's Anatomy. In July 2011 it was confirmed that Havins will return for several episodes of All My Children to be broadcast later in the year.[11]

Personal life

Havins is good friends with her former on-screen mother Bobbie Eakes. Since June 5, 2005, Havins has been married to her former All My Children co-star Justin Bruening. Bruening, who portrayed Jamie Martin, proposed to Havins following the taping of a scene where the character of Jamie proposes to Babe.[12] After husband Bruening left All My Children, Havins exited as well shortly after and the couple moved to Los Angeles.[10] On August 10, 2010, she and Bruening welcomed their first child, daughter Lexington Grace Bruening.[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Joe Killionaire Interviewed Fan
2004 Bank Brothers Store Owner Video
2005 First Kiss Samantha Short film
2006 Joshua Trish Unger
2006 Fat Girls Tina
2007 Brooklyn Rules Blonde
2008 27 Dresses Boat Bride
2008 Hancock Hot Fan
2009 How to Seduce Difficult Women Maureen
2009 Old Dogs Hot Waitress 2
2009 Desert Fox Daisy
2010 When in Rome Lacy
2011 Serving Justice Jill Daniels Short film
2013 Proxy Melanie Michaels

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Secret Lives Georgia Durante Episode: "Mafia Model"
2003 Reno 911! Gothic Kid Episode: "Halloween"
2003–05 One Life to Live Babe Chandler Recurring role (22 episodes)
2003–07 All My Children Babe Chandler Regular role (261 episodes)
2006 Rescue Me Talker Episode: "Discovery"
2008–09 Turbo Dates Sarah Main role (8 episodes)
2009 Cold Case Joannie Pogue (1967) Episode: "The Brush Man"
2009 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Elaine Beuliss Episode: "In Treatment"
2009 CSI: Miami Kim Hewitt Episode: "Dude, Where's My Groom?"
2011 CSI: NY Jessica Thompson Episode: "Party Down"
2011 Grey's Anatomy Danielle Episode: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
2011 Torchwood Esther Drummond Main role (10 episodes)
2011 All My Children Babe Chandler 2 episodes
2012 Castle Elle Daniels Episode: "Probable Cause"
2015 Constantine Linda Episode: "Angels and Ministers of Grace"
2015 The Astronaut Wives Club Pat White Episode: "In the Blind"

Awards and nominations

Awards won
Year Award
2005 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Younger Lead Actress in a Drama Series for All My Children[6]
Nominated
Year Award
2005 Daytime Emmy Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series for All My Children[3]
Pre-Nomination
Year Award
2004, 2005 Daytime Emmy Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series for All My Children[7]
2007 Daytime Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for All My Children[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Connelly, Brendon (7 January 2011). "The Plot Premise Of The New Torchwood (Plus Extra News On The Show, While We’re At It) – UPDATED WITH MORE". Bleeding Cool News. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Alexa Havins: AMC Babe". superiorpics.com. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  3. 1 2 "Soap Star Stats. Alexa Havins (Babe, AMC)". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  4. 1 2 "Alexa Havins' credits". alexahavins.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  5. ↑ "Alexa Havins At A Glance". Soapcentral. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "'All My Children' Finally Confirms Alexa Havins' Exit". buddytv.com. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
  7. 1 2 3 "About the actors: Alexa Havins". Soapcentral. Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  8. ↑ "Top 10 Couples list, showing Babe & JR at #7". Soaps in Depth. 2007-05-22.
  9. ↑ "Breaking News September 2007: AMC Confirms Havins' Exit, Names New Babe". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on 2007-09-18. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  10. 1 2 "Fans react to AMC's recast of Babe". www.soaps.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  11. ↑ Newcomb, Roger (19 July 2011). "ABC: Alexa Havens and Justin Bruening Return to ALL MY CHILDREN This September". We Love Soaps TV. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  12. ↑ "ALL MY CHILDREN Interview. Justin and Alexa. The Power Of Two". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  13. ↑ "Havins, Bruening welcome first child - All My Children". Soapcentral.
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