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Bellamy Young

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Bellamy Young
Young at the premiere of Divergent in 2014
Born
Amy Maria Young

(1970-02-19) February 19, 1970 (age 54)
Asheville, North Carolina
Alma materYale University
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1994–present
WebsiteOfficial Website

Bellamy Young (born Amy Maria Young; February 19, 1970)[1] is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as President Melody "Mellie" Grant in the ABC drama series Scandal (2012–2018). In 2014, for her portrayal of Mellie, Young won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Early life

Young was born as Amy Maria Young[2] in Asheville, North Carolina, and raised by adoptive parents. She changed her name to join the Screen Actors Guild since there was another Amy Young registered,[3] and chose the name Bellamy as a tribute to her late father's best friend, Bill, who had helped to raise her after her father died.[4]

She graduated from Asheville School in 1987.[5] She attended Yale University, majoring initially in Physics but ultimately studying English and Theatre, and graduated in 1991.[6] Young spent a summer during college at the British American Drama Academy in England.[7]

Career

1995–2011

Young began her acting career in theatre. In the 1990s, she performed in a number of Broadway shows including the original production of The Life.[8][9] On Off-Broadway, Young appeared on Stephen Sondheim's musical Merrily We Roll Along (1994), and Randy Newman's Faust (1995–1996).[3][10] In 1995, Young made her television debut in a recurring role on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World as Dr. Courtney Evans.[7] She guest-starred on Law & Order in 1997 and 1998, in two different roles. In 1999 she made her film debut with a small role in the crime drama Black and White and later co-starred in several independent films. In 2000's she began appearing in guest-starring roles on a number of television dramas and comedies, including The Drew Carey Show, The X Files, ER, Frasier, The West Wing, NCIS, Medium, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Two and a Half Men, Supernatural, Drop Dead Diva, and Castle. From 2000 to 2011, Young made over 30 guest appearances on television shows.

Young was a regular cast member in the USA Network series Peacemakers in 2003. The show was cancelled after one season of nine episodes. She had recurring roles in the Lifetime legal drama series For the People as Deputy Dist. Atty. Agnes Hunt in 2002, on NBC period drama American Dreams as Diane Shaw in 2003, on NBC's Scrubs as Dr. Grace Miller in 2004, as Assistant State Attorney Monica West on CBS's CSI: Miami (2005–06), and on ABC primetime soap opera Dirty Sexy Money (2008–2009) as Ellen Darling, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Darling family. She also had a recurring role in Criminal Minds as Beth Clemmons from 2011 to 2013.[11][12]

Young at an event in October 2014

Young has appeared in supporting roles in a number of films, including We Were Soldiers (2002) and Mission: Impossible III (2006), along with independent movies like Larceny (2004), Eve of Understanding (2006), Trust Me (2007), This Is Not a Test (2008), In My Sleep (2010), The Freebie (2010), and Joint Body (2014).

2012–present

Young attending the 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner

In 2011 Shonda Rhimes cast Young in the recurring role of First Lady, then 2016 Republican Presidential nominee, Melody "Mellie" Grant on the ABC political thriller television series Scandal opposite Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn. Before Scandal, Young appeared in Shonda Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. She appeared in every episode of the first season of Scandal and was upgraded to a series regular as of season two.[13][14] Young later said that originally her part was a minor role for the three episode recurring arc.[15]Young has received critical acclaim for her performance as Melody Grant throughout her time on the show .[16][17] The Daily Beast named her the "Breakout Star" of the show in 2014.[18] Many critics praised Young's performance in her character's centered episode "Everything's Coming Up Mellie" of the third season.[19][20] Cicely K. Dyson's review for The Wall Street Journal states: "Bellamy Young has been an amazing scene stealer for two-and-a-half seasons, and this time she finally got her chance to shine."[21] Robert Rorke, writing for The New York Post, states that, "In Mellie, the show has its most fleshed-out character and in Young, its most compelling performer."[22] She won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in season three.[23] She also participated in an online Unmute conference call with thousands of her fans.[24]

On May 15, 2015, Young released her first album, Far Away So Close, on iTunes.[25] The 10-song album covers songs from Pink to Fleetwood Mac.

In 2016, she starred in the crime drama film The Night Stalker directed by Megan Griffiths about the serial killer Richard Ramirez.[26][27] The following year, she had a supporting role in the independent comedy film 'Bernard and Huey opposite Jim Rash and David Koechner.[28][29]

In 2018, she co-starred in Disney's live action adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time, along with Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling.[30] Also in 2018, after seven seasons in Scandal, Young was cast in her first leading series television role in the ABC comedy-drama pilot False Profits.[31][32] The series is described as Desperate Housewives meets Glengarry Glen Ross.[33] By May, the "buzzy hourlong" pilot was not picked up, but received an order for more scripts and is in consideration for a midseason pickup.[34]

Personal life

Young has been vegan since 1988 and in 2016 participated in a campaign for PETA titled, "Being Vegan Keeps Me Young".[35][36] A long time supporter of shelter adoption, Young starred in 2 televised adverts for The Humane Society of the United States: 'The Shelter Pet Project' in 2015 and 'Honestly' in 2016.[37]

Young performing at the National Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington, D.C. in December 2015

Young is a registered Democrat. Along with several of her Scandal cast mates, Young headlined at a fundraiser event for Hillary Clinton in April 2016.[38] From August through November 2016, Young hit the campaign trail for Clinton and visited Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. As part of the Obama administration legacy, in 2016, Young appeared in 'Women Film' by The United States of Women along with several other public figures such as Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey.[citation needed] After performing at the 2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting, it was announced that in 2016 Young would be co-ambassador, along with Chelsea Clinton, of the Trust for the National Mall.[39][40]

Young is the honorary chair for the domestic violence nonprofit organization 'Helpmate' and has helped raise funds for victims of domestic violence.[41] In 2015, Young won Celebrity Jeopardy! and as a result won $50,000 for Operation Blankets of Love – a charity which donates blankets to animals in shelters.[citation needed]

As a teenager, Young began to suffer from migraines and still suffers from them to this day. She became a partner with GlaxoSmithKline for Treximet, in 2015, to spread migraine awareness.[42] Young partnered with Merck & Co., in November 2016, to help educate people on the importance of biomarker testing in non-small cell lung cancer, the disease that killed her adopted father.[43]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Black and White Bellamy Uncredited
1999 Picture This Monique
2001 Mission Sandy
2002 Swatters Mary Dolan
2002 We Were Soldiers Catherine Metsker
2004 Larceny Kiki
2005 Darcy's Off-White Wedding Donatella Short film
2006 Eve of Understanding Cassie
2006 Mission: Impossible III Rachael
2007 Simple Things Terry Hudson Also executive producer
2007 Trust Me Carrie
2008 One, Two, Many Jennifer
2008 This Is Not a Test Teresa
2009 Tender as Hellfire Cheryl Short film
2010 The Freebie Jessica
2010 In My Sleep Olivia
2010 Pound of Flesh Daniella Melville
2011 Joint Body Jane Chapman
2012 Last Day on Earth Pamala
2012 The Cottage Annie Also executive producer
2015 Day Out of Days Rebecca
2016 Offer & Compromise Karen
2016 The Night Stalker Kit Fellows [44]
2017 Bernard and Huey Aggie
2018 A Wrinkle in Time Camazotz Woman [45]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Another World Dr. Courtney Evans Recurring role
1997 Law & Order Ellen O'Brien Episode: "Blood"
1998 Law & Order Stephanie Harker Episode: "True North"
2000 The Drew Carey Show Bridget Episode: "The Gang Stops Drinking"
2000 Nash Bridges Diana Carr Episode: "The Messenger"
2000 The X-Files Attorney Janet Wilson Episode: "Redrum"
2001 The District Bethany Fortoro Episode: "To Serve and Protect"
2001 ER Grace Episode: "If I Should Fall from Grace"
2002 Frasier Lisa Episode: "Three Blind Dates"
2002 For the People Deputy Dist. Atty. Agnes Hunt Recurring role
2003 Peacemakers Twyla Gentry Main role, 9 episodes
2003 American Dreams Diane Shaw Episodes: "Another Saturday Night", "Life's Illusions", "Rescue Me"
2004 The West Wing MaryLou Meriwether Episode: "The Stormy Present"
2004 NCIS A.T.F. Special Agent Melinda Stone Episode: "Split Decision"
2004, 2009 Scrubs Dr. Miller Recurring role, 6 episodes
2004 Strong Medicine Erin Berman Episode: "Code"
2005 North Shore Mrs. Lasser Episode: "Shark"
2005 Medium Kate Emery Episode: "Judge, Jury and Executioner"
2005 Vision of a Murder Tina Moore Television film
2005–2006 CSI: Miami Assistant State Attorney Monica West Recurring role, 6 episodes
2007 Close to Home Sarah Paulson Episode: "Road Rage"
2007 Grey's Anatomy Kathy Episodes: "The Other Side of This Life: Parts 1 & 2"
2007 Boston Legal Cynthia Nichols Episode: "Beauty and the Beast"
2007 Private Practice Kathy Episode: "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole"
2007 Cold Case Audrey Metz (1938) Episode: "World's End"
2007–2008 Dirty Sexy Money Ellen Darling Recurring role, 9 episodes
2008 Two and a Half Men Diane Episode: "The Mooch at the Boo"
2008 Knight Rider Amy Clark Episode: "Knight Rider"
2008 Mask of the Ninja Gina Television film
2009 Knight Rider Amy Clark Episode: "Fly by Knight"
2009 Trust Me Carrie Taylor Episode: "But Wait, There's More"
2009 Ghost Whisperer Lucy Stanton Episode: "Cursed"
2009 Supernatural Sarah / Lucifer Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil"
2010 Edgar Floats Jennifer Wade TV pilot
2010 Drop Dead Diva Emily Parcellas Episode: "The Long Road to Napa"
2010 The Mentalist Melanie Ayers Episode: "Cackle-Bladder-Blood"
2010 Law & Order: LA Monica Jarrow Episode: "Playa Vista"
2011 Working Class Brooke Episode: "The Dance"
2011 United States of Tara Bridgette Episodes: "The Full F**k You Finger", "Wheels"
2011 Castle Candace Ford Episode: "Pretty Dead"
2011 The Protector Skylar Brenn Episode: "Wings"
2011–2013 Criminal Minds Beth Clemmons Recurring role, 7 episodes
2012 Franklin & Bash Margaret Pollack Episode: "L'affaire Du Coeur"
2012–2018 Scandal Melody "Mellie" Grant Main role
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2014)
2014 Hell's Kitchen Herself Dining room guest, Season 13 Episode 14: "5 Chefs Compete"

Theatre

Year Production Role Notes
1997 The Life Mary Ethel Barrymore Theatre

References

  1. ^ "Bellamy Young". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Bellamy Young on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Bellamy Young: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  4. ^ Gomez, Patrick. "Bellamy Young Opens Up About Being Adopted, Her Real First Name and How She Almost Missed Out on Scandal". Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Notable Alumni". Asheville School. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  6. ^ "Yale Class of 1991". Alumninet.yale.edu. 2000-05-23. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  7. ^ a b "Bellamy Young Biography". BuddyTV. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  8. ^ Canby, Vincent (5 October 1997). "SUNDAY VIEW; Why Whisper About It? 'The Life' Is a Joy". The New York Times. p. 5.
  9. ^ Brantley, Ben (28 April 1997). "Lively Women, but Very Tired". The New York Times. p. 12.
  10. ^ Brantley, Ben (26 October 1996). "Two Takes on the Devil: The Charms of the Seedy Give Way to Sunday Best". The New York Times. p. 15.
  11. ^ Sandra Gonzalez (October 17, 2011). "'Criminal Minds': Bellamy Young to guest star". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  12. ^ Sadie Gennis (July 28, 2012). "Bellamy Young Returns to Criminal Minds". TV Guide. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  13. ^ Lesley Goldberg (June 12, 2012). "'Scandal' Ups Bellamy Young to Series Regular for Season 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  14. ^ Natalie Abrams (June 12, 2012). "Scandal Scoop: Bellamy Young Promoted to Series Regular". TV Guide. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  15. ^ "Emmys: 'Scandal's' Bellamy Young on Finding Inspiration in Michelle Obama". The Hollywood Reporter. 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  16. ^ Rorke, Robert (2013-11-18). "'Scandal' co-star Bellamy Young shines in shocker | New York Post". Nypost.com. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  17. ^ Porter, Rick. "'Scandal's' Bellamy Young wins Critics' Choice Award: Score one for Team Mellie – Zap2it | News & Features". Zap2it. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  18. ^ 04.17.14. "How 'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Transformed Mellie Into Fans' Favorite Character". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2014-06-20. {{cite web}}: |author= has numeric name (help)
  19. ^ Team TVLine. "Performers of the Week: Sons of Anarchy's Maggie Siff and Scandal's Bellamy Young". TVLine. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  20. ^ "'Scandal's' Bellamy Young on Her Flashback Episode: 'Seismic Turns' and Mellie's 'Wrecking Ball' Exposed". The Hollywood Reporter. 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  21. ^ Nov 14, 2013 (2013-11-14). "'Scandal' Recap, Season 3, Episode 7, 'Everything's Coming Up Mellie' – Speakeasy – WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-06-20.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Rorke, Robert (2013-11-17). "'Scandal' co-star Bellamy Young shines in shocker | New York Post". Nypost.com. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  23. ^ Bacle, Ariana. "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the nominees are...; Entertainment Weekly". insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  24. ^ Kosoff, Maya (14 January 2016). "A startup that's actually getting teens to talk on the phone again just raised $2.2 million". Business Insider. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Far Away So Close". iTunes. 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  26. ^ "'Scandal's Bellamy Young meets serial killer Richard Ramirez in 'The Night Stalker' clip — exclusive". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  27. ^ McNary, Dave (23 June 2015). "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Joins 'Night Stalker' Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  28. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (26 January 2018). "'Bernard And Huey' Cast On How The Film's Portrayal Of Equality Is "Right On Time"- Sundance Studio". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  29. ^ "'Bernard and Huey': Film Review - Slamdance 2018". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  30. ^ "Zach Galifianakis, Andre Holland hoe Join Disney's 'A Wrinkle in Time'". TheWrap. 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  31. ^ "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Nabs Lead Role in ABC Drama Pilot". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  32. ^ Petski, Nellie Andreeva, Denise (22 February 2018). "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young To Topline ABC Comedic Soap Pilot 'False Profits'". Retrieved 25 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ Nemetz, Dave (22 February 2018). "Scandal's Bellamy Young to Headline ABC Comedic Soap False Profits". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 11, 2018). "'False Profits': ABC Drama Pilot Gets Order For More Scripts, Extends Cast". Deadline.
  35. ^ "Bellamy Young, Scandal, Interview 2015". The New Potato. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  36. ^ "Actor Bellamy Young Delights in Rewards of Vegan Living". PETA. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  37. ^ "Humane Society TV Commercial, 'Honestly' Featuring Bellamy Young". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  38. ^ Johnson, Ted (2016-04-11). "'Scandal' Stars to Raise Money for Hillary Clinton". Variety. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  39. ^ "Videos | The Huffington Post". Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  40. ^ "Bellamy Young on Working with Chelsea Clinton, Being a Bill Clinton Fan". PEOPLE.com. 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  41. ^ Doty, Kelly. "Hundreds attend high tea to raise money for Helpmate". Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  42. ^ Carstensen, Melinda (2015-06-25). "'Scandal' actress reveals battle with debilitating condition". Fox News. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  43. ^ "Actress Bellamy Young, Merck, and Leading Lung Cancer Advocates Urge Those Impacted by Lung Cancer to Test. Talk. Take Action. | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  44. ^ Dave McNary (2015-06-23). "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Joins 'Night Stalker' Movie – Variety". Variety. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  45. ^ "Zach Galifianakis, Andre Holland Join Disney's 'A Wrinkle in Time'". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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