Bellamy Young

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, U.S.
Alma materYale University
Occupation(s)Actress, producer, singer
Years active1994–present
Spouse
Pedro Segundo
​
(m. 2020)​
Websitebellamyyoung.com

Bellamy Young (born Amy Maria Young; February 19, 1970)[1] is an American actress, producer and singer, best known for her role as Melody "Mellie" Grant in the ABC drama series Scandal (2012–2018). For her performance, she won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2014. She also starred in the Fox series Prodigal Son (2019–2021).

Early life

Young was born as Amy Maria Young[2] in Asheville, North Carolina, and was adopted. 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]

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

Career

1995–2011: Career's beginning and television

Young began her acting career in theatre. In 1997, she made her Broadway debut as Mary in the original cast of The Life.[8][9] She has also appeared Off-Broadway in Stephen Sondheim's musical Merrily We Roll Along (1994), and Randy Newman's Faust (1995–1996).[3][10] In 1995, she 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 the early 2000s 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: Scandal and new projects

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 in season two.[13][14] She later said that her part was originally conceived as a three episode 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, "In Mellie, the show has its most fleshed-out character and in Young, its most compelling performer."[16] She won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in season three.[22]

On May 15, 2015, Young released her first album, Far Away So Close, on iTunes.[23] In 2016, she starred in the crime drama film The Night Stalker directed by Megan Griffiths about the serial killer Richard Ramirez.[24][25] The following year, she had a supporting role in the independent comedy film Bernard and Huey opposite Jim Rash and David Koechner.[26][27] 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.[28] Also that year, she played a leading role in the ABC comedy-drama pilot False Profits.[29]

In March 2019, Young announced that she would be co-starring in the Fox drama pilot Prodigal Son opposite Michael Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Tom Payne.[30] In May, the show was green-lit for a series order and by October, had been picked up for a full 22-episode season order .[31] Prodigal Son was the first full season order of fall 2019 and was the highest-rated new show on any network.[32] Young guest-starred in the ABC crime drama Whiskey Cavalier and Netflix anthology Dolly Parton's Heartstrings in 2019.[33] In 2021, she guest-starred in the first episode of Fox series, Fantasy Island and starred in the CW reboot of The Waltons' Homecoming playing the role of Olivia Walton.

In 2022, Young starred in the ABC family drama series Promised Land, playing villainous Margaret Honeycroft.[34] The series was canceled after one season. In November 2022, she was cast in the Hulu mystery thriller series The Other Black Girl, a television adaptation of the 2021 novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris.[35] She also reprised her role as Olivia Walton in The Waltons' Thanksgiving.[36]

Personal life

Young has been vegan since 1988 and in 2016 participated in a campaign for PETA titled, "Being Vegan Keeps Me Young".[37] A long time supporter of shelter adoption, Young starred in two televised adverts for The Humane Society of the United States: 'The Shelter Pet Project' in 2015 and 'Honestly' in 2016.[38]

Young began dating Portuguese percussionist Pedro Segundo, nineteen years her junior, in September 2017.[39][40] During COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Young and Segundo married.[41]

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.[42] From August through November 2016, Young hit the campaign trail for Clinton and visited several states. 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.[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.[43][44]

A scholarship student herself, Young now endows a scholarship each year to a student at her alma mater, Yale University.[45] In 2019, she became an ambassador for the organization CARE and has continued to partner with the organisation.[46] For International Women's Day 2020, Young directed a PSA, for CARE; she appears as well as Kerry Washington, Shonda Rhimes, and Katie Lowes.[47]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Black and White Bellamy Uncredited
Picture This Monique
2001 Mission Sandy
2002 Swatters Mary Dolan
We Were Soldiers Catherine Metsker
2004 Larceny Kiki
2005 Darcy's Off-White Wedding Donatella Short film
2006 Eve of Understanding Cassie
Mission: Impossible III Rachael
2007 Simple Things Terry Hudson Also executive producer
Trust Me Carrie
2008 One, Two, Many Jennifer
This Is Not a Test Teresa
2009 Tender as Hellfire Cheryl Short film
2010 The Freebie Jessica
In My Sleep Olivia
Pound of Flesh Daniella Melville
2011 Joint Body Jane Chapman
2012 Last Day on Earth Pamala
The Cottage Annie Also executive producer
2015 Day Out of Days Rebecca
2016 Offer & Compromise Karen
The Night Stalker Kit Fellows [48]
2017 Bernard and Huey Aggie
2018 A Wrinkle in Time Camazotz Woman [49]
2020 Superman: Man of Tomorrow Martha Kent (voice)

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"
Nash Bridges Diana Carr Episode: "The Messenger"
The X-Files Attorney Janet Wilson Episode: "Redrum"
2001 The District Bethany Fortoro Episode: "To Serve and Protect"
ER Grace Episode: "If I Should Fall from Grace"
2002 Frasier Lisa Episode: "Three Blind Dates"
For the People Deputy Dist. Atty. Agnes Hunt Recurring role
2003 Peacemakers Twyla Gentry Main role, 9 episodes
American Dreams Diane Shaw Episodes: "Another Saturday Night", "Life's Illusions", "Rescue Me"
2004 The West Wing MaryLou Meriwether Episode: "The Stormy Present"
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"
Medium Kate Emery Episode: "Judge, Jury and Executioner"
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"
Grey's Anatomy Kathy Episodes: "The Other Side of This Life: Parts 1 & 2"
Boston Legal Cynthia Nichols Episode: "Beauty and the Beast"
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"
Knight Rider Amy Clark Television series
Mask of the Ninja Gina Television film
2009 Knight Rider Amy Clark Episode: "Fly by Knight"
Trust Me Carrie Taylor Episode: "But Wait, There's More"
Ghost Whisperer Lucy Stanton Episode: "Cursed"
Supernatural Sarah / Lucifer Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil"
2010 Edgar Floats Jennifer Wade TV pilot
Drop Dead Diva Emily Parcellas Episode: "The Long Road to Napa"
The Mentalist Melanie Ayers Episode: "Cackle-Bladder-Blood"
Law & Order: LA Monica Jarrow Episode: "Playa Vista"
2011 Working Class Brooke Episode: "The Dance"
United States of Tara Bridgette Episodes: "The Full F**k You Finger", "Wheels"
Castle Candace Ford Episode: "Pretty Dead"
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 Recurring role (season 1)
Main role (season 2-7); 118 episodes
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2014)
2014 Hell's Kitchen Herself Dining room guest, Season 13; Episode: "5 Chefs Compete"
2015 Jeopardy! Celebrity contestant[50]
2017 Lip Sync Battle Episode: "Matt McGorry vs. Bellamy Young"
2019 Whiskey Cavalier Karen Pappas Episode: "The Czech List"
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Myrna Jorgensen Episode: "Down from Dover"[51]
2019–2021 Prodigal Son Jessica Whitly Main role; 33 episodes
2021 The Waltons: Homecoming Olivia Walton Television film
Fantasy Island Christine Collins Episode: "Hungry Christine/Mel Loves Ruby"
2022 Promised Land Margaret Honeycroft Main role
A Waltons Thanksgiving Olivia Walton Television film
2023 The Other Black Girl Vera Parini Main role

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. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. 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. ^ Gonzalez, Sandra (October 17, 2011). "'Criminal Minds': Bellamy Young to guest star". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  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. ^ a b Rorke, Robert (2013-11-18). "'Scandal' co-star Bellamy Young shines in shocker". 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. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  18. ^ "How 'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Transformed Mellie Into Fans' Favorite Character". The Daily Beast. 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  19. ^ "Performers of the Week: Sons of Anarchy's Maggie Siff and Scandal's Bellamy Young". TVLine. 16 November 2013. 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. ^ "'Scandal' Recap, Season 3, Episode 7, 'Everything's Coming Up Mellie' – Speakeasy – WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  22. ^ Bacle, Ariana (May 28, 2014). "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the nominees are..." Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  23. ^ "Far Away So Close". iTunes. 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  24. ^ "'Scandal's Bellamy Young meets serial killer Richard Ramirez in 'The Night Stalker' clip — exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  25. ^ McNary, Dave (23 June 2015). "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Joins 'Night Stalker' Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "'Bernard and Huey': Film Review - Slamdance 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  28. ^ "Zach Galifianakis, Andre Holland hoe Join Disney's 'A Wrinkle in Time'". TheWrap. 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  29. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 31, 2018). "'False Profits' Not Going Forward At ABC, Shopped To Other Buyers".
  30. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2019-03-07). "Bellamy Young To Co-Star In Fox Drama Pilot 'Prodigal Son'". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  31. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2019-05-09). "Fox Picks Up 4 New Drama Series: 'Prodigal Son', 'Deputy', 'NeXt' & Weisman/Katims; What Does It Mean For Network's Bubble Dramas?". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  32. ^ "Prodigal Son Picked Up for Full Season at Fox | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  33. ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (February 11, 2019). "Sarah Shahi, Scandal's Bellamy Young, thirtysomething Alums and More Join Netflix's Dolly Parton Anthology".
  34. ^ Swift, Andy (January 12, 2022). "Promised Land Trailer: Bellamy Young Stirs Up Scandal in Wine Country".
  35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Rice, Lynette (November 3, 2022). "'The Other Black Girl': Eric McCormack & Bellamy Young Join Hulu Original Series From Onyx". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  36. ^ Hailu, Selome (May 4, 2022). "'The Waltons' Thanksgiving' Movie Set at CW with Bellamy Young, Logan Shroyer, Richard Thomas, Teddy Sears".
  37. ^ "Bellamy Young, Scandal, Interview 2015". The New Potato. 2013-10-02. Archived from the original on 2016-07-16. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  38. ^ "Humane Society TV Commercial, 'Honestly' Featuring Bellamy Young". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  39. ^ Young, Bellamy (2019-09-08). "Happy 2nd Anniversary to the kindest human I know. Every day I feel like the luckiest girl to get to love & be loved by you, @Pedro2Segundo . The most radiant light. Amor de minha vida. Thank you for another year of". @BellamyYoung. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  40. ^ "About Pedro". Pedro Segundo. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  41. ^ "Young married Segundo in 2020 after three years of dating. "I feel so indescribably lucky to get to share this life with you," Young wrote to Segundo via Instagram in celebration of their anniversary in September 2023". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  42. ^ Johnson, Ted (2016-04-11). "'Scandal' Stars to Raise Money for Hillary Clinton". Variety. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  43. ^ "Videos | The Huffington Post". HuffPost. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  44. ^ "Bellamy Young on Working with Chelsea Clinton, Being a Bill Clinton Fan". PEOPLE.com. 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  45. ^ "Scandal Star Bellamy Young Says Her Character Taught Her "Swagger"". InStyle.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  46. ^ Copelan, Christine (2019-03-11). "Here's Everything Scandal's Bellamy Young Saw While Working for Gender Equality in Rwanda". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  47. ^ "Scandal Stars Reunite for Important International Women's Day Message". E! News. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  48. ^ Dave McNary (2015-06-23). "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Joins 'Night Stalker' Movie – Variety". Variety. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  49. ^ "Zach Galifianakis, Andre Holland Join Disney's 'A Wrinkle in Time'". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  50. ^ Kelley, Seth (May 14, 2015). "Watch 'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Dominate 'Celebrity Jeopardy'". Variety. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  51. ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (February 11, 2019). "Sarah Shahi, Scandal's Bellamy Young, thirtysomething Alums and More Join Netflix's Dolly Parton Anthology". TVLine.
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