This page uses content from the Nancy Lee Grahn biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Nancy Lee Grahn (born April 28, 1956 in Skokie, Illinois) is an actress who has starred in such soap operas as Santa Barbara as Julia Wainwright Capwell from 1985 to 1993 and General Hospital as Alexis Davis since 1996. She attended the University of Illinois.

Early career

Grahn's parents were both involved with their local community theater in Skokie. As a freshman at the University of Illinois, she landed her first role, as Mimi in Guys and Dolls at the Goodman Rep Theater. Grahn had another early stage role in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Dallas Theatre Center.

Grahn subsequently went to New York City, where she studied acting with noted drama teacher Sandy Meisner. In New York, she appeared in commercials and also appeared in several industrial films; in an interview, Grahn recalled crossing paths with fellow future soap star Kim Zimmer at the production of several of those films. She also continued to perform in numerous plays, such as "Father's Day", and Two For The Seesaw, among many others.

Television roles

Grahn has made a number of appearances in episodic nighttime television, including Moonlighting, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Diagnosis: Murder, Perry Mason, The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider and Babylon 5. She has also been seen in the recurring role of Denise Fielding on Melrose Place, as Connie Dahlgren on Murder One, and, most recently, as Principal Russell on 7th Heaven.

Grahn has also had several roles on daytime dramas. Her first television role was as Beverly Wilkes, Marco Dane's secretary on ABC's One Life to Live from 1980 - 1982. In 1984, she was cast in what is perhaps her best known role, as headstrong lawyer Julia Wainwright on the now-defunct soap opera Santa Barbara. Julia was a departure from the traditional "damsel in distress" or vixen roles; she was an intelligent, uncompromising woman. Julia was paired with Mason Capwell, and the two had a Tracy/Hepburnesque romance. (In real life, Grahn was briefly involved with Mason's portrayer, actor Lane Davies; conflict over their storylines eventually led to Davies' departure from the show.) Grahn's performance garnered her a Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 1989; she won the award in a tie with actress Debbi Morgan. She portrayed the role until the show's cancellation in 1993.

In 1996, she was cast as Alexis Davis/Natasha Cassadine, another headstrong lawyer, on General Hospital, a role she has played ever since. She was nominated for several additional Daytime Emmys.

Awards & Nominations

• Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (1989)
• Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (2003, 2004, 2005)
• Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2000)
• Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
• Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Outstanding Supercouple (1991)
• Soap Opera Digest Award Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2000, 2001, 2003)
• Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actress (1993)
• Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Hottest Female Star (1993)

Other interests and achievements

• Grahn has a unique take on her fan club; she enlists interested fans to perform community service projects.
• She has been involved with the organization "Daytime for Choice" along with founder Heather Tom.
• Grahn was an active volunteer in the Clinton presidential campaigns.
• She has also chaired the Media Access Awards, which promotes realistic portrayals of disabilities in the media.
• In 2005, Grahn appeared in an episode of the Style Network's How Do I Look? where her sister was given a makeover. The show is hosted by former General Hospital star Finola Hughes.

External link

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