Melinda Page Hamilton

Summary

Melinda Page Hamilton (born August 22, 1974) is an American actress, best known for her role as Odessa Burakov in the Lifetime comedy-drama series Devious Maids, and for her leading role in the independent film Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006). She has had recurring roles on Desperate Housewives, Mad Men, and Big Love.

Melinda Page Hamilton
Born (1974-08-22) August 22, 1974 (age 49)
New York City, U.S.
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
New York University (MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
Children1

Life and career edit

Hamilton was born in New York City.[1] She attended Princeton University and later the Tisch School of the Arts in New York University.[2] She starred in a number of theatre productions, including as the title character in the original stage production of Cornelia, written by Mark V. Olsen.[2] She made her television debut in the episode of NBC legal drama Law & Order in 1997, and as of 2003 began playing regular guest-star roles in shows like Star Trek: Enterprise, Nip/Tuck, Ghost Whisperer, Criminal Minds, The Closer, Castle, NCIS, Modern Family and True Blood.

Her memorable 2003 Star Trek: Enterprise role of Feezal, the alien scientist and second wife of Doctor Phlox, explored the concept of polyamory.

She had a supporting role in the 2004 film Promised Land, and the lead role in the 2006 film Sleeping Dogs Lie. She also appeared in the films Corporate Affairs (2008), Not Forgotten (2009) and God Bless America (2011).

On television, she had recurring roles in the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives as Sister Mary Bernard, a nun pursuing a married man; and on the AMC period drama Mad Men, as Anna Draper, polio survivor and widow of the man whose identity Don Draper stole in Korea.[3] She also guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice, and on all of the shows in the CSI franchise: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: NY, and CSI: Miami. She also appeared in HBO drama series Big Love from 2009 to 2010.

In 2013, Hamilton appeared as Odessa Burakov in the first two seasons of the Lifetime comedy-drama series Devious Maids,[1][4] for which she perfected a Russian accent.[2] In 2015, she had recurring roles in the USA Network series Dig,[5] and the SundanceTV drama, Rectify.[6]

She had the recurring role of Special Agent Telesco in the ABC Drama series How To Get Away With Murder. She appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series The Peripheral.[7]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Promised Land Marisa
2006 Sleeping Dogs Lie Amy Nominated - Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor
2007 Driftwood Blaire Farrow Short film
2008 Corporate Affairs Chris
2009 Not Forgotten Deputy Mindy
2009 The Horseman Abigail Cooper Short film
2011 God Bless America Alison
2020 M.O.M. (MOTHERS OF MONSTERS) Abbey Bell

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Law & Order Jane Spoonser Episode: "Denial"
2003 Star Trek: Enterprise Feezal Episode: "Stigma"
2004 CSI: Miami Julie Bryant Episode: "Slow Burn"
2004 Everwood Mary Kelly Episode: "There Is a Reaction"
2004 Medical Investigation Sarah Doyle Episode: "Alienation"
2005 Numb3rs Jennifer Nash Episode: "Soft Target"
2005 Nip/Tuck Colleen Eubanks Episode: "Hannah Tedesco"
2005 CSI: NY Kayla Stanfield / Tara Stanfield Episode: "Bad Beat"
2005–2006 Desperate Housewives Sister Mary Bernard 3 episodes
2005–2007 Cold Case Janie Stillman Episodes: "Revenge" and "Blood on the Tracks"
2007 Raines Connie Webb Episode: "5th Step"
2007 Ghost Whisperer Jane Taylor Episode: "Holiday Spirit"
2008 Criminal Minds Claire Bates Episode: "The Instincts"
2008 Without a Trace Dr. Sally Moss Episode: "Push Comes to Shove"
2008–2010 Mad Men Anna Draper Recurring role
2009 The Closer Beth Gibson Episode: "Good Faith"
2009 The Mentalist Katie Episode: "Crimson Casanova"
2009 Castle Diana Harris Episode: "Nanny McDead"
2009 Private Practice Donna Keating Episode: "What You Do for Love"
2009 Bones Georgia Hartmeyer Episode: "The Goop on the Girl"
2009–2010 Big Love Malinda Recurring role
2010 NCIS Vanessa Tillman Episode: "Ignition"
2010 The Glades Sara Weston Episode: "Cassadaga"
2010 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Jennifer Stanley Episode: "That's Me Trying"
2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jody Cambry Episode: "The List"
2011 Law & Order: LA Attorney Episode: "Angel's Knoll"
2012 Modern Family Sandy Episode: "Election Day"
2012 True Blood Jill Steeler Episode: "Whatever I Am, You Made Me"
2012 Vegas Ginny Episode: "Estinto"
2013–2014 Devious Maids Odessa Burakov Recurring role
2014 Hart of Dixie Marian Episode: "Star of the Show"
2014 NCIS: New Orleans Catherine Wilson Episode: "Watch Over Me"
2014 Killer Women DEA Agent Episode: "Queen Bee"
2014 Masters of Sex Anne Palmateer Episode: "Kyrie Eleison"
2015 Dig Sandra Recurring role
2015 Jane the Virgin Alexis Falco Episode: "Chapter Eighteen"
2015 iZombie Dr. Maddy Larson Episode: "Astroburger"
2015 The Whispers Ms. Bellings Episode: "X Marks the Spot"
2015 True Detective Gena's Attorney Episode: "Other Lives"
2015 Rectify Therapist Episode: "Thrill Ride"
2017–2018 Damnation Connie Nunn Main cast
2017–2019 How to Get Away with Murder Claire Telesco Recurring role
2020 Mrs. America Mary Frances Recurring role, miniseries
2020 Messiah Anna Iguero Recurring role
2020 Dirty John Kerry Wells Episode: "Perception Is Reality"
2022–present The Peripheral Ella Main cast

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Melinda Page Hamilton as Odessa Burakov". Lifetime. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Melinda Page Hamilton Biography". Tvguide.com. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
  3. ^ Brian Fegter (2011-05-16). "Q&A – Melinda Page Hamilton (Anna Draper)". AMC. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
  4. ^ Nellie Andreeva (November 26, 2012). "Melinda Page Hamilton & Matt Cedeno Join Lifetime's 'Devious Maids'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  5. ^ The Deadline Team (12 November 2014). "James Martinez Joins 'Aquarius'; Melinda Page Hamilton In 'Dig'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "'Rectify' Casts 'Mad Men' Alum Melinda Page Hamilton (Exclusive)". TheWrap. 8 July 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (June 2, 2021). "'The Peripheral': Louis Herthum, Chris Coy, Melinda Page Hamilton Among 5 Cast In Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy's Amazon Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

External links edit

  • Melinda Page Hamilton on Twitter  
  • Melinda Page Hamilton at IMDb