Melissa Benoist

Melissa Benoist Headshot

Actress

Birth Name: Melissa Marie Benoist

Birth Date: October 4, 1988

Age: 36 years old

Birth Place: Littleton, Colorado

Spouses: Blake Jenner, Chris Wood

Lively and alluring actor Melissa Benoist made her first big splash with audiences in 2012, when she was cast as the fresh-faced Marley Rose on the hit musical series "Glee" (Fox, 2009-2015).

Born in Littleton, Colorado in 1988, Benoist began appearing in regional theater as a child, even performing with future Broadway star Annaleigh Ashford in a Town Hall Arts Center production of "The Sound of Music" when she was 12 years old.

Benoist would go on to enroll at Marymount Manhattan College in New York, even as she simultaneously pursued a professional career as an actor. She made her on-screen debut in an independent drama called "Tennessee" (2009) starring singer Mariah Carey, while continuing to act in college plays, starring in Marymount productions of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "As You Like It," both in 2009.

In 2012, she completed a rigorous, multi-step audition process for the series "Glee," beginning with a singing audition at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York. She would go on to complete two more live auditions, in addition to two screen tests for various producers in both New York and Los Angeles.

Benoist eventually won the role of Marley, and soon followed it with a memorable turn in the sleeper hit "Whiplash" (2014).

In 2015, Benoist was cast as the teenaged caped crusader for a TV version of "Supergirl" (CBS/The CW 2015- ), which was a critical and audience success.

Between seasons, Benoist co-starred in the Mark Wahlberg thriller "Patriots Day" (2016) and indie drama "Lowrider" (2016). Benoist also starred in "Juvenile" (2018), the writing and producing of her then-husband, Blake Jenner, but the film's release was delayed by the couple's 2017 divorce.

The following year, Benoist co-starred in "Waco" (Paramount 2018), a miniseries about the siege at a religious cult's compound near Waco, Texas in 1993, and the indie drama "Sun Dogs" (2018).

Credits

The Girls on the BusStream

Actor
Sadie McCarthy
Series
2024
57%

The Girls on the BusStream

Producer
Series
2024
57%

Masters of the Universe: RevolutionStream

Voice
Teela
Series
2024
95%

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Crisis on Infinite Earths

Actor
Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Movie
2020

Crisis Aftermath

Self
Show
2019

BatwomanStream

Guest Star
Kara
Series
2019
83%

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Guest
Talk
2019

WacoStream

Actor
Rachel Koresh
Miniseries
2018
70%

Freedom Fighters: The Ray

Voice
Overgirl
Movie
2018

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Music Performer
Talk
2017

Sun Dogs

Actor
Tally Petersen
Movie
2017

Juvenile

Actor
Jennifer
Movie
2017

Supergirl: Cast and Creators at PaleyFest

Guest
Show
2016

DC's Legends of TomorrowStream

Guest Star
Kara Danvers/Supergirl
Series
2016
89%

Patriots DayStream

Actor
Katherine Russell
Movie
2016
80%

Lowriders

Actor
Lorelai
Movie
2016

SupergirlStream

Actor
Kara Danvers/Supergirl
Series
2015
88%

SupergirlStream

Director
Series
2015
88%

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Supergirl: Extras

Actor
Show
2015

The Late Late Show With James Corden

Guest
Talk
2015

The Longest RideStream

Actor
Marcia
Movie
2015
31%

Danny CollinsStream

Actor
Jamie
Movie
2015
78%

Band of Robbers

Actor
Becky Thatcher
Movie
2015

The FlashStream

Guest Star
Supergirl
Series
2014
89%

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

WhiplashStream

Actor
Nicole
Movie
2014
94%

Arrowverse

Guest Star
Kara Danvers/Supergirl
Franchise
2012

Anderson Live

Guest
Show
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

LIVE with Kelly

Guest
Talk
2011

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Blue BloodsStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Molly
Series
2009
93%

GleeStream

Actor
Marley Rose
Series
2009
70%

GleeStream

Guest Star
Marley Rose
Series
2009
70%

Tennessee

Actor
Laurel - age 18
Movie
2008

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutMelissa Benoist

Supergirl star Melissa Benoist and actor Chris Wood attend the red carpet for the shows 100th episode celebration at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel on December 14, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada.

‘Supergirl’ Spouses Melissa Benoist & Chris Wood to Reunite in New Show

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‘The Girls on the Bus’: Meet the Characters Behind Max’s Political Dramedy

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‘Supergirl’: Melissa Benoist Says Kara’s at Her ‘Lowest’ After Her Time in the Phantom Zone

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‘Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist & Chyler Leigh Look Back on the Danvers Sisters and Ahead to the Finale 

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Melissa Benoist Shares the Secrets of Her ‘Supergirl’ Directorial Debut

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‘Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist Is Pregnant: See Her & Chris Wood’s Announcement (PHOTOS)

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‘Supergirl’ Is Setting Up Kara’s Next Romance (VIDEO)

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Event Horizon
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How Does Lena Deal With the Truth About Kara on ‘Supergirl’? (RECAP)

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‘Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist & Chris Wood Are Reportedly Married

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‘Supergirl’ Cast Teases Leviathan, #Dansen & What’s Next for Lena Luthor (VIDEO)

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What’s Next for Kara in Season 5? ‘Supergirl’ EPs Answer Our All Our Questions

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Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin & Melissa Benoist Tease What to Expect in ‘Elseworlds’

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‘Supergirl’ Replaces Brent Spiner With Bruce Boxleitner for Season 4 White House Role

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Marc Guggenheim Says This Year’s Arrowverse Crossover Makes the Last One ‘Look Quaint’

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Emily Bett Rickards and Melissa Benoist Address Harassment Allegations Following EP’s Suspension

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Paramount Network Debuts Trailer for ‘Waco’ Series Starring Taylor Kitsch (VIDEO)

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Odette Annable Joins ‘Supergirl’: ‘Everyone Will Have a Relationship With Sam’

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Photos From the Set: The CW’s Superheroes Return to Work After Summer Hiatus

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‘Supergirl’ Season Finale: Melissa Benoist Advises You To ‘Have Your Kleenexes Ready’ (VIDEO)

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Best Lines on TV This Week (March 17-23): ‘No. I Said I was Done With You. I Meant That.’

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