Alexandra Borgia
Encyclopedia
Alexandra Borgia is a fictional character
, played by Annie Parisse
, who appeared on the long-running NBC
drama series Law & Order
from 2005-2006.
(Fred Thompson) as a replacement for Serena Southerlyn
(Elisabeth Röhm
). She principally assists Jack McCoy
, but she also conducts detailed investigations, arraignment
s and hearings independent of McCoy and Branch. Prior to her latest appointment, Borgia was engaged in trying many drug cases, which resulted in frequent kudos from police officers and fellow attorneys. She was also respected among her colleagues for her intelligence and adroit manner in preparing a case for prosecution. When asked by Detective Joe Fontana if her name was Italian, she answered that it was from Italy, France and Spain and that she still had relatives in Venice.
Unlike her predecessor, Borgia often agrees with the decisions of her superiors and follows their directions regardless of her own views. She shares many parallels with Abbie Carmichael
(Angie Harmon
), including the latter's conservatism
and cooperation with the police in developing cases. Borgia also had a penchant for investigative work, a trait shared by Paul Robinette
, whom she opposes in a case in the Season 16 episode "Birthright".
The character has a professional manner, balancing compassion
for victims with adherence to legal rules and procedure. This is evident in her dealings with the mother of a victim of faulty influenza
vaccine
in her premiere episode, "Fluency." During the episode, the prosecution decides to drop the case among the numerous charges against the defendant, as it is too weak to use. Borgia impulsively promises the mother that the defendant would be severely punished in compensation. Although McCoy fulfilled that promise by arranging multiple consecutive life sentences, he asks Borgia to never again make similar promises. This compassion also helps her to get close to victims' families, as demonstrated in "Obsession", when the victim's son says that one of his hobbies was going fishing with his late father; Borgia says that she has similar experiences with her own father growing up. She is also highly respectful and polite in her dealings with colleagues. Simultaneously, she is never afraid to engage in heated byplay with defendants and convicts alike to ensure a successful prosecution. In the episode "In God We Trust," Borgia indicates her devout Catholicism
as a factor in her belief in the religious transformation of a defendant and in arguing with her superiors, she also highlights her belief in a Christian
ideal of forgiveness. Her Catholic background also had influence on her stand over torture
.
Borgia was the shortest appearing Assistant District Attorney in Law & Order history, seen only in 33 episodes (though Kim Greylek had a much shorter run on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
). In her final episode, while investigating a family's murder, the DA's office focuses on the husband, Frank Andreas, who is supplying killers with fake DEA
badges which they use to commit home invasion
robberies. Borgia presses Andreas to give up his accomplices, and is later kidnapped from her own apartment. Her body is subsequently found in the trunk of an abandoned car, bound, brutally beaten and dead of asphyxiation after choking on her own vomit. Outraged, McCoy arranges a sham prosecution to make sure her murderers go to prison for life, skirting legal ethics
to the point that he almost faced disbarment
and was replaced by a special prosecutor. Borgia's position is filled by Connie Rubirosa
(Alana de la Garza
).
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, played by Annie Parisse
Annie Parisse
Anne Marie Cancelmi , known as Annie Parisse, is an American television, film, and theater actress, known for playing Alexandra Borgia on the television drama Law & Order, a role she played from 2005 until 2006 in 33 episodes. Parisse is also known for her role of Julia Lindsey Snyder on the...
, who appeared on the long-running NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
drama series Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
from 2005-2006.
Fictional character biography
Borgia first appears in the episode "Fluency", having been appointed by DA Arthur BranchArthur Branch
Arthur Branch is a fictional attorney and a regular character on the TV crime dramas Law & Order and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Branch has also appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Conviction....
(Fred Thompson) as a replacement for Serena Southerlyn
Serena Southerlyn
Serena Southerlyn is a fictional character on the long-running NBC drama series Law & Order.-Character overview:Southerlyn joined the District Attorney's office in 2001 as an ADA, replacing Abbie Carmichael...
(Elisabeth Röhm
Elisabeth Röhm
Elisabeth Röhm is a German-born American television actress. She is known for playing Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn in the American TV series Law & Order, and as Detective Kate Lockley in the TV series Angel....
). She principally assists Jack McCoy
Jack McCoy
John James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael S. Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994. He is the second-longest tenured character on the show, after Lt. Anita Van Buren . On January 28, 2009, McCoy's character ended the longest...
, but she also conducts detailed investigations, arraignment
Arraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
s and hearings independent of McCoy and Branch. Prior to her latest appointment, Borgia was engaged in trying many drug cases, which resulted in frequent kudos from police officers and fellow attorneys. She was also respected among her colleagues for her intelligence and adroit manner in preparing a case for prosecution. When asked by Detective Joe Fontana if her name was Italian, she answered that it was from Italy, France and Spain and that she still had relatives in Venice.
Unlike her predecessor, Borgia often agrees with the decisions of her superiors and follows their directions regardless of her own views. She shares many parallels with Abbie Carmichael
Abbie Carmichael
Abigail "Abbie" Carmichael is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by model/actress Angie Harmon...
(Angie Harmon
Angie Harmon
Angela Michelle "Angie" Harmon is an American fashion model and television/film actress. She became a well-known model before gaining international fame for her roles in Baywatch Nights and Law & Order....
), including the latter's conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and cooperation with the police in developing cases. Borgia also had a penchant for investigative work, a trait shared by Paul Robinette
Paul Robinette
Paul Robinette, played by Richard Brooks, is a fictional character who appeared in the TV drama series Law & Order from the pilot episode in 1990 until the final episode of the third season, "Benevolence," in 1993...
, whom she opposes in a case in the Season 16 episode "Birthright".
The character has a professional manner, balancing compassion
Compassion
Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
for victims with adherence to legal rules and procedure. This is evident in her dealings with the mother of a victim of faulty influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
in her premiere episode, "Fluency." During the episode, the prosecution decides to drop the case among the numerous charges against the defendant, as it is too weak to use. Borgia impulsively promises the mother that the defendant would be severely punished in compensation. Although McCoy fulfilled that promise by arranging multiple consecutive life sentences, he asks Borgia to never again make similar promises. This compassion also helps her to get close to victims' families, as demonstrated in "Obsession", when the victim's son says that one of his hobbies was going fishing with his late father; Borgia says that she has similar experiences with her own father growing up. She is also highly respectful and polite in her dealings with colleagues. Simultaneously, she is never afraid to engage in heated byplay with defendants and convicts alike to ensure a successful prosecution. In the episode "In God We Trust," Borgia indicates her devout Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
as a factor in her belief in the religious transformation of a defendant and in arguing with her superiors, she also highlights her belief in a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
ideal of forgiveness. Her Catholic background also had influence on her stand over torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
.
Borgia was the shortest appearing Assistant District Attorney in Law & Order history, seen only in 33 episodes (though Kim Greylek had a much shorter run on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
). In her final episode, while investigating a family's murder, the DA's office focuses on the husband, Frank Andreas, who is supplying killers with fake DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
badges which they use to commit home invasion
Home invasion
Home invasion is the act of illegally burgling or entering a private and occupied dwelling for the purpose of committing a crime Home invasion is the act of illegally burgling or entering a private and occupied dwelling for the purpose of committing a crime Home invasion is the act of illegally...
robberies. Borgia presses Andreas to give up his accomplices, and is later kidnapped from her own apartment. Her body is subsequently found in the trunk of an abandoned car, bound, brutally beaten and dead of asphyxiation after choking on her own vomit. Outraged, McCoy arranges a sham prosecution to make sure her murderers go to prison for life, skirting legal ethics
Legal ethics
Legal ethics encompasses an ethical code governing the conduct of persons engaged in the practice of law and persons more generally in the legal sector.-In the United States:...
to the point that he almost faced disbarment
Disbarment
Disbarment is the removal of a lawyer from a bar association or the practice of law, thus revoking his or her law license or admission to practice law...
and was replaced by a special prosecutor. Borgia's position is filled by Connie Rubirosa
Connie Rubirosa
Assistant District Attorney / Deputy District Attorney Consuela "Connie" Rubirosa is a fictional character, portrayed by Alana de la Garza, who joined the cast of long-running NBC drama series Law & Order during the 17th season premiere episode "Fame". She is the only second-chair ADA of Law &...
(Alana de la Garza
Alana de la Garza
Alana de la Garza is an American actress. She is most famous for her role as A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa on the television series Law & Order and its short-lived spin-off, Law & Order: LA.-Biography:...
).