Mädchen Amick is an American actress best known for playing Shelly Johnson

Shelly Johnson

Shelly Johnson is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, and created in mid-casting specifically for actress Mädchen Amick, after they liked her audition, but didn't have any parts left....

 on the cult television series

Television program

A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...

 Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...

and its 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.

Early life

Amick was born in Reno, Nevada

Reno, Nevada

Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...

, the daughter of Judy, a medical office manager, and Bill Amick, a musician. Amick's parents are German; the name Mädchen (ˈmɛːtçən), which means "girl" or "maiden" in German, was chosen by her parents because they wanted an unusual name. As a young girl, Amick was encouraged by her parents to follow her creative instincts. She learned to play the piano, bass, violin and guitar and took lessons in tap, ballet, jazz and modern dance. In 1987, at the age of 16, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.

Career

After moving to L.A., Amick appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...

as well as in The Borrower

The Borrower

The Borrower is a 1991 American science fiction / horror film directed by John McNaughton. The film is a B-movie about an alien serial killer, who is sent to Earth to live among humans as a form of penalty...

(1991). Amick got her first break when director David Lynch

David Lynch

David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...

 chose her to play waitress Shelly Johnson

Shelly Johnson

Shelly Johnson is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, and created in mid-casting specifically for actress Mädchen Amick, after they liked her audition, but didn't have any parts left....

 on the TV series Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...

. Amick's character endured terrible abuse at the hands of her husband, Leo, and was one of the most popular characters, ensuring her return in the feature film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. In 1992, Amick appeared in the Stephen King horror movie Sleepwalkers

Sleepwalkers (film)

Sleepwalkers is a 1992 American horror film based on an original screenplay by Stephen King and directed by Mick Garris.-Plot summary:...

. She has also appeared in TV movies such as Love, Cheat and Steal (1993). A highlight of Amick's film career is the 1994 feature film Dream Lover

Dream Lover (1994 film)

Dream Lover is a 1994 film, starring James Spader and Mädchen Amick. It was directed and written by Nicholas Kazan.-Plot:The movie opens on divorce proceedings involving Ray Reardon , a successful architect, and his first wife...

, a thriller in which she co-starred with James Spader

James Spader

James Todd Spader is an American actor best known for his eccentric roles in movies such as Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Crash, Stargate, and Secretary...

. Amick also appeared in the romantic comedy

Romantic Comedy

Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...

 French Exit (1995) and the science fiction thriller Bombshell (1996).

Amick's return to network TV came in the fall of 1995 with the much-publicized CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

 dramatic series Central Park West

Central Park West (TV series)

Central Park West is an American prime time television soap opera that ran from September 1995 to June 1996 on CBS. The series was created and executive produced by Melrose Places Darren Star. As the title suggests, CPW was set in New York, in the affluent Central Park West area of Manhattan...

. In 1998, Amick starred in the updated edition of Fantasy Island. Both shows only lasted one season.

After a decade of roles that failed to ignite the publicity Twin Peaks had, Amick gradually became a noticeable face in television with recurring roles on Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...

, ER

ER (TV series)

ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...

, Jake in Progress

Jake in Progress

Jake in Progress is an American comedy series broadcast on ABC from 2005 to 2006. Created by Austin Winsberg, the show was originally conceived as a real-time comedy; the first season was to show the first date of Jake and a woman. This was dropped during development, and the show became more...

, and Joey

Joey (TV series)

Joey is an American sitcom, which stars Matt LeBlanc reprising his role as Joey Tribbiani from the sitcom Friends. It premiered on the NBC television network, on September 9, 2004, in the former time slot of its parent series, Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m...

. In 2006, Amick was a regular in the sitcom Freddie

Freddie

Freddie is a television sitcom created by, and starring, Freddie Prinze, Jr. that aired from October 5, 2005 to April 12, 2006. Freddie is inspired by Prinze Jr.'s real life, growing up in a house filled with women...

which was subsequently cancelled. Amick guest starred in a number of episodes of the serial thriller Kidnapped

Kidnapped (TV series)

Kidnapped is an American television drama series from Sony Pictures Television which aired on NBC from September 20, 2006, to August 11, 2007...

on NBC, playing a strange and deadly assassin. She also had a recurring role in the second season of Dawson's Creek

Dawson's Creek

Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...

as the lead character's substitute film studies teacher. In 2007, she had a lead role in the short-lived CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

 musical series Viva Laughlin

Viva Laughlin

Viva Laughlin is an American musical–dramedy series adapted by Bob Lowry and Peter Bowker from the popular BBC British serial, Blackpool. They also served as executive producers alongside Hugh Jackman, John Palermo, Paul Telegdy and Gabriele Muccino. The latter also directed the pilot...

.

She had a recurring role in season 2 of Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl (TV series)

Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...

as Nate Archibald's "cougar" love interest, and she also appears in the second season of the Showtime series Californication

Californication (TV series)

Californication is an American comedy-drama that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos. The protagonist, Hank Moody , is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend...

. In 2008, Amick appeared as Christian Slater

Christian Slater

Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean...

's wife on the 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...

 series My Own Worst Enemy

My Own Worst Enemy (TV series)

My Own Worst Enemy is an American television drama that aired on NBC in 2008. It premiered on October 13 and ended on December 15 after 9 episodes. The series was produced by Universal Media Studios. Jason Smilovic was the executive producer; David Semel was the director and executive producer...

. In 2010, Amick played Danielle Marchetti on the FX series Damages

Damages (TV series)

Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own...

.

Personal life

Amick has been married to songwriter David Alexis since 1992. The couple have two children.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1989	Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...	Anya	Episode: "The Dauphin"
1989	Baywatch Baywatch Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...	Laurie Harris	Episode: "Panic at Malibu Pier"
1990		Miss Doddsworth	TV movie
1990	I'm Dangerous Tonight I'm Dangerous Tonight I'm Dangerous Tonight is a 1990 horror themed television movie directed by Tobe Hooper. It made its debut on the USA Network before being released on home video.-Plot:...	Amy	TV movie
1990	Don't Tell Her It's Me	Mandy
1990–1991	Twin Peaks Twin Peaks Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...	Shelly Johnson Shelly Johnson Shelly Johnson is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, and created in mid-casting specifically for actress Mädchen Amick, after they liked her audition, but didn't have any parts left....	30 episodes
1991	For the Very First Time	Rhonda	TV movie
1991		Megan
1992	Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me	Shelly Johnson
1992	Sleepwalkers Sleepwalkers (film) Sleepwalkers is a 1992 American horror film based on an original screenplay by Stephen King and directed by Mick Garris.-Plot summary:...	Tanya Robertson
1993	Dream Lover Dream Lover (1994 film) Dream Lover is a 1994 film, starring James Spader and Mädchen Amick. It was directed and written by Nicholas Kazan.-Plot:The movie opens on divorce proceedings involving Ray Reardon , a successful architect, and his first wife...	Lena Mathers
1993	Love, Cheat & Steal	Lauren Harrington
1994	Trapped in Paradise Trapped in Paradise Trapped in Paradise is a 1994 Christmas-themed crime comedy film written and directed by George Gallo, and starring Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz, and Dana Carvey.-Plot:...	Sarah Collins
1995	French Exit	Zina
1995		Lauren	TV movie
1995	Fallen Angels Fallen Angels (TV series) Fallen Angels was an American neo-noir anthology television series that ran from 1993 to 1995 on the Showtime pay cable station and was produced by Propaganda Films. No first-run episodes were shown in 1994....	Mrs. Cordell	Episode: "Love and Blood"
1995–1996	Central Park West Central Park West (TV series) Central Park West is an American prime time television soap opera that ran from September 1995 to June 1996 on CBS. The series was created and executive produced by Melrose Places Darren Star. As the title suggests, CPW was set in New York, in the affluent Central Park West area of Manhattan...	Carrie Fairchild	21 episodes
1996	Bombshell	Angeline
1997	Wounded	Julie Clayton
1997	Heartless	Ann 'Annie' O'Keefe	TV movie
1998	Twist of Fate	Rachel Dwyer
1998		Samantha Clark	TV movie
1998–1999	Fantasy Island	Ariel	13 episodes
1999	Dawson's Creek Dawson's Creek Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...	Nicole Kennedy	3 episodes
1999	Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story	Jackie McCoy	TV movie
2000		Grace Mitchell
2001	Hangman	Grace Mitchell	TV movie
2001	Italian Ties	Jamie
2001	Scenes of the Crime Scenes of the Crime Scenes of the Crime is a 2001 film directed by Dominique Forma and written by Daniel Golka, Amit Mehta, and Forma. It was met with mixed opinions and moderate, but ultimately positive reviews....	Carmen
2002		Susan Costello	TV movie
2002	Global Effect	Dr. Sera Levitt
2002–2003	Gilmore Girls Gilmore Girls Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...	Sherry Tinsdale	3 episodes
2003	Queens Supreme Queens Supreme Queens Supreme is an American courtroom dramedy television series which aired on CBS in January 2003. The series starred Oliver Platt in his first major television role as New York judge Jack Moran who, with his equally eccentric and colorful as colleagues, preside over court cases as the real-life...	Lisa Salinger	Episode: "The House Next Door"
2003	Wild Card Wild Card (TV series) Wild Card is an American comedy-drama series starring Joely Fisher. It was broadcast in the United States on Lifetime, and on the Global Television Network in Canada from August 2003 to July 2005.-Synopsis:...	Crystal Stevenson	Episode: "Black Sheep"
2003	Ed Ed (TV series) Ed is an NBC television program co-produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated, NBC Productions, and Viacom Productions that aired from 2000 to 2004....	Celeste 'CeCe' Royce	Episode: "Home for Christmas"
2004–2005	ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...	Wendall Meade	10 episodes
2005	Lies and Deception	Jean Brooks	TV movie
2005	Jake in Progress Jake in Progress Jake in Progress is an American comedy series broadcast on ABC from 2005 to 2006. Created by Austin Winsberg, the show was originally conceived as a real-time comedy; the first season was to show the first date of Jake and a woman. This was dropped during development, and the show became more...	Kylie	Episode: "Pilot" Episode: "Check Please"
2005	Joey Joey (TV series) Joey is an American sitcom, which stars Matt LeBlanc reprising his role as Joey Tribbiani from the sitcom Friends. It premiered on the NBC television network, on September 9, 2004, in the former time slot of its parent series, Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m...	Sara	5 episodes
2005	Four Corners of Suburbia	Rachel Samson
2005–2006	Freddie Freddie Freddie is a television sitcom created by, and starring, Freddie Prinze, Jr. that aired from October 5, 2005 to April 12, 2006. Freddie is inspired by Prinze Jr.'s real life, growing up in a house filled with women...	Allison	22 episodes
2006	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,...	Alissa Goodwyn	Episode: "Home Sweet"
2006–2007	Kidnapped Kidnapped (TV series) Kidnapped is an American television drama series from Sony Pictures Television which aired on NBC from September 20, 2006, to August 11, 2007...	Yvonne Guttman	3 episodes
2007	Viva Laughlin Viva Laughlin Viva Laughlin is an American musical–dramedy series adapted by Bob Lowry and Peter Bowker from the popular BBC British serial, Blackpool. They also served as executive producers alongside Hugh Jackman, John Palermo, Paul Telegdy and Gabriele Muccino. The latter also directed the pilot...	Natalie Holden	3 episodes
2008	Shark Shark (TV series) Shark is an American legal drama created by Ian Biederman that originally aired on CBS from September 21, 2006 to May 20, 2008. The series stars James Woods.-Synopsis:...	Gina Romero	Episode: "One Hit Wonder"
2008		Christine	TV movie
2008	Gossip Girl Gossip Girl (TV series) Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...	Duchess Catherine Beaton	4 episodes
2008	Californication Californication (TV series) Californication is an American comedy-drama that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos. The protagonist, Hank Moody , is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend...	Janie Jones	5 episodes
2008	My Own Worst Enemy My Own Worst Enemy (TV series) My Own Worst Enemy is an American television drama that aired on NBC in 2008. It premiered on October 13 and ended on December 15 after 9 episodes. The series was produced by Universal Media Studios. Jason Smilovic was the executive producer; David Semel was the director and executive producer...	Angelica 'Angie' Spivey	9 episodes
2009		Liz	TV movie
2010	Pleading Guilty Pleading Guilty Pleading Guilty, published in 1993, is Scott Turow's third novel, and like the previous two it is set in fictional Kindle County.The novel begins with a middle-aged lawyer, basically waiting to retire, being assigned by his firm to track down another attorney who has embezzled millions from the...	Brushy	TV movie
2010	Damages Damages (TV series) Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own...	Danielle Marchetti	5 episodes
2010	CSI: NY CSI: NY CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...	Aubrey Hunter	3 episodes
2010	Unanswered Prayers	Ava Andersson
2011	Priest	Shannon
2011	White Collar White Collar (TV series) White Collar is a USA Network television series created by Jeff Eastin, starring Matt Bomer as con-man Neal Caffrey and Tim DeKay as Special Agent Peter Burke. It premiered on October 23, 2009. In December 2009, White Collar was renewed for a second season that began on July 13, 2010...	Selena	Episode: "Veiled Threats"

Award nominations

Year	Award	Result	Category	Film or series
1991	Soap Opera Digest Awards Soap Opera Digest Awards The Soap Opera Digest Awards were an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest. The awards were founded in 1984 to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award; those awards shows had run since 1977. The Soap Opera Digest Awards are meant to promote excellence in the soap opera...	Nominated	Outstanding Supporting Actress: Prime Time	Twin Peaks
1995	Saturn Award Saturn Award The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...		Best Actress	Dream Lover

External links

• Yahoo Movie Profile