Sasha Alexander

Sasha Alexander, born May 17, 1973 is an American actress. She is known for several roles, including Gretchen Witter, the sister of Pacey Witter on Dawson's Creek; NCIS Special Agent Kate Todd in the first two seasons of NCIS; as Lucy in Yes Man (2008); and as Catherine in He's Just Not That Into You (2009). She currently stars as Chief Medical Examiner Maura Isles on the Turner Network Television series Rizzoli & Isles.



Early life


Alexander was born Suzana S. Drobnjaković (Serbian Cyrillic: Сузана С. Дробњаковић) in Los Angeles, California, to a Serbian mother and an Italian father . She began acting in school productions in the seventh grade. She also was an ice skater but had to stop due to a knee injury. She continued acting through high school and college, and then moved to New York to act in summer stock and Shakespeare festivals. She graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television before going on to have a successful acting career in both TV and film.




Career


Alexander was a regular on two short-lived series: the medical drama Presidio Med and ABC's twenty-something drama Wasteland. She achieved widespread media attention and critical praise when she appeared on the fourth season of Dawson's Creek as Gretchen Witter, dating the title character, and in an episode of the short-lived Fox comedy series Greg the Bunny, playing the part of a lesbian TV Guide reporter and shared an onscreen kiss with Sarah Silverman. Alexander has also appeared in the films Lucky 13, and All Over the Guy as well as He's Just Not That Into You, the independent movie The Last Lullaby, and Yes Man starring Jim Carrey.
Before being cast as Caitlin Todd on NCIS, she appeared on CSI as District Attorney Robin Childs, in the episode, "Alter Boys". Her role on NCIS ended in May 2005 and she had a small role in 2006's Mission Impossible III.
She joined the cast of The Nine in the role of Nick's ex-wife. She also appeared in one episode of Friends ("The One with Joey's Interview"), playing a Soap Opera Digest reporter who interviewed Joey.
Her current television role is that of Boston medical examiner Maura Isles on the new TNT series Rizzoli & Isles, which debuted on July 12, 2010.




Personal life


On August 11, 2007, Alexander married director Edoardo Ponti, son of actress Sophia Loren and the late film producer Carlo Ponti, in Geneva, Switzerland. Alexander and Ponti have two children, Lucia Sofia (born May 12, 2006) and Leonardo Fortunato (born December 20, 2010).
Alexander attended the University of Southern California, where she was a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta.






Filmography


Film
1997 Visceral Matter Karen Chambers
1997 Battle of the Sexes
1999 Twin Falls Idaho Miss America
2001 All Over the Guy Jackie Samantha Gold
2005 Lucky 13 Susie
2006 Mission: Impossible III Melissa Meade
2008 The Last Lullaby Sarah
2008 Yes Man Lucy Burns
2009 He's Just Not That Into You Catherine
2009 Tenure Margaret
2009 Play Dead Carolanne
2009 Love Happens Jessica (photographer)
2010 Coming and Going Alex Michaels
Year Title Role Notes






Television


1999 Wasteland Jesse Presser 13 episodes
2000–
2001 Dawson's Creek Gretchen Witter 20 episodes
2001 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation District Attorney Robin Childs 1 episode
2001 Ball & Chain Chloe Jones TV film
2002 Friends Shelley the interviewer 1 episode
2002 Greg the Bunny Laura Carlson 1 episode
2002 Presidio Med Dr. Jackie Collette 14 episodes
2003 Expert Witness Unknown TV film
2003–
2005 NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Todd 46 episodes
2006 E-Ring Allyson Merrill 1 episode
2006 The Nine Juliana 1 episode
2009 The Karenskys Emily Atwood leading role
2009 House Nora, House and Wilson's neighbor 1 episode
2009 Dark Blue DEA Agent Julia Harris 2 episodes
2010–
2011 Rizzoli & Isles Dr. Maura Isles Main Role
2011 NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Todd 1 episode
flashbacks


All about: Katie Holmes  Michelle Williams  Sasha Alexander  Angie Harmon  Dawson's Creek