Alexandra Paul

Alexandra Paul
Paul in 2012
Born
Alexandra Elizabeth Paul

(1963-07-29) July 29, 1963 (age 60)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • athlete
  • activist
  • wellness coach
  • camera operator
  • model
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1979–present
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Spouse
Ian Murray
(m. 2000)

Alexandra Elizabeth Paul (born July 29, 1963) is an American actress, activist, health coach, and former model. Paul began her career modeling in New York before landing her first major role in John Carpenter's horror film Christine (1983). This was followed with prominent roles in Just the Way You Are (1984), American Flyers (1985), 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), and Dragnet (1987).

She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992 to 1997. She has performed in a total of over 100 movies and television programs.

Early life

Paul was born in New York City to Sarah, a social worker from England, and Mark Paul, an American investment banker. Paul was raised alongside her identical twin sister, Caroline, and younger brother, Jonathan, in the rural town of Cornwall, Connecticut. According to Paul, her mother was "a very liberal Democrat and [her] father was a very conservative Republican." Her twin sister Caroline has been a San Francisco firefighter (where she is often mistaken as Alexandra) and best-selling author. Her brother, Jonathan, is an animal rights activist.

Paul attended the Cornwall Consolidated School, and the Groton School in Massachusetts. At ages 17 and 18, Paul underwent two major abdominal operations to remove choledochal cysts, which left her with a scar spanning from her sternum to her navel. Paul was accepted into Stanford University, but chose not to attend so that she could focus on an acting career.

Career

Paul worked prominently in television from the late 1980s onward, perhaps most recognizable in her starring role on Baywatch, from 1992 to 1997. Paul began her career working as a model in New York City, and later moved to Los Angeles when she decided to pursue a career in acting. Her first role was in the television film Paper Dolls (1982), followed by a role in the independent Canadian horror film American Nightmare (1983). Paul then landed a leading role in John Carpenter's horror film Christine (1983), opposite Keith Gordon, followed by a supporting role in the comedy Just the Way You Are (1984).

She later appeared in the sport drama American Flyers (1985) with Kevin Costner, 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), and the comedy Dragnet (1987), opposite Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd. She also starred in the films Death Train (1993) and Nightwatch (1995) opposite Christopher Lee and Pierce Brosnan,[citation needed] as well as the horror films The Paperboy (1994) and Spectre (1996).

Since 1999, she has starred in 15 films for Lifetime Network. She has also starred in the Fox TV series Fire Company 132 and appeared in the last eight episodes of Melrose Place. She guest-starred on Mad Men in 2008.[citation needed] She hosted non-fiction TV shows, including WE's Winning Women and a southern California local environmentalism show, Earth Talk Today. She made a cameo appearance with Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan in a deleted scene parodying her Baywatch role. She did a cameo in the comedy spoofs Spy Hard and Sharknado: The 4th Awakens.

In 2015, Paul won Indie Series' Best Supporting Actress in a comedy webseries.

Paul co-wrote and co-produced two documentaries: Jampacked, a documentary on the world population crisis, and The Cost of Cool: Finding Happiness in a Materialistic World. Jampacked received a Bronze Apple Award and first place recognition at the EarthVision Environmental Film and Video Festival. The Cost of Cool won a CINE Golden Eagle Award.[citation needed] She also produced eight PSAs on the benefits of driving electric vehicles for the non-profit Plug In America.

In 2019, Alexandra acted in three movies, among them, ''Escaping My Stalker'. In 2020 Alexandra appeared in 4 projects, and in 2022 she starred in the independent films Tethered and Baby Steps.

Personal life

Paul has been married to Ian Murray since 2000. She became a vegetarian at age fourteen after reading the book Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé, and became a vegan in 2010.

As an athlete, Paul raced the Hawaii Ironman in 1997. She ran the 2000 Boston Marathon. She has also swum the 11 mile Fiji Swim, the 12.5 mile Swim Around Key West and the 2014 Reto Acapulco 14 mile swim, among others.

In 2015, Paul became a certified health coach and has her own wellness coaching business.

Activism

Paul is an outspoken animal rights, environmental, peace and gay rights activist. She walked 5 1/2 weeks on the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament in 1986. Paul has been arrested for civil disobedience over a dozen times at the Nevada Test Site between 1987 and 2000. In 1989, she was arrested for peacefully advocating on behalf of people with HIV. She was arrested twice in 2003 for civil disobedience protesting the Iraq War and spent five days in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center after refusing to pay the $50 fine. In 2005, she was arrested for protesting the crushing of the EV1, and performed 80–100 hours of community service for electric car organizations. Paul's younger brother, Jonathan, is also an animal rights activist, who served 51 months in prison for his role in the arson of a slaughterhouse.

She has traveled to Nicaragua with Operation USA and to South Africa to register voters. Paul volunteered in Sierra Leone with the non profit Population Media Center. In 2006, Paul donated $250 to the Ned Lamont campaign against Joe Lieberman, because Lieberman supported the war in Iraq.

Paul was an active member for 9 years of the Santa Monica, CA chapter of Food Not Bombs, where she picked up donations, cooked, and served hot vegan meals to the homeless community every Thursday evening. She also registered voters sitting at a card table on LA street corners for 2 hours a week from 1989 to 2010 with The First Vote.

She received the 2014 Vegan of the Year by Last Chance for Animals, and in 2007 received a United Nations Environment Programme honor for her contribution to overpopulation issues.

In 2016, Paul joined Direct Action Everywhere in an open rescue of several pigs from a factory farm. In 2017, she joined a sit-in at an Oakland, California slaughterhouse and was arrested. In 2018, she was arrested for a civil disobedience action at Sunrise Chicken Farm. In 2019, she was arrested for peacefully protesting at Reichardt Duck Farm and spent two days in Sonoma County jail. In September, 2020, Paul and 6 other DxE activists were arrested for trying to rescue a pig from a Farmer John slaughterhouse in Vernon, CA. In September, 2021, Paul rescued a chicken outside a Foster Farms slaughterhouse and went on trial on March 7,2023 in Merced, CA. She and fellow activist Alicia Santurio were acquitted after a 9-day trial.

In discussing her political activism, Paul said:

I am sure there are some who do not like me for my outspokenness and my views, and I totally respect their right to boycott my projects. I actually respect folks who stand up for their beliefs — even if I disagree with them — more than the folks who do not care, are afraid to 'get involved', or who cannot be bothered. I admire passion and commitment. A woman once told me she could not watch those slaughterhouse videos because she 'loves animals so much' and it would upset her. I would prefer to hang out with a hunter who believes he is doing the right thing, than a wuss like her.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Paper Dolls Laurie Caswell TV movie
1983 American Nightmare Isabelle
Christine Leigh Cabot
1984 Getting Physical Kendall Gibley TV movie
Just the Way You Are Bobbie
1985 American Flyers Becky
1986 8 Million Ways to Die Sunny
1987 Dragnet Connie Swail
1988 After the Rain Annie May Bonner
Out of the Shadows Jan Lindsey TV film
It's Cool to Care - Short
1989 Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson Amy Hastings TV movie
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder Amy Hastings TV movie
Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin Amy Hastings TV movie
1990 Laker Girls Heidi/Jenny TV movie
1991 Millions Giulia Ferretti
In Between Amy Budd
1992 Kuffs The Chief's Wife
Prey of the Chameleon Carrie TV movie
1993 Sunset Grill Anita
Death Train Sabrina Carver TV movie
1994 Nothing to Lose Natasha
The Paperboy Melissa Thorpe
1995 Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise Lieutenant Stephanie Holden Video
Piranha Maggie McNamara TV movie
Night Watch Sabrina Carver TV movie
Cyber Bandits Rebecca Snow
Mixed Blessings Beth TV movie
1996 Spy Hard Woman In Murphy Bed
Spectre Maura South
Kid Cop Sarah Hansen Video
Daytona Beach Annie Gibson TV movie
1997 Echo Olivia Jordan TV movie
Kiss & Tell Bambi
1998 12 Bucks Epiphany Lovejoy
1999 Arthur's Quest Caitlin Regal TV movie
2000 Revenge Laura Underwood
The Brainiacs.com Kara Banks
Green Sails Laura Taylor TV movie
2001 For the Love of May Emily Short
Above & Beyond Jill Amorosa
10 Attitudes Leslie
Facing the Enemy Olivia McCleary
Rough Air: Danger on Flight 534 Flight Attendant Katy Phillips TV movie
Diary of a Sex Addict Katherine Video
Breaking Up Really Sucks Charlie Short
Exposure Jackie Steerman Video
2002 Redemption of the Ghost Audrey Powell
2003 Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding Allison Ford TV movie
A Woman Hunted Lainie Wheeler
2004 Saving Emily Cheryl TV movie
2005 Landslide Emma Decker TV movie
The Phone Ranger Short TV movie
A Lover's Revenge Liz Manners TV movie
2006 Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York Dr. Susan Foxley TV movie
Love Thy Neighbor Laura Benson TV movie
Gospel of Deceit Emily TV movie
A.I. Assault Marlon Adams TV movie
Trapped! Samantha Reed TV movie
2007 Demons from Her Past Allison Buchanan TV movie
2008 Tru Loved Leslie
Murder Dot Com Stacy
2009 A Sister's Secret Katherine TV movie
Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness Mall Gal
Christmas Crash Christine Johnson Video
He's Such a Girl Linda
Family of Four Janice Baker Video
2010 In My Sleep Roxana
The Boy She Met Online Tori Winters
2011 Betrayed at 17 Michelle Ross TV movie
Christmas Spirit Winnie TV movie
Javelina Lora
2012 16-Love Margo Mash
The Frankenstein Brothers Laurie Martinson
Love at the Christmas Table Eve Reed TV movie
2014 Dinner at Le Cruel Wife Short
Firequake Dr. Eve Carter TV movie
Mentor Alexandra Short
2015 Flirting with Madness Detective Kathy Schumaker
2016 Dirty Assistant D.A Sara Dunlap
Sharknado: The 4th Awakens Stephanie Holden TV movie
2017 Born and Missing Detective Breuer TV movie
2018 Say Yes Mrs. Muñoz
2020 Escaping My Stalker Sandy TV movie
Finding Sara Aunt Carrie
The Estate Bethenny
Pink Skies Ahead Mercedes
2022 Tethered Nidia
Another Coffee House Chronicles Movie Amy
2023 Baby Steps Abigail Munoz

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Hitchhiker Julie Episode: "Minuteman"
1992–97 Baywatch Lieutenant Stephanie Holden Main Cast: Season 3–6, Recurring Cast: Season 7
1993 What's Up Doc? Herself Recurring Guest
Johnny Bago Erica Episode: "Spotting Elvis"
1994 This Is Your Life Herself Episode: "David Hasselhoff"
1995 Wheel of Fortune Herself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "Celebrity Week 4"
1996 L.A. Firefighters Firefighter T.K. Martin Main Cast
1997 Brass Eye Herself (voice) Episode: "Animals"
Baywatch Nights Lieutenant Stephanie Holden Episode: "The Eighth Seal"
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Gillian Stanfield Episode: "All That Glitters"
1999 Melrose Place Terry O'Brien Recurring Cast: Season 7
2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Leann Richards Episode: "Destiny in a Bottle"
2001 The Test Herself/Panelist Episode: "The Slut Test"
2001–04 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Recurring Guest
2003 She Spies Christine Black Episode: "Date to Mate"
2004 Getaway Herself Episode: "Getaway Goes to Hollywood"
2005 Biography Herself Episode: "David Hasselhoff: Driven"
Class of... Herself Episode: "1989: Life After Baywatch"
2007 Whatever Happened To? Herself Episode: "Beach Babes"
2008 Mad Men Pauline Phillips Episode: "Maidenform"
2011 The Traveler's Guide to Life Herself Episode: "Family" & "Winning"
2014 Alive & Well with Michelle Harris Herself Episode: "Look Better, Feel Better"
2020 Coffee House Chronicles Amy Episode: "Good Grief" & "Bad Math"
2021 TV Therapy Stephanie Episode: "Stephanie"

This page was last updated at 2024-02-09 12:11 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari