Reiko Aylesworth (born
December 9,
1972 in
Evanston, Illinois)
is an
American film, television and stage
actress, best known for her work on the
television series 24. She is of
Dutch,
Welsh, and
Japanese ancestry.
[Jonathan Reiner, "Reiko & Famous," Soap Opera Weekly, (21 June 1994).] Aylesworth lived in
Springfield, Illinois, from 1987 to 1988 before moving to
Seattle, Washington. She attended the
University of Washington studying neuroscience before deciding on a full time career in acting.
[Dollarhide, Barbara. "Faces to Watch – Hot New Talents Make Contributions to the Arts." Seattle Times. (3 January 1993).]
Biography
Career
Aylesworth began her career on the soap opera
One Life to Live. She also appeared in minor roles in
Random Hearts, and
You've Got Mail. After guest roles in
Law & Order,
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,
Now and Again,
The West Wing, and
Ed, Aylesworth was cast in the 2001 series
All Souls, which was canceled during its first season. In 2002, Aylesworth starred in the series
The American Embassy — her character replaces one killed during the pilot — that also failed to gain an audience.
In 2001, Aylesworth auditioned for the part of
Nina Myers on
FOX Network's
24 but lost to
Sarah Clarke. In 2002, she auditioned for another role on "24", Kate Warner, and lost to
Sarah Wynter. The producers asked her to join the cast as recurring character
Michelle Dessler, a
CTU agent.
Aylesworth's character, "Michelle Dessler", soon developed a relationship with fellow agent Tony Almeida (
Carlos Bernard), and became popular with fans.
[Reiko Aylesworth, “Meeting Michelle,” Interview by Tara DuLullio, (Titan Magazines), 24: The Official Magazine, (January/February 2007), 49.] By the
third season, Aylesworth had become a main cast member married to Bernard's character. At the end of that season, writers decided to change much of the cast, and dropped Aylesworth's character. However, "24" viewers objected on fan forums and successfully lobbied the producers to keep her character. In the twelfth episode of the
fourth season, Aylesworth's Dessler returned as a top "CTU" bureaucrat through the end of the season. Her character was killed in the first episode of
season 5.
Aylesworth appeared in a much-publicized guest role on
CSI after original cast members
Jorja Fox and
George Eads were
fired. There was a rumor that Aylesworth's character might become a regular character, but she appeared in just one episode. "Fox" and "Eads" were rehired by CSI, and Aylesworth was rehired by
24.
Since departing
24, Aylesworth has guest starred on the short-lived series
Conviction, appeared on stage in
The Fearless and
Expats, filmed a supporting role in Kevin Costner’s
Mr. Brooks, and starred in the independent thriller
The Killing Floor. Aylesworth was cast as Dr. Adrienne Holland in the pilot of the proposed tv series
3 lbs, but the show was not purchased. Later, CBS decided to buy the series for a late fall 2006 premiere, but the lead roles were recast, including Aylesworth's. It is unknown whether she declined the "3 lbs." role or she was not offered the role again.
On
25 September,
2006, it was announced that Aylesworth was chosen for one of the two lead roles in
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. She was cast as Kelly O'Brien, a pilot and soldier. In January 2007, Aylesworth had a guest role in two episodes of the ABC comedy,
The Knights of Prosperity, where she played the head of
Mick Jagger’s security company.
In September 2007, it was reported that Aylesworth would appear in five episodes of the upcoming season of
ER, playing hospital chaplain
Julia Dupree. Originally, her character was to appear in 5 episodes
[Reiko Aylesworth - Entertainment News, Players, Media - Variety] attracting the lustful attention of Dr. Gates (
John Stamos). Her role was extended for two additional episodes, but concluded due to the suspension of filming resulting from the
WGA strike.
Aylesworth has two independent films due out in 2008,
Buzzkill[BuzzKill (2008)] and
The Understudy[The Understudy (2008)] and began filming a third,
The Assistants, in May, 2008.
[The Assistants Wraps Principal Photography] Independent productions like these and past films
The Killing Floor and
No Deposit, No Return, are Aylesworth’s preferred types of film.
[ Reiko Aylesworth, “An Evening with Reiko Aylesworth,” (Hoogland Center for the Arts. Springfield, Illinois, February 4, 2007).]
On 6 November, 2008, it was reported Aylesworth would be appearing in at least four episodes of the ABC series
Lost. She would play "Amy, a smart and successful professional woman with a love for the outdoors who is looking for the right man."
[www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSTRE4A60X020081107]
Filmography
| Year
| Title
| Role
| Notes
|
| 1993–94 | One Life to Live | Rebecca Lewis | TV series
|
| 1996 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis | Rita | TV episode ("Someone Had to Be Benny")
|
| 1997 | Childhood's End | Laurie Cannon | Feature film
|
| 1997 | Law & Order | Tiffany Sherman | TV episode ("We Like Mike")
|
| 1998 | A Will of Their Own | Annie Jermaine | TV miniseries
|
| 1998 | You've Got Mail | Thanksgiving Guest | Feature film
|
| 1999 | Random Hearts | Mary Claire Clark | Feature film
|
| 1999 | Now and Again | Dr. Taylor | TV episode ("By the Light of the Moon")
|
| 1999 | Man on the Moon | Mimi | Feature film
|
| 2000 | No Deposit, No Return | | Feature film
|
| 2000 | Sherman’s March | Becca Coltrane | TV film
|
| 2000 | The West Wing | Janine | TV episode ("Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics")
|
| 2000 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | A.D.A. Erica Alden | TV episodes ("Contact", "Remorse", and "Slaves")
|
| 2001 | All Souls | Dr. Philomena Cullen | TV series (main cast, with scenes in all episodes except the pilot)
|
| 2002 | Ed | Kate Harrison | TV episode ("Ends and Means")
|
| 2002 | The American Embassy | Liz Shoop | TV series (main cast, with scenes in all episodes except the pilot)
|
| 2002–06
| 24 | Michelle Dessler | TV series (All episodes, Season 2 and 3; Episodes 12-24, Season 4; Episode 1, Season 5.)
|
| 2003 | The Dead Zone | Natalie Connor | TV episode ("Deja Voodoo")
|
| 2003 | North of Providence | Little Girl Voice | Short film
|
| 2004 | The Last Full Measure | Mother | Short film
|
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Chandra Moore | TV episode ("Viva Las Vegas")
|
| 2005 | Shooting Vegetarians | Daisy | Feature film (filmed 1999–2000, released on DVD in 2005)
|
| 2005 | Fathers and Sons | Business Woman | TV film
|
| 2005 | Crazylove | Letty Mayer | Feature film
|
| 2005 | 3 lbs | Dr. Adrienne Holland | Unaired TV series pilot (Series recast)
|
| 2006 | Magma: Volcanic Disaster | Natalie Sheppard | TV film
|
| 2006 | 24: The Game | Michelle Dessler | Video game voice-over
|
| 2006 | Conviction | Julie Phelps | TV episode ("Deliverance")
|
| 2007 | The Knights of Prosperity | Simone Cashwell | TV episodes ("Operation: Seduce Simone" and "Operation: Fighting Shape")
|
| 2007 | The Killing Floor | Audrey Levine | Feature film
|
| 2007 | First | Angelina Marveau | Short film
|
| 2007 | Mr. Brooks | Sheila | Feature film
|
| 2007 | Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | Kelly O'Brien | Feature film
|
| 2007 | ER | Julia Dupree | TV series (recurring in season 14, seven episodes)
|
| 2008 | The Understudy | Chief Kinsky | Feature film
|
| 2008 | Buzzkill | Sara | Feature film
|
| 2008 | The Assistants | Cassie Levine | Feature film
|
| 2009 | Lost[24 Alum Reiko Aylesworth Clocks in at Lost" TV Guide. November 7, 2008. Retrieved on November 7 2008.] | Amy[Lost, 24 beefing up casts" Hollywood Reporter. November 7, 2008. Retrieved on November 7 2008.]
|
|| TV series (recurring role)
Theatre
