Jessica Collins (born Jessica Lynn Capogna; April 1, 1971)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Dinah Lee Mayberry on the ABC soap opera Loving (1991–1994) and Avery Bailey Clark on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless (2011–2015), for which she won a Daytime Emmy. She also starred as Meredith Davies on Fox's Tru Calling, and appeared in recurring and guest roles in many other shows.

Quick Facts Born, Occupation ...
Jessica Collins
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Collins in 2013
Born
Jessica Lynn Capogna

(1971-04-01) April 1, 1971 (age 53)
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present
Spouses
Robert Tyler
(m. 1996; div. 2002)
(m. 2016)
Children1
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Early life

Collins was born in Schenectady, New York. She attended Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, New York. In 1988, she won the title Miss New York Teen USA and was the first runner-up for the Miss Teen USA Pageant in that same year. Collins later attended London's Royal National Theatre Studio and the Howard Fine Acting Studio in Los Angeles.[2]

Career

Collins starred in ABC daytime soap opera Loving as Dinah Lee Mayberry from 1991 to 1994.[2] After leaving daytime, Collins appeared in the films Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996), Best of the Best: Without Warning (1998), and Beautiful (2000), and guest-starred in primetime shows such as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Star Trek: Voyager, Beverly Hills 90210, and Dawson's Creek.

Collins played Meredith Davies on the Fox Network's Tru Calling from 2003 to 2004. She had a major recurring role in the NBC period drama, American Dreams, and later appeared in the short-lived series Unscripted and Scoundrels. She also starred in the short-lived ABC comedy-drama Big Shots from 2007 to 2008.[2] In film, Collins played roles in Ritual (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Dirty Love (2005), Live! (2007), and Open House (2010).[3] Her other television credits include CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Two and a Half Men, Nip/Tuck, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and NCIS.

In 2011, Collins returned to soaps with a role as Avery Bailey Clark on CBS's The Young and the Restless.[4] In 2013 and 2016, she was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role, winning in 2016.[5][6] In May 2015, Soap Opera Digest reported that Collins was leaving the show, with Avery's last appearance airing on July 21, 2015.[7]

Collins guest-starred on 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy and in 2019 starred in an episode entitled "Cracker Jack" of the Netflix anthology series, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings.[8] In 2021, she began starring in the Apple TV+ comedy series, Acapulco.

Personal life

Collins married Robert Tyler, her co-star from Loving, on November 11, 1996. The couple divorced February 15, 2002, citing irreconcilable differences.

On May 4, 2016, she married writer and producer Michael Cooney.[9][10] She and Cooney have a daughter, born in January 2016.[11]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Role Notes
1997 Leprechaun 4: In Space Dr. Tina Reeves Direct-to-video
1998 Best of the Best 4: Without Warning Karina Direct-to-video
2000 Beautiful Miss Lawrenceville
2002 Ritual Jackie
2002 Catch Me If You Can Peggy
2003 King for a Day Mother Short film
2005 Dirty Love Mandy
2007 Live! Starlet
2010 Open House Lauren
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1991–1994 Loving Dinah Lee Mayberry Alden Regular role
1992 All My Children Recurring/Guest role: September 23 – October 19, 1992
1994 Robin's Hoods Celeste Fontaine / Celeste Baxter Episode: "Unto Thyself Be True"
1994 M.A.N.T.I.S. Corrine Episode: "Through the Dark Circle"
1995 Coach Bridget McDermott Episode: "Working Girl"
1995 Renegade Grace Episode: "Family Ties"
1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Mindy Church Episodes: "We Have a Lot to Talk About", "Home Is Where the Hurt Is"
1996 Diagnosis: Murder Wendy Windsor Episode: "A Model Murder"
1996 Life with Roger Heather Episode: "The Way We Was"
1997 Star Trek: Voyager Linnis Paris Episode: "Before and After"
1997 Beverly Hills, 90210 Jody Carlisle Episodes: "Friends, Lovers and Children", "Child of the Night", "Deadline"
2000 Dawson's Creek Sherry Eisler Episode: "To Green, with Love"
2002 Off Centre Kristi Lee Episode: "The Good, the Bad and the Lazy"
2002 Andy Richter Controls the Universe Leslie Episode: "Little Andy in Charge"
2002–2003 American Dreams Colleen Recurring role (season 1)
2003–2004 Tru Calling Meredith Davies Main role (season 1)
2004 The Ranch Kim TV film
2005 Everwood Cameron Episode: "Giving Up the Girl"
2005 Unscripted Jessica Episodes: "1.8", "1.9", "1.10"
2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Missy Episode: "Dog Eat Dog"
2006 Two and a Half Men Gloria Episode: "Walnuts and Demerol"
2007–2008 Big Shots Marla Regular role
2008 Gary Unmarried Leslie Episode: "Gary and Allison Brooks"
2009 Nip/Tuck Tracy Pierce Episode: "Lola Wlodkowski"
2010 Scoundrels Valerie Bottoms Recurring role (season 1)
2010 CSI: Miami Marcie Westerfield Episode: "Happy Birthday"
2011 Memphis Beat Margo Episode: "Troubled Water"
2011; 2013; 2019 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Jackie Denardo 3 episodes
2011–2015 The Young and the Restless Avery Bailey Clark Regular role
2012 NCIS Judy Ford Episode: "Recovery"
2014 Perception Anne-Marie Bishop Episode: "Prologue"
2018 9-1-1 Christina Gallagher Episode: "Heartbreaker"
2018 Grey's Anatomy Denise Episode: "Flowers Grow Out Of My Grave"
2019 Heartstrings Monica Episode: "Cracker Jack"[12]
2021 Acapulco Diane Davies Main cast
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Awards and nominations

More information Year, Award ...
List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1994
Soap Opera Digest Award Hottest Female Star Loving Nominated
1994
Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Younger Lead Actress Loving Nominated
2013
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
2016
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Won
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References

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