Lynn Collins

Viola Lynn Collins (born May 16, 1977) is an American actress. She has made television appearances in True Blood (2008), Manhunt: Unabomber (2017) and The Walking Dead (2021–2022), and is recognized for her roles in films such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and John Carter (2012).

Not to be confused with the soul singer Lyn Collins.

Lynn Collins
Collins at the X-Men Origins: Wolverine premiere, April 2009
Born
Viola Lynn Collins

(1977-05-16) May 16, 1977
Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationJuilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2007; div. 2013)​
  • Matthew Boyle
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2014; div. 2016)​
Children1

Youth and education

Viola Lynn Collins was born in College Station, Texas,[1] reported variously in May or June 1977.[1][2][3] Collins is said to have come from Houston, Texas. She has English, Scottish and Irish ancestry but has also made unsubstantiated claims of Cherokee ancestry.[2][4] She spent her formative years in Singapore,[5] with "summers in Japan where my parents were getting their fourth and fifth and sixth Dan (sic) in Shitaru ... Okinawa style karate".[6] During a childhood Christmas pageant in which she played Mrs. Claus, Collins discovered her love for acting.[7]

She attended Singapore American School and Klein High School in Texas. She graduated from the Juilliard School's Drama Division (Group 28: 1995–1999)[8] with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.[1]

Career

Collins made her television debut in 1999, in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and went on to star onstage as Ophelia opposite Liev Schreiber in Hamlet, followed by a turn as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.[7] After bit parts that included a stint on the show Haunted and roles in the movies Down with Love, 50 First Dates and 13 Going on 30,[7] she gained notice in the film The Merchant of Venice as the female lead Portia, alongside Al Pacino, Joseph Fiennes and Jeremy Irons,[7] Collins' audition tape for the supporting role of Jessica having so impressed director Michael Radford that—upon Cate Blanchett's opting out as Portia (due to pregnancy)—Radford had championed Collins becoming Blanchett's replacement.[9][10]

She furthered her profile in 2008 when she was cast as Jason Stackhouse's girlfriend Dawn Green in the first season of the HBO vampire series True Blood, and through a featured role as the hero's love interest Kayla Silverfox in the 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine opposite Hugh Jackman. Her first leading film role came in 2012 when she was cast as the headstrong Martian princess Dejah Thoris in John Carter.[11][12]

Personal life

Collins married then 21-year-old actor Steven Strait on December 23, 2007,[13] after a four-year relationship.[5] Collins and Strait separated in 2013.[14]

She married Matthew Boyle in November 2014. They divorced in 2016. They have a son.[14]

In 2009, she posed nude for the May issue of Allure magazine.[15]

Collins was raised in a "very, very religious" family of Southern Baptists, and has since explored several religious faiths, describing herself as a "pretty spiritual person."[2][16]

Filmography

Film
Collins at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Never Get Outta the Boat Stacy
2003 Down with Love Beatnik Girl
2004 50 First Dates Linda
13 Going on 30 Wendy
The Merchant of Venice Portia
2006 Return to Rajapur Sara Reardon
Bug R.C.
The Lake House Mona
The Dog Problem Lola
2007 The Number 23 Suicide Blonde/Mrs. Dobkins/Young Fingerling's Mother
Numb Sara Harrison
Towelhead Thena Panos
2008 Life in Flight Kate Voss
Uncertainty Kate Montero
2009 Blood Creek Barb
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Kayla Silverfox
2010 City Island Vince's Bombshell Girlfriend
2011 Angels Crest Cindy
10 Years Anna
2012 John Carter Dejah Thoris
Unconditional Samantha Crawford
2013 The Wolverine Kayla Silverfox Archival Audio (uncredited)
2015 Lost in the Sun Mary
2016 The Hollow Point Marla
2019 Rim of the World Major Collins
2020 Beneath Us Liz Rhodes

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Virginia Hayes 1 episode
2001 Earth Angels Catarin Television movie
2001 The Education of Max Bickford 1 episode
2002 Push, Nevada BRB's Wife 1 episode
2002 Haunted Assistant D.A. Jessica Manning 5 episodes
2008 True Blood Dawn Green Series regular (6 episodes)
2013 Elementary Tanya Barrett 1 episode
2014 Covert Affairs Olga Akarova 3 episodes
2015 A Mother Betrayed Monica Television movie
2017 Manhunt: Unabomber Natalie Rogers 7 episodes
2019 The Fix Dr. Carys Daly 2 episodes
2020 Bosch Alicia Kent 8 episodes
2021–2022 The Walking Dead Leah Shaw 10 episodes

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2005 9th Golden Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy The Merchant of Venice Nominated
2009 11th Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Fresh Face – Female X-Men Origins: Wolverine Nominated

References
  1. Baseline/AMG Staff (2010). "Lynn Collins [NYT "Movies & TV" Actor database entry]". Baseline-AMG. New York, N.Y.: All Media Guide, LLC and The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2016 – via The New York Times. Actor / Gender: Female / Born: June 1, 1979 / Birthplace: College Station, Texas.
  2. Millar, John (March 4, 2012). "Classic Actress Turns Alien Princess for Out-of-this-World Movie Epic 'John Carter'". Daily Record. Glasgow, Scotland. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. [Collins is] planning her first trip to Scotland in May for her birthday.
  3. This source, which is currently hindered by WP:Original Research and source inaccessibility, is said to state a DOB as May 16, 1977. See "Free Family Tree, Genealogy and Family History". MyHeritage. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2016.[subscription required]
  4. Ryan, Mike (March 9, 2012). "Lynn Collins, 'John Carter' Star, Cried While Reading the Script (In a Good Way)". The Huffington Post. AOL. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  5. Barna, Ben (March 7, 2012). "Lynn Collins is Ready to Blast-Off in the Epic 'John Carter'". BlackBook [BlackBookMag.com]. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved 2016-08-12. When you're a functioning alcoholic, you can hide it. And I was young enough that it didn't show in my face. But it got to a point where somebody was like, it's not cute anymore, and I was like, Oh God.
  6. Busch, Jenna (March 9, 2012). "'John Carter': Lynn Collins on Female Warriors, Actor Slapping". Zap2it.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  7. "Top 99 Women, 2012 Edition: Lynn Collins". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  8. "Alumni News". The Juilliard School. May 2008. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011.
  9. New York Daily News 26 December 2004 "Power to Her Portia: actress Lynn Collins breaks out in Merchant of Venice film" by John Clark p.11 (Sunday Now)
  10. Philadelphia Inquirer January 28, 2005 "Onscreen: a Merchant of fine measure" by Carrie Rickey p.W3
  11. Kit, Borys (June 12, 2009). "Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins blast off to Mars". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  12. Marr, Madeleine (March 7, 2012). "Lynn Collins is 'John Carter's' Warrior Princess". The Miami Herald. McClatchy Newspapers. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  13. Gelt, Jessica (September 9, 2000). "Supper Club, where dining is a class act". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Other sun-soaked Hollywood guests included actress Lynn Collins ('True Blood' and 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine') and her husband, actor Steven Strait....
  14. Chaudhary, Rakesh. "Steven Strait Felt No Compunctions about Dating Actresses after Divorce with Wife Lynn Collins". hollywoodmask. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  15. The Naked Truth: Five Celebrities Bare It All Allure. Archived on April 15, 2009.
  16. Fanning, Evan. "Down to Earth with the Most Beautiful Woman in the Universe". The Independent. UK. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012.
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