Bellamy Young

Early life and education

Young was born as Amy Maria Young on February 19, 1970, in Asheville, North Carolina, and was adopted. She changed her name to join the Screen Actors Guild since there was another Amy Young registered, and chose the name Bellamy as a tribute to her late father's best friend, Bill, who had helped to raise her after her father died.

Young graduated from Asheville High School in 1987. She attended Yale University, initially majoring in physics but studying English and theatre, and graduated in 1991. She spent a summer during college at the British American Drama Academy in England.

Career

1995–2011: Beginnings

Young began her acting career in theatre. In 1997, she made her Broadway debut as Mary in the original cast of The Life. She has also appeared Off-Broadway in Stephen Sondheim's musical Merrily We Roll Along (1994), and Randy Newman's Faust (1995–1996). In 1995, she made her television debut in a recurring role on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World as Dr. Courtney Evans. She guest-starred on Law & Order in 1997 and 1998, in two different roles. In 1999 she made her film debut with a small role in the crime drama Black and White and later co-starred in several independent films. In the early 2000s she began appearing in guest-starring roles on a number of television dramas and comedies, including The Drew Carey Show, The X-Files, ER, Frasier, The West Wing, NCIS, Medium, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Two and a Half Men, Supernatural, Drop Dead Diva, and Castle. From 2000 to 2011, Young made over 30 guest appearances on television shows.

Young was a regular cast member in the USA Network series Peacemakers in 2003. The show was cancelled after one season of nine episodes. She had recurring roles in the Lifetime legal drama series For the People as Deputy Dist. Atty. Agnes Hunt in 2002, on NBC period drama American Dreams as Diane Shaw in 2003, on NBC's Scrubs as Dr. Grace Miller in 2004, as Assistant State Attorney Monica West on CBS's CSI: Miami (2005–06), and on ABC primetime soap opera Dirty Sexy Money (2008–2009) as Ellen Darling, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Darling family. She also had a recurring role in Criminal Minds as Beth Clemmons from 2011 to 2013.

Young has appeared in supporting roles in a number of films, including We Were Soldiers (2002) and Mission: Impossible III (2006), along with independent movies like Larceny (2004), Eve of Understanding (2006), Trust Me (2007), This Is Not a Test (2008), In My Sleep (2010), The Freebie (2010), and Joint Body (2014).

2012–2018: ''Scandal''

In 2011 Shonda Rhimes cast Young in the recurring role of First Lady, then 2016 Republican presidential nominee, Melody "Mellie" Grant on the ABC political thriller television series Scandal opposite Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn. Before Scandal, Young appeared in Shonda Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. She appeared in every episode of the first season of Scandal and was upgraded to a series regular in season two. She later said that her part was originally conceived as a three episode arc. Young has received critical acclaim for her performance as Melody Grant throughout her time on the show . The Daily Beast named her the "Breakout Star" of the show in 2014. Many critics praised Young's performance in her character's centered episode "Everything's Coming Up Mellie" of the third season. Cicely K. Dyson's review for The Wall Street Journal states: "Bellamy Young has been an amazing scene stealer for two-and-a-half seasons, and this time she finally got her chance to shine." Robert Rorke, writing for The New York Post states, "In Mellie, the show has its most fleshed-out character and in Young, its most compelling performer."

On May 15, 2015, Young released her first album, Far Away So Close, on iTunes. In 2016, she starred in the crime drama film The Night Stalker directed by Megan Griffiths about the serial killer Richard Ramirez. The following year, she had a supporting role in the independent comedy film Bernard and Huey opposite Jim Rash and David Koechner. In 2018, she co-starred in Disney's live action adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time, along with Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling. Also that year, she played a leading role in the ABC comedy-drama pilot False Profits.

2019–present

In March 2019, Young announced that she would be co-starring in the Fox drama pilot Prodigal Son opposite Michael Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Tom Payne. In May, the show was green-lit for a series order and by October, had been picked up for a full 22-episode season order . Prodigal Son was the first full season order of fall 2019 and was the highest-rated new show on any network. Young guest-starred in the ABC crime drama Whiskey Cavalier and Netflix anthology Dolly Parton's Heartstrings in 2019. In 2021, she guest-starred in the first episode of Fox series, Fantasy Island and starred in the CW reboot of The Waltons' Homecoming playing the role of Olivia Walton.

In 2022, Young starred in the ABC family drama series Promised Land, playing villainous Margaret Honeycroft. The series was canceled after one season. In November 2022, she was cast in the Hulu mystery thriller series The Other Black Girl, a television adaptation of the 2021 novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris. She also reprised her role as Olivia Walton in The Waltons' Thanksgiving. She has been the spokesperson for Salix Pharmaceuticals' Xifaxan since May 9, 2024. Her father suffered from overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) during her adolescence.

Personal life

Young has been vegan since 1988 and in 2016 participated in a campaign for PETA titled, "Being Vegan Keeps Me Young". A long time supporter of shelter adoption, Young starred in two televised adverts for The Humane Society of the United States: 'The Shelter Pet Project' in 2015 and 'Honestly' in 2016.

Young began dating Portuguese percussionist Pedro Segundo in September 2017. During COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Young and Segundo married.

Young is a registered Democrat. Along with several of her Scandal cast mates, Young headlined at a fundraiser event for Hillary Clinton in April 2016. From August through November 2016, Young hit the campaign trail for Clinton and visited several states. As part of the Obama administration legacy, in 2016, Young appeared in 'Women Film' by The United States of Women along with several other public figures. After performing at the 2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting, it was announced that in 2016 Young would be co-ambassador, along with Chelsea Clinton, of the Trust for the National Mall.

A scholarship student herself, Young now endows a scholarship each year to a student at her alma mater, Yale University. In 2019, she became an ambassador for the organization CARE and has continued to partner with the organisation. For International Women's Day 2020, Young directed a PSA, for CARE; she appears as well as Kerry Washington, Shonda Rhimes, and Katie Lowes.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

References

References

1. "Bellamy Young on Twitter". Twitter.
2. [https://www.newspapers.com/image/798113003/?clipping_id=167409470 "Horoscopes: For Wednesday, February 19, 2014"]. ''The Greenfield Recorder''. February 19, 2014. p. D2. Retrieved March 7, 2025. "Birthdate of: Bellamy Young, actress; Jeff Daniels, actor; Laurell K. Hamilton, author."
3. Moore, Frazier (Associated Press). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city/167417099/ "Bellamy Young thrives in 'Scandal' love triangle"]. ''Press of Atlantic City''. March 16, 2014. p. E2. Retrieved March 7, 2025. "A native of Asheville, N.C., the 44-year-old Young is Southern. But as a teen she headed north to Yale, where she graduated with dual degrees in English and theater studies, then moved to New York, where, on Broadway, she put her singing skill to work as well as her acting chops in Cy Coleman's "The Life" and in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's 'Merrily We Roll Along.'"
4. "Bellamy Young: Biography". [[TV Guide]].
5. "Bellamy Young Opens Up About Being Adopted, Her Real First Name and How She Almost Missed Out on Scandal".
6. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times/167409331/ "Asheville High Graduates"]. ''Asheville Citizen-Times''. May 28, 1987. p. 11. Retrieved March 7, 2025. "Jeffrey Lynn Wyatt, Floyd Antonio Wynn, Patrick Martin York, Amy Maria Young, Dona Marie Young."
7. (2000-05-23). "Yale Class of 1991". Alumninet.yale.edu.
8. "Bellamy Young Biography". [[BuddyTV]].
9. Canby, Vincent. (5 October 1997). "SUNDAY VIEW; Why Whisper About It? 'The Life' Is a Joy". The New York Times.
10. Brantley, Ben. (28 April 1997). "Lively Women, but Very Tired". The New York Times.
11. Brantley, Ben. (26 October 1996). "Two Takes on the Devil: The Charms of the Seedy Give Way to Sunday Best". The New York Times.
12. Gonzalez, Sandra. (October 17, 2011). "'Criminal Minds': Bellamy Young to guest star". [[Entertainment Weekly]].
13. Sadie Gennis. (July 28, 2012). "Bellamy Young Returns to Criminal Minds". [[TV Guide]].
14. Lesley Goldberg. (June 12, 2012). "'Scandal' Ups Bellamy Young to Series Regular for Season 2". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
15. Natalie Abrams. (June 12, 2012). "Scandal Scoop: Bellamy Young Promoted to Series Regular". [[TV Guide]].
16. (2013-06-24). "Emmys: 'Scandal's' Bellamy Young on Finding Inspiration in Michelle Obama". The Hollywood Reporter.
17. Rorke, Robert. (2013-11-18). "'Scandal' co-star Bellamy Young shines in shocker". Nypost.com.
18. Porter, Rick. "'Scandal's' Bellamy Young wins Critics' Choice Award: Score one for Team Mellie – Zap2it". Zap2it.
19. (2014-04-17). "How 'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Transformed Mellie Into Fans' Favorite Character". The Daily Beast.
20. (16 November 2013). "Performers of the Week: Sons of Anarchy's Maggie Siff and Scandal's Bellamy Young". TVLine.
21. (2013-11-14). "'Scandal's' Bellamy Young on Her Flashback Episode: 'Seismic Turns' and Mellie's 'Wrecking Ball' Exposed". The Hollywood Reporter.
22. (2013-11-14). "'Scandal' Recap, Season 3, Episode 7, 'Everything's Coming Up Mellie' – Speakeasy – WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com.
23. Bacle, Ariana. (May 28, 2014). "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the nominees are...".
24. (2016). "Far Away So Close". iTunes.
25. "'Scandal's Bellamy Young meets serial killer Richard Ramirez in 'The Night Stalker' clip — exclusive".
26. McNary, Dave. (23 June 2015). "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Joins 'Night Stalker' Movie (EXCLUSIVE)".
27. N'Duka, Amanda. (26 January 2018). "'Bernard And Huey' Cast On How The Film's Portrayal Of Equality Is "Right On Time"- Sundance Studio".
28. (25 January 2018). "'Bernard and Huey': Film Review - Slamdance 2018".
29. (2016-11-01). "Zach Galifianakis, Andre Holland hoe Join Disney's 'A Wrinkle in Time'". TheWrap.
30. (October 31, 2018). "'False Profits' Not Going Forward At ABC, Shopped To Other Buyers".
31. Andreeva, Nellie. (2019-03-07). "Bellamy Young To Co-Star In Fox Drama Pilot 'Prodigal Son'".
32. Andreeva, Nellie. (2019-05-09). "Fox Picks Up 4 New Drama Series: 'Prodigal Son', 'Deputy', 'NeXt' & Weisman/Katims; What Does It Mean For Network's Bubble Dramas?".
33. (2019-10-07). "Prodigal Son Picked Up for Full Season at Fox {{!}} TV Guide".
34. (February 11, 2019). "Sarah Shahi, Scandal's Bellamy Young, thirtysomething Alums and More Join Netflix's Dolly Parton Anthology".
35. (January 12, 2022). "Promised Land Trailer: Bellamy Young Stirs Up Scandal in Wine Country".
36. (November 3, 2022). "'The Other Black Girl': Eric McCormack & Bellamy Young Join Hulu Original Series From Onyx".
37. (May 4, 2022). "'The Waltons' Thanksgiving' Movie Set at CW with Bellamy Young, Logan Shroyer, Richard Thomas, Teddy Sears".
38. [https://ir.bauschhealth.com/news-releases/2024/05-09-2024 "Salix Pharmaceuticals announces Bellamy Young as Spokesperson for Xifaxan® (rifaximin)," Bausch Health news release, Thursday, May 9, 2024.] Retrieved January 11, 2025.
39. (2013-10-02). "Bellamy Young, Scandal, Interview 2015".
40. "Humane Society TV Commercial, 'Honestly' Featuring Bellamy Young".
41. Young, Bellamy. (2019-09-08). "Happy 2nd Anniversary to the kindest human I know. Every day I feel like the luckiest girl to get to love & be loved by you, @Pedro2Segundo . The most radiant light. Amor de minha vida. Thank you for another year of".
42. "About Pedro".
43. "Young married Segundo in 2020 after three years of dating. "I feel so indescribably lucky to get to share this life with you," Young wrote to Segundo via Instagram in celebration of their anniversary in September 2023.".
44. Johnson, Ted. (2016-04-11). "'Scandal' Stars to Raise Money for Hillary Clinton". Variety.
45. "Videos {{!}} The Huffington Post".
46. (2016-01-30). "Bellamy Young on Working with Chelsea Clinton, Being a Bill Clinton Fan". PEOPLE.com.
47. "Scandal Star Bellamy Young Says Her Character Taught Her "Swagger"".
48. Copelan, Christine. (2019-03-11). "Here's Everything Scandal's Bellamy Young Saw While Working for Gender Equality in Rwanda". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays.
49. (2020-03-05). "Scandal Stars Reunite for Important International Women's Day Message".
50. Dave McNary. (2015-06-23). "'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Joins 'Night Stalker' Movie – Variety". Variety.
51. (1 November 2016). "Zach Galifianakis, Andre Holland Join Disney's 'A Wrinkle in Time'".
52. Kelley, Seth. (May 14, 2015). "Watch 'Scandal' Star Bellamy Young Dominate 'Celebrity Jeopardy'". Variety.
53. Iannucci, Rebecca. (February 11, 2019). "Sarah Shahi, ''Scandal''{{'}}s Bellamy Young, ''thirtysomething'' Alums and More Join Netflix's Dolly Parton Anthology".