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Jessica Parker Kennedy

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Jessica Parker Kennedy
Kennedy in 2013
Born
Jessica Parker Kennedy

(1984-10-03) October 3, 1984 (age 40)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active2006–present
Spouse
(m. 2022)
Children1

Jessica Parker Kennedy (born October 3, 1984) is a Canadian actress.[1] She played Melissa Glaser in the CW series The Secret Circle, Max in the Starz original series Black Sails and Nora West-Allen / XS in The Flash, and has also appeared in the television series Smallville, Undercovers, Kaya and Colony.

Early life

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Kennedy was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the child of an Afro-Canadian father and a Jewish European mother, part Italian and part Russian.[2] Growing up, Kennedy says there were very few people of colour around, and she was friends with the sole black girl at her school. She had gravitated to friendships with other black people later as a means of finding community.[3] Kennedy was raised Jewish.[4]

Career

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Kennedy portrayed supervillain Plastique in the television series Smallville, the role of Tami in the 2008 comedy film Another Cinderella Story and the recurring character of Natalee on the 2007 television series Kaya on MTV.[5]

Kennedy was originally cast in the J. J. Abrams-produced 2010 spy drama series Undercovers as the younger sister of the female lead (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw)[6] but was later replaced by Mekia Cox.[7] Kennedy played Melissa Glaser in the CW series The Secret Circle,[8] until the show was cancelled after one season in May 2012. Kennedy was cast as the ambitious Nassau prostitute named Max on the Starz TV show Black Sails. In 2017, Kennedy joined the CW's Arrowverse, appearing primarily on the live-action series The Flash. Her character appeared throughout the fourth season and was eventually revealed as Nora West-Allen,[9] and was promoted to series regular for the fifth season using the superhero name XS.[10][11] She then returned in recurring capacities for seasons seven and eight.[12] She appeared as a guest star in the 3rd season of the sketch comedy TV series I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson in 2023. Kennedy appeared in a guest role as Medusa in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians.[13]

Personal life

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She is married to Israeli-American actor Ronen Rubinstein. They reside in Los Angeles. Parker Kennedy expressed encouragement for him coming out as bisexual in 2021.[14] They married in August 2022, with a Jewish wedding ceremony.[4] They welcomed their first child, Boydd Parker-Rubinstein, on September 29th, 2024.[15]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Karma Inc. Candy Short
2011 50/50 Jackie
2011 In Time Edouarda
2011 Bad Meat Estelle
2015 The Perfect Guy Rachel
2017 Gemini Sierra
2018 Cam Katie
2018 Deep Murder Phyllis "Babysitter" Gorman
2019 Business Ethics Dr. Helen
2021 See for Me Kelly
2024 Good Bad Things Madi

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Santa Baby Lucy the Elf TV movie
2007 Decoys 2: Alien Seduction Beautiful Girl Video
2007 Kaya Natalee 10 episodes
2008 Another Cinderella Story Tami Television film
2008 Desperate Hours: An Amber Alert Sandy TV movie
2008–2010 Smallville Bette Sans Souci / Plastique 3 episodes
2009 Exes and Ohs Amy Episode "You Don't Know Jack"
Fear Itself Becca Episode "The Spirit Box"
Soul Alicia 5 episodes
Valemont Beatrice 33 episodes
2009 Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe Lucy the Elf Television film
2009–2010 The Troop Laurel Episodes "Forest Grump" and "Next Stop: Lakewood"
2010 V Grace Episode "John May"
Undercovers Lizzy "Pilot" episode
Brothers & Sisters Angie Episode "The Rhapsody of Flesh"
Lie to Me Alison Roberts Episode "Beyond Belief"
2011 Fairly Legal Jessica Nord "Pilot" Episode
2011 Collision Earth Brooke Adamson TV movie
2011 Behemoth Zoe TV movie
2011–2012 The Secret Circle Melissa Glaser Main Cast
2012–2013 90210 Megan Rose Recurring role, 6 episodes
2013 Nearlyweds Casey Television film
2014–2017 Black Sails Max Main Cast
2017 Lethal Weapon DJ Episode "Homebodies"
I Love Bekka & Lucy Bekka Main Cast
Colony Maya Recurring role, 5 episodes
Ransom Charlotte Walker Episode "The Enemy Within"
Tales Unique Episodes "F*ck the Police" and "Trap Queen"
Supergirl Mystery Girl Episode "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1"
2018–2019; 2021–2023 The Flash Nora West-Allen / XS Recurring role (season 4, 7–9);
Series regular (season 5)
35 episodes
2022 The Old Man Woman at Bus Stop "Episode III"
2023 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Megan Episode "THAT WAS THE EARTH TELLING ME I’M SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING GREAT"
2023 Percy Jackson and the Olympians Medusa Episode: "We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium"

References

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  1. ^ "Jessica Parker Kennedy (as Natalee) – Kaya". MTV. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  2. ^ Jessica Parker Kennedy: This Is The First TV Pirate Show Ever Archived 2015-02-22 at the Wayback Machine suntimes.com
  3. ^ Trapunski, Charles (August 4, 2018). "Interview: The Flash's Jessica Parker Kennedy". Brief Take. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Exclusive: 9-1-1: Lone Star's Ronen Rubinstein weds Jessica Parker Kennedy in intimate farm wedding". November 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Jessica Parker Kennedy – Filmography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2011. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  6. ^ "J.J. Abrams pilot gains a Kennedy". The Celebrity Cafe. January 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  7. ^ Hibberd, James (June 14, 2010). "Mekia Cox cast in NBC's 'Undercovers'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  8. ^ Bricker, Tierney (March 17, 2011). "Smallville' alum Jessica Parker Kennedy joins 'The Secret Circle'". Zap2It. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  9. ^ Abrams, Natalie (May 22, 2018). "The Flash boss on that Mystery Girl reveal, new season 5 threat". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  10. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 18, 2018). "The Flash: Jessica Parker Kennedy Will Be a Series Regular for Season 5". TVLine.
  11. ^ Cardona, Ian (July 21, 2018). "The Flash: Barry & Iris' Daughter Is Exactly Who We Thought (Sort Of)". CBR. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Drum, Nicole (December 26, 2021). "The Flash Season 8 Preview Teases Timeline Trouble". ComicBook. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Otterson, Joe (October 13, 2022). "'Percy Jackson' Disney+ Series Casts Adam Copeland, Suzanne Cryer, Jessica Parker Kennedy (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  14. ^ Malkin, Marc (April 7, 2021). "9-1-1: Lone Star' Actor Ronen Rubinstein Comes Out as Bisexual, Inspired by His Work on Fox Series". Variety. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  15. ^ "Ronen Rubenstein and Jessica Parker Kennedy welcome their first child and the name is adorable!". HELLO!. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
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