Alice Evans
{{Short description|British-American actress}}
{{Other people}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alice Evans
| image = Alice Evans and Peter Jason, DOD crop.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Evans during a tour of the Pentagon in 2006
| birthname = Alice Jane Evans
| birth_date =
| birth_place = New Jersey, U.S.
| citizenship = {{hlist|United Kingdom|United States[https://web.archive.org/web/20151224113447/http://www.mtv.com/artists/alice-evans/biography/ Alice Evans' biodata], mtv.com; accessed 25 September 2014.}}
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = {{ubl|1996–2015}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Ioan Gruffudd|2007|2023|reason=divorced}}
| children = 2
| parents = David Evans
}}
Alice Evans is a British-American actress.
Early life
Evans was born in New Jersey, U.S.,{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ioan-gruffudd-expecting-first-child-2113206|title=Ioan Gruffudd expecting first child|first=Robin|last=Turner|date=21 April 2009|website=Wales Online}} the daughter of a professor in applied mathematics and a teacher of English literature, and was raised in Bristol, England. She attended Henbury School, along with her two brothers."Meet La Belle Anglaise" by Anna Pursglove, Evening Standard, 15 December 2000. She graduated from University College London with a focus in French and Italian.
Career
After graduation, she enrolled at the Cours Florent in Paris. She gained work in French television, with her breakthrough role as French student Susan in the French sitcom, {{ill|Elisa Top Model|fr|Élisa, un roman photo}}, which ran for 18 months. Next, she went to Italy to play "Nathalie", in the 1998 Italian miniseries Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna. Her first English-speaking role was in the Highlander episode 'Patient Number 7'. After making her first film, {{ill|Monsieur Naphtali|fr}} (1999), director Claude Lelouch cast Evans as Macha in Une pour toutes (1999), alongside Samy Naceri and Anne Parillaud.
In 1999, Disney cast Evans alongside Glenn Close, Gérard Depardieu, and her later husband, Ioan Gruffudd, in 102 Dalmatians.{{cite magazine|author=Mia Sulpor|url=https://variety.com/2000/scene/vpage/disney-lets-dogs-out-1117789265|title=Disney lets dogs out|magazine=Variety|date=15 November 2000|access-date=2 June 2016|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816122255/https://variety.com/2000/scene/vpage/disney-lets-dogs-out-1117789265/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=102 Dalmatians (2000)|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/102-dalmatians-2000-2|publisher=British Board of Film Classification|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025811/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/102-dalmatians-2000-2|url-status=live}} Evans' mother died at age 59, the day before Evans's final screen test for the role, which introduced her to British viewers.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
After appearing in Blackball, she moved to Los Angeles in 2003. She has since appeared in both in films and in television series, including The Mentalist, Brothers & Sisters, Lost, and Grimm. Evans also had a recurring turn as the villainous Esther on The Vampire Diaries{{cite magazine|author=Shaunna Murphy|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2012/02/09/vampire-diaries-esther-arrives-alice-evans|title='The Vampire Diaries': Talk tonight's shocking twist, and find out what's next from producer Julie Plec|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=9 February 2012|access-date=2 June 2016|quote=When Original vampire mama Esther (Alice Evans) returned to Mystic Falls after spending the last millennium six feet under, we knew she’d have some deeply hidden tricks up her sleeve.|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108041826/http://www.ew.com/article/2012/02/09/vampire-diaries-esther-arrives-alice-evans|url-status=live}} and The Originals.
Personal life
Evans met actor Ioan Gruffudd during the filming of 102 Dalmatians.Ioan Gruffudd, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 21 February 2007. They became engaged on New Year's Day 2006 and married on 14 September 2007 in Mexico.{{cite magazine|author=Mary Margaret|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20057165,00.html|title=Fantastic Four Star Ioan Gruffudd Gets Married|magazine=People|date=15 September 2007|access-date=23 September 2014|archive-date=31 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031044336/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20057165,00.html|url-status=dead}} They have two daughters, born in 2009 and 2013.{{cite magazine|author=Andrew Asare|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2013/10/02/ioan-gruffudd-alice-evans-baby|title=Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans welcome second child|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=2 October 2013|access-date=2 June 2016}} In January 2021, Evans announced their separation, which Gruffudd initiated.{{cite web|last=Juneau|first=Jen|date=26 January 2021|url=https://people.com/movies/ioan-gruffudd-leaving-family-wife-alice-evans-split/|title=Alice Evans Tweets Husband Ioan Gruffudd 'Has Announced He Is to Leave His Family': We Are 'Confused and Sad'|publisher=People|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205182309/https://people.com/movies/ioan-gruffudd-leaving-family-wife-alice-evans-split/|url-status=live}} In March 2021, Gruffudd filed for divorce from Evans.{{cite news|date=3 March 2021|title=Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd files for divorce from Alice Evans|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19131357.welsh-actor-ioan-gruffudd-files-divorce-alive-evans/|work=South Wales Argus|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303095253/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19131357.welsh-actor-ioan-gruffudd-files-divorce-alive-evans/|url-status=live}} In February 2022, Gruffudd was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Evans; he was then granted a three-year permanent restraining order in August 2022.{{cite web|last1=Fernández|first1=Alexia|title=Ioan Gruffudd Files for Domestic Violence Restraining Order Against Estranged Wife Alice Evans|url=https://people.com/movies/ioan-gruffudd-files-for-domestic-violence-restraining-order-against-estranged-wife-alice-evans/|website=People|date=16 February 2022|access-date=18 February 2022|archive-date=18 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218223809/https://people.com/movies/ioan-gruffudd-files-for-domestic-violence-restraining-order-against-estranged-wife-alice-evans/|url-status=live}} In January 2023, Evans faced charges over allegedly breaching her restraining order on two occasions.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Isobel |date=28 January 2023 |title=Alice Evans 'facing arrest after missing court appearance' over ex Ioan Gruffudd's restraining order |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/alice-evans-ioan-gruffudd-divorce-b2270432.html |website=independent |access-date=28 January 2023 |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128083057/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/alice-evans-ioan-gruffudd-divorce-b2270432.html |url-status=live }} Evans pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were dropped in March 2023.{{Cite web |title=Alice Evans Thanks Fans After Charges Are Dropped in Ioan Gruffudd Restraining Order Case (Report) |url=https://people.com/movies/alice-evans-thanks-fans-after-charges-are-dropped-in-ioan-gruffudd-restraining-order-case-report/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Peoplemag |language=en |archive-date=16 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816122252/https://people.com/movies/alice-evans-thanks-fans-after-charges-are-dropped-in-ioan-gruffudd-restraining-order-case-report/ |url-status=live }}
In 2017, following a slew of sexual assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, Evans claimed that 15 years prior, in 2002, Weinstein made sexual advances towards her, which she declined. Evans said that Weinstein insinuated that her rejection would affect her and Gruffudd's careers.{{cite web |last1=Kiefer |first1=Halle |title=Actress Alice Evans Wonders What Effect Rejecting Harvey Weinstein Had on Her and Her Husband's Careers |date=14 October 2017 |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/alice-evans-pens-essay-about-rejecting-harvey-weinstein.html |access-date=3 March 2021}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1998
|Rewind |Helga | |
| 1999
|Perky Girl | |
| 1999
|The Escort |Sue | |
| 2000
|Macha Desachy | |
| 2000
| Chloe Simon | |
| 2001
| Emmanuelle | |
| 2002
| Catherine Kennedy | |
| 2003
| Kerry Speight | |
| 2004
| Kelly Vance | |
| 2005
|Four Corners of Suburbia |Susan Harris | |
| 2006
| Vida | |
| 2006
| Faith Spelman | |
| 2006
| Etta | |
| 2007
|Save Angel Hope |Sonia Zeller | |
| 2007
|Agent Crush |Alex |Voice |
| 2009
|Reunion |Minerva | |
| 2013
| Sandra | |
| 2018
|The Liquid Psychologist |Herself |Short |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996–99
| Elisa Top Modèle | Clara | 22 episode; aka Elisa |
| 1996
| Strangers | Charlotte | Episode: "Crash" |
| 1997
| Kyra | Episode: "Patient Number 7" |
| 1998
| Au cœur de la loi | Muriel Highsmith | Episode: "En vert et contre tous" |
| 1998
| H | Sabri's Girlfriend | Episode: "Une belle maman" |
| 1998–2000
| Le Ragazze di Piazza di Spagna | Nathalie | 6 episodes |
| 2001
| Best of Both Worlds | Diane Sullivan | 3 episodes |
| 2003
| Leslie Warner | Episode: "Bait" |
| 2006
|Mayo |Clair Wishart |Episode: "Killing Me Softly" |
| 2006
| Faith Spelman | Television film |
| 2007
|Heather Mills |Voice; episode: "The Freak Book" |
| 2009
| Lost | Younger Eloise Hawking | 3 episodes |
| 2010
| Ilsa Engels | Episode: “Red Letter” |
| 2010
|Dr. Evans |Episode: "Get a Room" |
| 2011–12
| Esther Mikaelson | 6 episodes |
| 2011
|Dr. Felicity Milton |Episode: "Brody" |
| 2011
|Birth Show Narrator |Episode: "Home Wrecker" |
| 2012
| Grimm | Mia Gaudot | Episode: "Over My Dead Body" |
| 2014–15
| Esther Mikaelson | 3 episodes |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996
|Co-host of the racing show MegaRace 2 |Her name is different each time it is mentioned.{{cite web|title=Alice Evans|url=https://lockerdome.com/7227497582574145/7227497582574150|publisher=Lockerdome|access-date=15 December 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104554/https://lockerdome.com/7227497582574145/7227497582574150|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=MegaRace 2 (DOS)|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/megarace-2/credits|publisher=Moby Games|access-date=15 December 2015|archive-date=16 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816122320/https://www.mobygames.com/game/1049/megarace-2/credits/dos/?autoplatform=true|url-status=live}} |
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Alice Evans}}
- {{Instagram|aliceevansgruff
|Alice Evans}}
- {{IMDb name|0262521}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Alice}}
Category:Actresses from Bristol
Category:Alumni of University College London
Category:British television actresses
Category:British film actresses
Category:British soap opera actresses
Category:Actresses from New Jersey
Category:20th-century English actresses