# Jeanine Mason

Jeanine Marie Mason (born January 14, 1991) is an American actress and dancer. Her acting career began after winning the fifth season of the Fox television show So You Think You Can Dance in 2009. She is best known for her role as Liz Ortecho in the CW's drama series Roswell, New Mexico.
Mason had a recurring role as Dr. Sam Bello on Grey's Anatomy. She has also appeared in Bunheads, Of Kings and Prophets, You’re the Worst, Awkward, Major Crimes, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Big Time Rush.
Mason became the first Cuban-American to win So You Think You Can Dance. Her film credits include the thriller Default, opposite David Oyelowo and The Archer, opposite Bailey Noble.
On stage, she was last seen in Center Theatre Group's 2017 revival of Zoot Suit directed by playwright Luis Valdez opposite Demián Bichir.

## Early life and education

Mason was born in Miami, Florida and grew up in a dance-oriented family in Pinecrest. Both of her parents are of Cuban descent. Mason began her dance training at the age of three in ballet and flamenco, and went on to study jazz, acrobatics, hip-hop, modern, and contemporary dance. Mason began her study of theatre at age 11 with community and middle school productions. Upon moving to Los Angeles, California, Mason continued to study theater while also keeping a focus on film and television at the Michael Woolson Studio. Mason earned a Bachelor of Arts in World Arts and Cultures, graduating cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles in the spring of 2014.

## Career
### So You Think You Can Dance

At the age of 18, Mason competed on the fifth season of the show So You Think You Can Dance, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the competition, over fellow contestants Brandon Bryant, Kayla Radomski and Evan Kasprzak. For the first five weeks of the competition (Top 20 to Top 12), Mason was partnered with Phillip Chbeeb. During the show's sixth week (Top 10), Mason danced a contemporary number choreographed by Travis Wall and was partnered with Jason Glover. Later, Mason was also partnered with Brandon Bryant, Ade Obayomi, Evan Kasprzak, and Kayla Radomski. Mason was consistently praised for her strong and versatile performances.
During the fall of 2009, Mason toured the United States with the top twelve dancers of the So You Think You Can Dance competition.

#### Performances

click [show] to see performances :
| Week | Partner | Dance | Song | Result |
| 1 | Phillip Chbeeb | Hip-Hop | "Mad"—Ne-Yo | Safe |
| 2 | Phillip Chbeeb | Tango | "Violento (Up Mix)"—Bailongo! | Safe |
| 3 | Phillip Chbeeb | Broadway | "Moses Supposes"—from”Singin' in the Rain” | Safe |
| 4 | Phillip Chbeeb | Hip-Hop | "Love Lockdown"—Kanye West | Bottom 3 |
| 4 | Phillip Chbeeb | Results show solo | "Moonlight Sonata"—Smart Sleep With Classical | Bottom 3 |
| 5 | Phillip Chbeeb | Russian folk dance | "Kalinka"—Barynya | Bottom 3 |
| 5 | Phillip Chbeeb | Jive | "Stuff Like That There"—Bette Midler | Bottom 3 |
| 5 | Phillip Chbeeb | Results show solo | "Baby's Romance"—Chris Garneau | Bottom 3 |
| 6 | Jason Glover | Contemporary | "If It Kills Me (The Casa Nova Sessions)"—Jason Mraz | Safe |
| 6 | Performance show solo | Performance show solo | "Violento (Up Mix)"—Bailongo! | Safe |
| 7 | Brandon Bryant | Smooth Waltz | "May It Be"— Hayley Westenra | Safe |
| 7 | Brandon Bryant | Pop Jazz | "Battlefield"—Jordin Sparks | Safe |
| 7 | Performance show solo | Performance show solo | "Let the Drummer Kick"—Citizen Cope | Safe |
| 8 | Ade Obayomi | Samba | "LoveGame"—Lady Gaga | Safe |
| 8 | Ade Obayomi | Hip-Hop | "Move (If You Wanna)"—Mims | Safe |
| 8 | Performance show solo | Performance show solo | "Feedback"—Janet Jackson | Safe |
| 9 | Evan Kasprzak | Jazz | "Heartbreaker"—MSTRKRFT featuring John Legend | Winner |
| 9 | Kayla Radomski | Contemporary | "The Four Sections: IV (Full Orchestra)"—Steve Reich | Winner |
| 9 | Brandon Bryant | Paso Doble | ”Tetsujin"— from The Matrix Revolutions† | Winner |
| 9 | Final solo | Final solo | "Por una Cabeza"—The Tango Project | Winner |

### Acting career

Shortly after completing So You Think You Can Dance, Mason turned her attention to acting. Her on-screen career began when she starred in the Halloween episode of Nickelodeon's hit show, Big Time Rush. From there, she appeared in The Bling Ring, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Fresh Beat Band and Hollywood Heights before landing the recurring role of Cozzette on ABC Family's Bunheads and leading roles in Hot Mess and Delirium. She has also booked roles on Major Crimes and Secret Life of the American Teenager as well as several smaller, independent projects. Mason had a recurring role on ABC's hit medical drama Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Sam Bello.
In February 2018, it was announced that she joined the pilot of Roswell, New Mexico as Liz Ortecho. The CW ordered the show to series on May 11, 2018.
Mason performed on November 29, 2009 at the Dizzy Feet Gala in Los Angeles, California at the Kodak Theatre. She and Jason Glover performed their popular contemporary piece, "If It Kills Me", choreographed by Travis Wall, and originally performed Top 10 week on So You Think You Can Dance. Glover has described Mason as "Unique. You just don’t find dancers like her. She has beautiful lines, is funky and charismatic, and has so much life onstage. Not only does it show in her movement but also on her face. Jeanine is a brilliant performer and one of my favorite people to watch—not just in our group, but out of any dancer I've seen, from Gregory Hines to Gene Kelly."
On November 9, 2010, Mason performed a contemporary-ballroom dance with Mark Ballas to John Legend's "Ordinary People" on the television show, Dancing With the Stars.
Her sister, Alexis, also auditioned for the eighth season of So You Think You Can Dance, and made it to the final solo performances before Top 20 in Vegas.

## Personal life

In March 2023, Mason announced her engagement. In late 2023, Mason married a man named Nicholas, who is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves.

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Default | Marcela | |
| 2016 | El Empantanado (The Muddy) | Heili | |
| 2017 | The Archer | Rebecca Rosinsky | |
| 2020 | Christmas on the Square | Felicity Sorenson | |
| 2024 | Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate | Christina Christo | Voice |
| TBA | Viral | Jules | Post-production |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Big Time Rush | Muffy | Episode: "Big Time Halloween" |
| 2011 | The Fresh Beat Band | Amy | Episode: "Step It Up" |
| 2011 | The Bling Ring | Bosso | Television film |
| 2011 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Gween Seligson | Episode: "Brain Doe" |
| 2012 | Hollywood Heights | Natalie | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Bunheads | Cozzette | 7 episodes |
| 2013 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Bebe | Episode: "Money for Nothin'" |
| 2013 | Major Crimes | Heather | Episode: "Jailbait" |
| 2014 | Delirium | Hana Tate | Unsold Fox pilot |
| 2014 | Awkward | Shayne | Episode: "Prison Breaks" |
| 2014 | You're the Worst | Dana | Episode: "Equally Dead Inside" |
| 2014 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Bonnie Flores | Episode: "The Grey Man" |
| 2016 | Of Kings and Prophets | Merav | Main role; 9 episodes |
| 2017 | Searchers | Juniper | Television film |
| 2017 | Ride Overshare | Natalie | Episode: "Natalie" |
| 2017 | Daytime Divas | Nick | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Criminal Minds | Helen Pierce | Episode: "To a Better Place" |
| 2017–18 | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Sam Bello | Recurring role; 12 episodes |
| 2018 | Grey's Anatomy: B-Team | Dr. Sam Bello | ABC webseries; 3 episodes |
| 2019–2022 | Roswell, New Mexico | Liz Ortecho | Lead role |
| 2020–2022 | Trolls: TrollsTopia | Minuet Sonata | Main voice cast; 11 episodes |
| 2021 | Grace and Frankie | Dr. Green | Episode: "The Circumcision" |
| 2023 | Upload | Karina Silva | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2024 | Megamind Rules! | Christina Christo | Voice role; 6 episodes |
| 2024 | WondLa | Eva | Lead voice role |
| 2024 | Cross | Rebecca | Main cast (season 2) |
| 2024 | The Perfect Couple | Hyacinth | Recurring role; 2 episodes |