# Lusia Strus

Lusia Rozalia Strus (born December 13, 1969) is an American writer and stage and film actress with Neo-Futurists.

## Childhood and work as a theater actress

Strus was born in Chicago, Illinois, to a Ukrainian family. She spoke Ukrainian as her first language and regularly attended Ukrainian school on weekends. She had first decisive successes at performing arts, while a high school student, and attended Illinois State University. As a theater major, she joined Greg Allen's Neo-Futurist ensemble, in 1993, which she wrote solo and ensemble performances for. She has played for the Chicago Steppenwolf, Goodman, and Victory Gardens theaters as well as for the Curious Theatre Company, the Northlight Repertory, and others, and has also worked for Yoplait, WBEZ, and the Chicago Jazz Festival.

## Film and TV actress

Strus is noted for her role as Adam Sandler's assistant (Alexa) in 50 First Dates, as well as for playing eclectic characters and sometimes incorporating unusual accents in her roles. Her career has spanned theatre and stage for nearly two decades. She had a recurring role on Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide as Dr. Xavier. Strus played Janine in Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, and plays Rachel in Jason Lew's and Gus Van Sant's Restless. She had a recurring role in Wayward Pines (2015), and played Letty's mother Estelle on Good Behavior from 2016 to 2018.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Reflections from the Heart of a Child | Counselor | Television film |
| 1999 | Stir of Echoes | McCarthy | |
| 2001 | The Secret | Olenka | |
| 2001 | Soul Survivors | Stern Nurse | |
| 2001 | Danny's Wish | Cindy Rackley | |
| 2002 | Design | Delilah | |
| 2002 | No Sleep 'til Madison | Loraine | |
| 2004 | 50 First Dates | Alexa | |
| 2005 | Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous | Janine | |
| 2006 | Moonpie | Maureen | |
| 2007 | I'm with Stupid | Jean | Television film |
| 2007 | Playing with Chicken | — | Television film |
| 2011 | Restless | Rachel Cotton | |
| 2014 | Kelly & Cal | Mitzi | |
| 2014 | The Mend | Beatrice | |
| 2015 | Everyday Miracles | Maggie Mae Welles-Cooper | |
| 2019 | Buffaloed | Frances | |
| 2020 | Soul | Oksana | Uncredited |
| 2023 | Paint | Beverly | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Cupid | Slinky Woman | Episode: "Meat Market" |
| 2000 | Early Edition | Patty Davlin | Episode: "Mel Schwartz, Bounty Hunter" |
| 2005–2007 | Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | Dr. Xavier | Recurring role (season 2–3) 11 episodes |
| 2006 | Crossing Jordan | Eddie Dawson's Girlfriend | Episode: "Someone to Watch Over Me" |
| 2010–2012 | Jack in a Box | Gloria | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | Modern Family | Officer Blevin | Episode: "Phil on Wire" |
| 2011 | Blue Bloods | Angela Jackson | Episode: "Friendly Fire" |
| 2013 | Whatever This Is. | Donna | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Wayward Pines | Marcy (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Good Behavior | Estelle | Main role; 20 episodes |
| 2018 | New Amsterdam | Jeffers | Episode: "Anthropocene" |
| 2018–2019 | Claws | Brenda | Guest (season 2), recurring role (season 3) 7 episodes |
| 2019 | The Blacklist | Marguerite Renard | Episode: "Marko Jankowics" |
| 2020 | Search Party | Melissa Miracle | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | The Other Two | Sheila | Episode: "Cary Gets His Ass Handed to Him" |