Rya Kihlstedt

**Rya Kihlstedt** is an American actress. She starred in the 1997 comedy film *Home Alone 3*. The following years she appeared in films *Deep Impact* (1998), *Women in Trouble* (2009) and *The Atticus Institute* (2015). On television, she had a recurring roles as Dr. Michelle Ross in the Showtime crime drama *Dexter* and as Marilyn Rhodes in the ABC musical drama *Nashville*. In 2015, she starred in the NBC miniseries, *Heroes Reborn*.

## Early life

Kihlstedt was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and is a 1991 graduate of Skidmore College in Theatre Arts. She is of Swedish descent.

## Career

Kihlstedt made her film debut starring opposite Rutger Hauer in the 1993 action thriller film *Arctic Blue*. In 1995, she appeared in the ABC miniseries *Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III* and in 1995 played Lizzie Elmsworth in the BBC adaptation of Edith Wharton's last novel, *The Buccaneers*. In 1997, she starred as Alice Ribbons, one of the criminals in the family comedy film *Home Alone 3*. The following year, she appeared in the science-fiction film *Deep Impact*, and co-starred opposite Carla Gugino in the independent film *Jaded*. Also in 1998, Kihlstedt starred with Peter Gallagher in the television film *Brave New World* loosely based on Aldous Huxley's 1932 novel of the same name.

Kihlstedt took ten-years break from acting as she focused on motherhood and raising her two children. In 2009, she returned to screen appearing opposite her friend Carla Gugino in the comedy film *Women in Trouble*. She guest-starred in a number of television series, including *Covert Affairs*, *Criminal Minds*, *NCIS*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, and *Drop Dead Diva*. In 2011, she had a recurring role in the Showtime crime drama series *Dexter* as Dr. Michelle Ross. From 2012 to 2013, she played Marilyn Rhodes, a powerful record producer in the ABC musical drama *Nashville*. Also in 2013, she starred in the comedy film *3 Days in Havana* directed by her husband Gil Bellows.

In 2015, Kihlstedt played the leading role in the independent horror film *The Atticus Institute*. From 2015 to 2016, she starred as Erica Kravid in the NBC science fiction miniseries *Heroes Reborn*. Also in 2015, she was cast as Tig Notaro's mother Caroline in the Amazon Video original comedy series *One Mississippi*. Kihlstedt later appeared in *Once Upon a Time*, *Ray Donovan*, *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* and NBC 2017 miniseries *Law & Order True Crime*. From 2018 to 2019, she had a recurring role as Julia Wagner in the CW series *Charmed*. In 2019, she had a recurring role opposite Carla Gugino in her series *Jett*, and played Kate Laswell in the video game *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare*. Also in 2019, she starred in the season three of the Canadian crime drama *Cardinal*, for which she received Canadian Screen Award nomination. In 2020, she was cast in the Hulu limited series, *A Teacher*.

## Personal life

In 1994, Kihlstedt married actor Gil Bellows. They have two children, Ava Emanuelle (born 1999), and Giovanni (born 2001). She is the sister of Oakland-based violinist Carla Kihlstedt, who has been a member of bands such as Charming Hostess, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and Tin Hat.

## Trivia

* Attended Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY - and graduated in 1991. She was a Theatre Major.
* Met her future husband, Gil Bellows, in 1991 when both were working at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
* Born on exactly the same date as Charisma Carpenter (of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fame).
* She made her film debut in the thriller Arctic Blue, starring Rutger Hauer.
* She portrayed the character Dr. Michelle Ross on the hit series Dexter in 2011.
* In 1994 she married actor Gil Bellows with whom she has a daughter named Ava and a son named Giovanni.
* She appeared on an episode of Covert Affairs with actress Piper Perabo in 2010.