The Class

Background:

“I used to power-walk on my lunch hour with a group of friends. I'd drag my heels, but whenever I went, I felt better.” Andrea Anders.

Starting out her career on the stage, Andrea Anders, who holds a bachelor degree in fine arts and a master's from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, made her debut on Broadway in 2001 in the David Auburn's Tony Award-winning play "Proof" as an understudy for the roles of Catherine and Claire, and then in the next year's Broadway production of “The Graduate," portraying Elaine Robinson.

On television, she has played Elaine, Starr's nanny in "One Life to Live," Ellie, Olivia's assistant in "The Guiding Light," and Donna Degenhart in the HBO prison drama "Oz," but is best remembered while playing blonde lawyer Alexis "Alex" Garrett on the hit NBC sitcom starring "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc, "Joey" (2004-2006), and starring as Nicole Allen (formerly Nicole Campbell) on the CBS Emmy Award-nominated sitcom "The Class" (2006-2007). She also has guest-starred in "Law & Order," "Tru Calling," and "Numb3rs."

Next, Anders will co-star with Portia de Rossi and Jay Harrington in an upcoming satirical office comedy called "Better Off Ted," which will premiere on the ABC network as part of its mid-season schedule in 2009.

As for her film works, Anders has appeared in "The Stepford Wives" (2004) and will soon be seen alongside Josh Zuckerman, Clark Duke, James Marsden, Seth Green, and Amanda Crew in the upcoming comedy film "Sex Drive."

Wisconsin Native

Childhood and Family:

On May 10, 1975, Andrea Anders was born in Madison, Wisconsin. She grew up in DeForest, Wisconsin, and was educated at DeForest Area High School (1993). She earned a bachelor's in fine arts from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Wisconsin (1997) and a master's from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, New Jersey (2001).

Anders first moved to New York at age 22 and now resides in Los Angeles.

Joey

Career:

Holding a bachelor degree in fine arts and a master's from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Wisconsin native Andrea Anders moved to New York and made her debut on Broadway in 2001 in the David Auburn's Tony Award-winning play "Proof" as an understudy for the roles of Catherine and Claire, and appeared in the next year's Broadway production of “The Graduate," portraying Elaine Robinson. She also appeared in “On the Jump” at the Arena Stage, New Doors at the Guthrie Theater, and two New York Stage & Film productions, “Cold/Tender” and “New World Rhapsody.”

Anders, who first appeared on television in 1998 playing Elaine, Starr's (played by Kristen Alderson) nanny, on the ABC daytime drama "One Life to Live," was cast as Ellie (2001), Olivia's (played by Crystal Chappell) assistant, on the CBS daytime drama "Guiding Light." During this time, she was also spotted as a guest in an episode of NBC police procedural and legal drama television series "Law & Order."

In 2003, Anders played the recurring role of Donna Degenhart on the HBO original prison drama series "Oz" and co-starred with Richard Ruccolo in the romantic comedy Tv movie "Spellbound" (2003). That same year, she also moved to Los Angeles.

From 2004 to 2006, Anders played blonde lawyer Alexis "Alex" Garrett, the next door neighbor, landlord and friend, on the hit NBC sitcom starring "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc, "Joey." Meanwhile, she had a small part in Frank Oz's remake of the 1975 dark comedy/science fiction film based on the Ira Levin novel, "The Stepford Wives" (2004; starring Nicole Kidman). She also guest-starred in an episode of Fox drama series starring Eliza Dushku, "Tru Calling."

Following the demise of "Joey," Anders starred as Nicole Allen (formerly Nicole Campbell), a pretty woman who was popular in high school, on the CBS Emmy Award-nominated sitcom "The Class." The show, which follows the lives of eight very different alumni of the fictitious Woodman Elementary School, ran from September 18, 2006 to March 5, 2007. Meanwhile, she returned to the stage to in May 2007, to appear in the Geffen Playhouse performance of “Fat Pig,” playing the part of Jeannie, an accountant. “Fat Pig” closed on July 1, 2007.

Anders most recently guest-starred in a January 2008 episode of CBS police procedural drama series starring Rob Morrow and David Krumholtz, "Numb3rs." Next, she will support Josh Zuckerman, Clark Duke, James Marsden, Seth Green, and Amanda Crew in Sean Anders' comedy film based on the novel "All The Way" by Andy Behrens, "Sex Drive." She will also co-star with Portia de Rossi and Jay Harrington in an upcoming satirical office comedy called "Better Off Ted," which will premiere on the ABC network as part of its mid-season schedule in 2009.

Awards:
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