Quick Facts
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Biography
Jessica Brooke Capshaw (born August 9, 1976) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Jamie Stringer in The Practice and Dr. Arizona Robbins on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. She was introduced in Grey's Anatomy's fifth season as an attending surgeon and the new head of pediatric surgery. Originally contracted to appear in three episodes, Capshaw's contract was extended to the remainder of the fifth season, with her becoming a series regular in the sixth season.
Early life
Capshaw was born in Columbia, Missouri, the daughter of actress and producer Kate Capshaw, and Robert Capshaw, a sales manager, marketing director, business executive, and high school principal. She is the stepdaughter of director Steven Spielberg. She graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in 1994 and Brown University in 1998 with an English degree. She then attended acting classes at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London.
Career
In the 2001 slasher film Valentine, Capshaw played Dorothy Wheeler. In 2009, she became a regular on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. It was first reported in December 2008 that Capshaw would be joining the cast of Grey's Anatomy as pediatric surgeon Arizona Robbins, for a multi-episode arc. Initially scheduled to appear in three episodes of the show's fifth season, series creator Shonda Rhimes later extended Capshaw's contract to appear in all of the season's remaining episodes, becoming a series regular in the sixth season.
She was established as a love-interest for orthopedic resident Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez). Series creator Shonda Rhimes was pleased with the chemistry between Robbins and Torres, citing the addition of Capshaw to the cast as an element of the season of which she was most proud. Speaking of the new addition, Rhimes said: "I love Jessica Capshaw, and when I say love I mean love. She couldn't be a more wonderful person, and I feel like the chemistry Arizona and Callie have feels like the Meredith and Derek chemistry to me. I find them delightful to watch." Initial media reaction to the character was positive. Matt Mitovich of TV Guide described her as a "fan favorite", and Chris Monfette for IGN praised the addition of "fresh, new characters", such as Robbins over the course of the season.
Personal life
Capshaw married Christopher Gavigan on May 22, 2004 at her family's East Hampton estate. Capshaw has four children with her husband: son Luke Hudson Gavigan (born September 8, 2007)and daughters Eve Augusta Gavigan (born October 20, 2010), Poppy James Gavigan (born June 20, 2012), and Josephine Kate Gavigan (born May 2, 2016).
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Locusts | Patsy | |
| 1998 | Denial | Marcia | |
| 1999 | The Love Letter | Kelly | |
| 2000 | Killing Cinderella | Beth | |
| 2000 | Big Time | Claire | Short film |
| 2001 | Valentine | Dorothy Wheeler | |
| 2002 | The Mesmerist | Daisy Valdemar | |
| 2002 | Minority Report | Evanna | |
| 2003 | View from the Top | Royalty International Flight Attendant | Uncredited |
| 2006 | The Groomsmen | Jen | |
| 2007 | Blind Trust | Cassie Stewart | |
| 2014 | The Hero of Color City | Duck |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | ER | Sally McKenna | 1 episode: "Rites of Spring" |
| 1999-2000 | Odd Man Out | Aunt Jordan | Main cast 13 episodes |
| 2001 | The Back Page | TV Movie | |
| 2002-2004 | The Practice | Jamie Stringer | Main cast Season 7 & 8; 42 episodes |
| 2005 | Into the West | Rachel Wheeler | 1 episode: "Manifest Destiny" |
| 2006 | Thick and Thin | Mary | Unaired |
| 2006 | Bones | Rebecca Stinson | 2 episodes: "Mother and Child in the Bay", "The Truth in the Lye" |
| 2007 | The L Word | Nadia Karella | 3 episodes: "Livin' La Vida Loca", "Lassoed", "Layup" |
| 2009 | Head Case | 1 episode: "Tying the Not" | |
| 2009–present | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Arizona Robbins | Recurring (Season 5) Main Cast (Season 6-present) |
| 2010 | One Angry Juror | Sarah Walsh | TV Movie |