Julie Benz, a talented actress, was born on May 1, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Her father, a prominent surgeon, and her mother, a skilled figure skater, instilled in her a strong foundation for a multifaceted life. The family relocated to nearby Murrysville when Julie was just two years old, and she began ice skating at the tender age of three.
As a young athlete, Julie competed in the 1988 U.S. Championships in junior ice dancing alongside her partner David Schilling, ultimately finishing 13th. Her older siblings, Jeffrey and Jennifer, were 1987 U.S. Junior Champions in ice dancing and went on to compete internationally. However, Julie's figure skating career came to an abrupt halt when she suffered a stress fracture at the age of 14, forcing her to take a temporary hiatus.
Undeterred, Julie transitioned to acting, making her stage debut in the play "Street Law" at the local theater. Her first film role was a small credited speaking part in the 1990 horror flick "Two Evil Eyes," where she shared the screen with Harvey Keitel. The following year, she landed a role on the TV show "Hi Honey, I'm Home" (1991).
After graduating from high school, Julie pursued her passion for acting at New York University. Upon completing her studies, she relocated to Los Angeles to further her career, securing small roles in various films and TV shows, including a guest appearance on "Married... with Children" (1987) and the Aaron Spelling TV pilot "Crosstown Traffic" (1995).
In 1996, Julie auditioned for the iconic role of "Buffy" in the series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997),but ultimately lost out to Sarah Michelle Gellar. Nevertheless, she was offered a small role as a vampire girl, which she reprised and expanded upon, becoming a memorable character in the show. Her breakout performance as "Darla" marked a significant turning point in her career.
Julie reprised her role as "Darla" in the "Buffy" spin-off series "Angel" (1999) for two years, solidifying her status as a talented actress. She also appeared in several films, including the critically acclaimed "As Good as It Gets" (1997),playing a receptionist.
Following her stint on "Angel," Julie continued to land guest starring roles in numerous popular TV shows, such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000),"Supernatural" (2005),and "Dexter" (2006),playing the troubled divorcée and lover of the title character, Michael C. Hall.
Julie's impressive resume also includes leading and supporting roles in various made-for-TV movies and the TV series "No Ordinary Family" (2010),where she played Stephanie Powell alongside a talented ensemble cast.
In 2013, she took on the starring role in the sci-fi/fantasy breakout hit show "Defiance," cementing her status as a versatile and accomplished actress in the industry.
