Alessandra Torresani

Alessandra Olivia Toreson (born May 29, 1987), known professionally as Alessandra Torresani and prior to 2007, Alessandra Toreson, is an American actress. She is known for playing Zoe Graystone in the science fiction television series Caprica and Claire in The Big Bang Theory.

Alessandra Torresani
Torresani in April 2009
Born
Alessandra Olivia Toreson

(1987-05-29) May 29, 1987
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Other namesAlessandra Toreson
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present

Early life

Alessandra Olivia Toreson was born on May 29, 1987, in Palo Alto, California.[1] Her mother was a chief executive officer, while her father ran startup tech companies.[2] She began studying dancing and singing when she was two years old. At the age of 8, she landed a job doing interviews between cartoons on The WB Television Network. She holds a black belt in taekwondo.[3]

She has stated that she is "half-Jewish."[4]

Career

Torresani's television debut was at age nine when she hosted the "Kids' WB Club" for San Francisco's KBWB (Channel 20). She co-starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Going to the Mat. Her other television credits include guest appearances on Even Stevens, JAG, ER, The War at Home, Malcolm In The Middle, Arrested Development, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation among others. In May 2008, Torresani was cast as Zoe Graystone in Syfy's Caprica,[5] a prequel spin-off of Battlestar Galactica, which debuted in 2009.

In 2009, Rolling Stone announced that she was cast to play Lita Ford in The Runaways, a biopic about the all-girl punk band of the same name.[6] Variety later reported that it was Scout Taylor-Compton who would play Ford.[7] In 2010, Torresani was featured as a Girl of Maxim.[8]

In 2013, Torresani starred in the comedy web series Husbands, which first aired on September 13, 2011.[9]

In 2016, she appeared in five episodes of The Big Bang Theory, playing the role of bartender and aspiring screenwriter Claire.

Torresani lives with bipolar disorder and hosts EmotionAL Support with Alessandra Torresani, a mental health podcast.[10]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Lost and Found Park Girl
2000 Mad Song Alex
2000 Baby Bedlam Becky
2010 Annie Goes Boating Annie Short film
2012 Playback Brianna
2013 The Moment Emma
2016 Car Dogs Sheri
2018 Step Sisters Amber Direct-to-video film

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1997 KaBlam! n/a Episode: "Brothers Tiki"
1998 ER Kate Episode: "Stuck on You"
1999 Working Tiffany Episode: "The Prodigy"
1999 My Last Love Emma Movie
2000 Popular Emily/Emma Episode: "Baby, Don't Do It!"
2000 Even Stevens Mimi Nagurski Episode: "Luscious Lou"
2003 Newton Holly Pryor Movie
2001, 2003 Malcolm in the Middle Sara Coleman/Kirsten Episodes: "Malcolm's Girlfriend", "Thanksgiving"
2004 Going to the Mat Mary Beth Rice Movie
2004 JAG Susan Smithfield Episode: "Coming Home"
2004 Arrested Development Ann Veal Episode: "Let 'Em Eat Cake", character was portrayed by Mae Whitman in every other appearance
2004 Grounded for Life Carolyn Episode: "I'm Looking Through You"
2005 Love, Inc. Holly Episode: "Major Dad"
2005 The War at Home Alison Episode: "The Bigger They Come"
2006 Grand Union Meaghan McBride Movie
2007 Bones Teenaged Girl Elf Episode: "The Santa in the Slush"
2008 Happy Campers Dylan Dixon Movie
2008 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Jordan Cowan Episode: "The Turk"
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bree Lindale Episode: "Turn, Turn, Turn"
2009–10 Caprica Zoe Graystone Series regular (16 episodes)
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself/Guest judge Episode: "Queens in Space"
2011 Warehouse 13 Meagan Reese Episode: "Shadows"
2011–13 Husbands Haley 8 episodes
2011 American Horror Story Stephanie Boggs Episodes: "Halloween: Part 2", "Piggy Piggy"
2014 Two and a Half Men Kathy Episode: "Thirty-Eight, Sixty-Two, Thirty-Eight"
2015 The Fosters Brooke Season 3. 3 episodes
2015 Workaholics Crystal Episode: "Dorm Daze"
2016–17 The Big Bang Theory Claire Recurring (season 9)
Guest (season 10)
2016 Lucifer Naomi Episode: "Pops"
2020 Batwoman Duela Dent Episode: "Grinning from Ear to Ear"

References
  1. "Alessandra Torresani: Biography, Latest News & Videos". TV Guide; retrieved August 15, 2012.
  2. Hart, Hugh (January 21, 2010). "Alessandra Torresani Gets Inside Caprica's Prime Cylon". Wired.
  3. Goldman, Eric (January 28, 2010). "Caprica: Alessandra Torresani on Life as a Cylon", ign.com; accessed March 18, 2015.
  4. Miller, Bruce R. (January 22, 2010). "'Caprica' star is ready for her close-up". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2023. That's a holdover from "90210," a series she didn't get. She was up for the role of Silver, "but I wasn't Jewish enough, even though I'm half-Jewish. What?
  5. "Alessandra Toressani also joins 'Caprica'". Zap2it. May 12, 2008. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  6. Kreps, Daniel (June 9, 2009). "Alessandra Torresani Cast As Lita Ford in "The Runaways" Biopic". Rolling Stone.
  7. Goldberg, Matt (June 24, 2009). "Will The Real Fake Lita Ford Please Stand Up?". Collider.
  8. "Sci-Fi has a new Red Hot Robot!". Maxim. February 8, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  9. "Jane Espenson Talks 'Husbands'". The Bambola Factory. July 26, 2011.
  10. "EmotionAL Support with Alessandra Torresani on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
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