Viola Lynn Collins (born June 1, 1979) is an American actress. She has made television appearances in True Blood (2008), Manhunt: Unabomber (2017) and The Walking Dead (2021–2022), and is recognized for her roles in films such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and John Carter (2012).
Early life Viola Lynn Collins was born in College Station, Texas, on June 1, 1979. Collins has claimed English, Scottish, Irish and Cherokee ancestry. Collins grew up in Houston, Texas, and lived in Singapore from ages 4 to 10. She also spent several summers in Japan. During a childhood Christmas pageant in which she played Mrs. Claus, Collins discovered her love for acting.
In the 1990s, she graduated from Juilliard School's Drama Division (Group 28) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Career Collins made her television debut in 1999, in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and went on to star onstage as Ophelia opposite Liev Schreiber in Hamlet, followed by a turn as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. After bit parts that included a stint on the series Haunted and roles in the films Down with Love (2003), 50 First Dates (2004) and 13 Going on 30 (2004), she gained notice in the film The Merchant of Venice (2004) as the female lead Portia, alongside Al Pacino, Joseph Fiennes and Jeremy Irons. Collins' audition tape for the supporting role of Jessica having so impressed director Michael Radford that — upon Cate Blanchett's opting out as Portia (due to pregnancy) — Radford had championed Collins becoming Blanchett's replacement.
She furthered her profile in 2008 when she was cast as Jason Stackhouse's girlfriend Dawn Green in the first season of the HBO vampire series True Blood, and through a featured role as the hero's love interest Kayla Silverfox in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) opposite Hugh Jackman. Her first leading film role came when she was cast as the headstrong Martian princess Dejah Thoris in John Carter (2012).
Personal life Collins married Steven Strait on December 23, 2007, after a four-year relationship. Collins and Strait separated in 2013.
She married Matthew Boyle in November 2014. They divorced in 2016. They have a son.
In 2009, she posed nude for the May issue of Allure magazine.
Collins was raised in a "very, very religious" family of Southern Baptists and has since explored several religious faiths, describing herself as a "pretty spiritual person."
Filmography
Film
YearTitleRoleNotes2002Never Get Outta the BoatStacy2003Down with LoveBeatnik Girl200450 First DatesLinda13 Going on 30WendyThe Merchant of VenicePortia2006Return to RajapurSara ReardonBugR.C.The Lake HouseMonaThe Dog ProblemLola2007The Number 23Suicide Blonde / Mrs. Dobkins / Young Fingerling's MotherNumbSara HarrisonTowelheadThena Panos2008Life in FlightKate VossUncertaintyKate Montero2009X-Men Origins: WolverineKayla SilverfoxBlood CreekBarb2010City IslandVince's Bombshell Girlfriend2011Angels CrestCindy10 YearsAnna2012John CarterDejah ThorisUnconditionalSamantha Crawford2013The WolverineKayla SilverfoxArchival audio (uncredited)2015Lost in the SunMary 2016The Hollow PointMarla 2019Rim of the WorldMajor Collins Beneath UsLiz Rhodes2024Someone Like YouLouise Quinn
Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1999 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Virginia HayesEpisode: "Wanderlust"2001 Earth Angels Catarin Television film The Education of Max Bickford Episode: "Who Is Breckenridge Long?"2002 Push, Nevada BRB's WifeEpisode: "The Amount" Haunted Assistant D.A. Jessica Manning 5 episodes 2008 True Blood Dawn Green 6 episodes 2013 Elementary Tanya Barrett Episode: "Solve for X" 2014 Covert Affairs Olga Akarova 3 episodes 2015 A Mother Betrayed Monica Television film 2017 Manhunt: Unabomber Natalie Rogers 7 episodes 2019 The Fix Dr. Carys Daly 2 episodes 2020 Bosch Alicia Kent 8 episodes 2021–2022 The Walking Dead Leah Shaw 14 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2005 9th Golden Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy The Merchant of Venice 2009 11th Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Fresh Face – Female X-Men Origins: Wolverine
References
External links