Jessica Collins (born Jessica Lynn Capogna; April 1, 1971) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Dinah Lee Mayberry on the ABC soap opera Loving (1991-1994) and Avery Bailey Clark on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless (2011-2015), for which she won a Daytime Emmy. She also starred as Meredith Davies on Fox's Tru Calling, and appeared in recurring and guest roles in many other shows.
Early life Collins was born in Schenectady, New York. She attended Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, New York. In 1988, she won the title Miss New York Teen USA and was the first runner-up for the Miss Teen USA Pageant in that same year. Collins later attended London's Royal National Theatre Studio and the Howard Fine Acting Studio in Los Angeles.
Career Collins starred in ABC daytime soap opera Loving as Dinah Lee Mayberry from 1991 to 1994. After leaving daytime, Collins appeared in the films Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996), Best of the Best: Without Warning (1998), and Beautiful (2000), and guest-starred in primetime shows such as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Star Trek: Voyager, Beverly Hills 90210, and Dawson's Creek.
Collins played Meredith Davies on the Fox Network's Tru Calling from 2003 to 2004. She had a major recurring role in the NBC period drama, American Dreams, and later appeared in the short-lived series Unscripted and Scoundrels. She also starred in the short-lived ABC comedy-drama Big Shots from 2007 to 2008. In film, Collins played roles in Ritual (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Dirty Love (2005), Live! (2007), and Open House (2010). Her other television credits include CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Two and a Half Men, Nip/Tuck, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and NCIS.
In 2011, Collins returned to soaps with a role as Avery Bailey Clark on CBS's The Young and the Restless. In 2013 and 2016, she was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role, winning in 2016.Mitovich, Matt Webb (May 1, 2016) Tvline.com. Retrieved September 5, 2016 In May 2015, Soap Opera Digest reported that Collins was leaving the show, with Avery's last appearance airing on July 21, 2015.
Collins guest-starred on 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy and in 2019 starred in an episode entitled "Cracker Jack" of the Netflix anthology series, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings. In 2021, she began starring in the Apple TV+ comedy series, Acapulco.
Personal life Collins married Robert Tyler, her co-star from Loving, on November 11, 1996. The couple divorced February 15, 2002, citing irreconcilable differences.
On May 4, 2016, she married writer and producer Michael Cooney. She and Cooney have a daughter, born in January 2016.
Filmography Film Year Film RoleNotes1997Leprechaun 4: In SpaceDr. Tina ReevesDirect-to-video1998Best of the Best 4: Without WarningKarinaDirect-to-video2000BeautifulMiss Lawrenceville2002RitualJackie2002Catch Me If You CanPeggy2003King for a DayMotherShort film2005Dirty LoveMandy2007Live!Starlet2010Open HouseLauren
Television Year Title Role Notes 1991–1994 Loving Dinah Lee Mayberry AldenRegular role 1992 All My Children Recurring/Guest role: September 23 – October 19, 19921994Robin's HoodsCeleste Fontaine / Celeste BaxterEpisode: "Unto Thyself Be True"1994M.A.N.T.I.S.CorrineEpisode: "Through the Dark Circle"1995CoachBridget McDermottEpisode: "Working Girl"1995RenegadeGraceEpisode: "Family Ties"1995Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanMindy ChurchEpisodes: "We Have a Lot to Talk About", "Home Is Where the Hurt Is"1996Diagnosis: MurderWendy WindsorEpisode: "A Model Murder"1996Life with RogerHeatherEpisode: "The Way We Was"1997Star Trek: VoyagerLinnis ParisEpisode: "Before and After"1997Beverly Hills, 90210Jody CarlisleEpisodes: "Friends, Lovers and Children", "Child of the Night", "Deadline"2000Dawson's CreekSherry EislerEpisode: "To Green, with Love"2002Off CentreKristi LeeEpisode: "The Good, the Bad and the Lazy"2002Andy Richter Controls the UniverseLeslieEpisode: "Little Andy in Charge"2002–2003American DreamsColleenRecurring role (season 1)2003–2004Tru CallingMeredith DaviesMain role (season 1)2004KimTV film2005EverwoodCameronEpisode: "Giving Up the Girl"2005UnscriptedJessicaEpisodes: "1.8", "1.9", "1.10"2005CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMissyEpisode: "Dog Eat Dog"2006Two and a Half MenGloriaEpisode: "Walnuts and Demerol"2007–2008Big ShotsMarlaRegular role2008Gary UnmarriedLeslieEpisode: "Gary and Allison Brooks"2009Nip/TuckTracy PierceEpisode: "Lola Wlodkowski"2010ScoundrelsValerie BottomsRecurring role (season 1)2010CSI: MiamiMarcie WesterfieldEpisode: "Happy Birthday"2011Memphis BeatMargoEpisode: "Troubled Water"2011; 2013; 2019It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaJackie Denardo3 episodes2011–2015Avery Bailey ClarkRegular role2012NCISJudy FordEpisode: "Recovery"2014PerceptionAnne-Marie BishopEpisode: "Prologue"20189-1-1Christina GallagherEpisode: "Heartbreaker"2018Grey's AnatomyDeniseEpisode: "Flowers Grow Out Of My Grave" 2019 Heartstrings Monica Episode: "Cracker Jack"2021 AcapulcoDiane DaviesMain cast
Awards and nominations +List of acting awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result Soap Opera Digest Award Hottest Female StarLoving Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Younger Lead Actress Loving Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless
References
External links
Jessica Collins at TV.com