Melinda Page Hamilton is an American actress, best known for her role as Odessa Burakov in the Lifetime comedy-drama series Devious Maids, and for her leading role in the independent film Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006). She has had recurring roles on Desperate Housewives, Mad Men, and Big Love.
Life and career Hamilton was born in New York City. She attended Princeton University and later the Tisch School of the Arts in New York University. She starred in a number of theatre productions, including as the title character in the original stage production of Cornelia, written by Mark V. Olsen. She made her television debut in the episode of NBC legal drama Law & Order in 1997, and as of 2003, began playing regular guest-starring roles in shows including Star Trek: Enterprise, Nip/Tuck, Ghost Whisperer, Criminal Minds, The Closer, Castle, NCIS, Modern Family, and True Blood. Her memorable 2003 Star Trek: Enterprise role of Feezal, the alien scientist and second wife of Doctor Phlox, explored the concept of polyamory.
She had a supporting role in the 2004 film Promised Land, and the lead role in the 2006 film Sleeping Dogs Lie. She also appeared in the films Corporate Affairs (2008), Not Forgotten (2009), and God Bless America (2011).
On television, she had recurring roles in the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives as Sister Mary Bernard, a nun pursuing a married man, and on the AMC period drama Mad Men, as Anna Draper, polio survivor and widow of the man whose identity Don Draper stole in Korea. She also guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice, and on several of the shows in the CSI franchise: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: NY, and CSI: Miami. She also appeared in HBO drama series Big Love from 2009 to 2010.
In 2013, Hamilton appeared as Odessa Burakov in the first two seasons of the Lifetime comedy-drama series Devious Maids, for which she adopted a Russian accent. In 2015, she had recurring roles in the USA Network series Dig, and the SundanceTV drama, Rectify.
She had the recurring role of Special Agent Telesco in the ABC Drama series How to Get Away with Murder. She also appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series The Peripheral.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Promised Land Marisa 2006 Sleeping Dogs Lie Amy Nominated - Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor 2007 Driftwood Blaire FarrowShort film 2008 Corporate Affairs Chris 2009 Not Forgotten Deputy Mindy 2009 The Horseman Abigail CooperShort film 2011 God Bless America Alison 2020 M.O.M. (MOTHERS OF MONSTERS) Abbey Bell
Television Year Title Role Notes 1997Law & Order Jane Spoonser Episode: "Denial" 2003 Star Trek: Enterprise FeezalEpisode: "Stigma" 2004 CSI: Miami Julie BryantEpisode: "Slow Burn" 2004 Everwood Mary KellyEpisode: "There Is a Reaction"2004 Medical Investigation Sarah DoyleEpisode: "Alienation"2005 Numb3rs Jennifer NashEpisode: "Soft Target"2005 Nip/Tuck Colleen EubanksEpisode: "Hannah Tedesco"2005CSI: NY Kayla Stanfield / Tara StanfieldEpisode: "Bad Beat"2005–2006 Desperate Housewives Sister Mary Bernard Three episodes 2005–2007 Cold Case Janie Stillman Episodes: "Revenge" and "Blood on the Tracks" 2007 Raines Connie WebbEpisode: "5th Step" 2007 Ghost Whisperer Jane TaylorEpisode: "Holiday Spirit"2008 Criminal Minds Claire BatesEpisode: "The Instincts" 2008 Without a Trace Dr. Sally MossEpisode: "Push Comes to Shove"2008–2010 Mad Men Anna Draper Recurring role2009 The Closer Beth GibsonEpisode: "Good Faith" 2009 The Mentalist KatieEpisode: "Crimson Casanova"2009 Castle Diana HarrisEpisode: "Nanny McDead" 2009 Private Practice Donna KeatingEpisode: "What You Do for Love"2009 Bones Georgia HartmeyerEpisode: "The Goop on the Girl" 2009–2010 Big Love MalindaRecurring role 2010 NCIS Vanessa TillmanEpisode: "Ignition"2010 The Glades Sara WestonEpisode: "Cassadaga" 2010 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Jennifer StanleyEpisode: "That's Me Trying" 2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jody CambryEpisode: "The List"2011 Law & Order: LA AttorneyEpisode: "Angel's Knoll" 2012 Modern Family SandyEpisode: "Election Day"2012 True Blood Jill SteelerEpisode: "Whatever I Am, You Made Me" 2012 Vegas GinnyEpisode: "Estinto" 2013–2014 Devious Maids Odessa Burakov Recurring role 2014 Hart of Dixie MarianEpisode: "Star of the Show" 2014 NCIS: New Orleans Alexandra SchwartzEpisode: "Watch Over Me" 2014 Killer Women DEA AgentEpisode: "Queen Bee" 2014 Masters of SexAnne PalmateerEpisode: "Kyrie Eleison" 2015 Dig Sandra Recurring role 2015 Jane the Virgin Alexis Falco Episode: "Chapter Eighteen" 2015 iZombie Dr. Maddy Larson Episode: "Astroburger" 2015 The Whispers Ms. Bellings Episode: "X Marks the Spot" 2015 True Detective Gena's Attorney Episode: "Other Lives" 2015 Rectify Therapist Episode: "Thrill Ride" 2016 Grimm Joan Vark Episode: "The Believer" 2017–2018 Damnation Connie Nunn Main cast 2017–2019 How to Get Away with Murder Claire Telesco Recurring role 2020 Mrs. America Mary Frances Recurring role, miniseries 2020 Messiah Anna Iguero Recurring role 2020 Dirty John Kerry Wells Episode: "Perception Is Reality" 2022–present The Peripheral Ella Main cast2024High Potential Episode: "Dirty Rotten Scoundrel"
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