Riley Voelkel Biography – Her Journey From Model To Actress
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| Real Name: | Riley Emilia Voelkel |
| Profession: | Actress |
| Birthplace: | Elk Grove, California |
| Notable work: | American Horror Story: Coven (2013) The Originals (2014–2018) Hightown (2020–present) |
| Age: | 34 |
Riley Emilia Voelkel (born April 26, 1990) is an American-born Canadian actress. She is known for portraying Freya Mikaelson on The CW television series The Originals and Legacies. Voelkel also played the role of Jenna Johnson on the HBO television series The Newsroom. In 2013, she played the younger version of Jessica Lange’s character, the witch Fiona Goode in the FX series American Horror Story: Coven.
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Riley Emilia Voelkel Biography
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| Born | April 26, 1990 (age 34) Elk Grove, California |
| Occupations |
Actress
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| Years active | 2010–present |
| Notable work | American Horror Story: Coven (2013) The Originals (2014–2018) Hightown (2020–present) |
Table of Contents
Early life
Voelkel was born in Elk Grove, California but raised in Calgary, Alberta.
Just a month away from going to college, a modeling scout came to her town and she decided to try her luck. The scout picked her and she went to Los Angeles where she was very much liked by several agents. She moved to Los Angeles to model, but, soon after, she joined an acting class recommended by an agent.
Career
Voelkel’s first role was of a club girl in The Social Network, winning the part by audition. Afterwards, she signed with an agent, and booked her first starring role, as Carrie in the independent film, The Secret Lives of Dorks, released in 2013. In 2012, she joined the HBO series The Newsroom only for the pilot episode, but l;ater became the character of Jenna. In 2014, she was cast as one of the leads in the Amazon pilot Point Of Honor.
In the fall 2014, Voelkel was cast in an unnamed recurring role on The CW series The Originals during its second season. Her character on The Originals, Freya Mikaelson, was upgraded to a series regular for the show’s third season.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Social Network | Final Club Girl | Uncredited |
| 2011 | Prom | Claire | |
| 2012 | Hidden Moon | Christine Brighton | |
| 2013 | Synthesizers | Club Girl | Short film |
| The Secret Lives of Dorks | Carrie Smith | ||
| 2016 | Scrambled | Cristina |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Glory Daze | Caroline | Episode: Pilot |
| 2012 | The Mentalist | Tristan | Episode: “Red is the New Black” |
| 2012–14 | The Newsroom | Jenna Johnson | Recurring, 15 episodes |
| 2013 | American Horror Story: Coven | Young Fiona Goode | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Glee | Sam | Episode: “New New York” |
| 2014–2018 | The Originals | Freya Mikaelson | Recurring role (season 2) Series regular (season 3–5); 60 episodes |
| 2015 | Point of Honor | Lorelei Sumner | Unsold television pilot |
| 2016 | Advance & Retreat | Alison Sinclair | TV movie |
| 2019–2022 | Roswell, New Mexico | Jenna Cameron | Recurring role |
| Legacies | Freya Mikaelson | Special guest star (3 episodes) | |
| 2020–2024 | Hightown | Renee Segna | Series regular |
| 2022 | Chicago Med | Milena Jovanovic | Recurring role |
