Beverley Ann Mitchell (born January 22, 1981) is an American actress and ountry music singer. She is best known for her role as Lucy Camden-Kinkirk on the television series 7th Heaven and Laura Hunter in the film Saw II.
Biography
Her parents are Sharon Mitchell (née Weisz), an office manager, and David Mitchell, an auto racing promoter. Her parents have since divorced and remarried and she has a half-brother Giuseppe Tomasino from her father's second marriage.
After graduating from Chaminade College Preparatory School in 1999, she enrolled at Loyola Marymount University where she majored in film.
Career
Beverley began her acting career at the age of 4, after being discovered by a talent agent while throwing a temper tantrum at a shopping mall. She appeared in many commercials, most notably in an Oscar Meyer's hot dog commercial. She befriended fellow child actress Judith Barsi during this time, and both often competed for the same parts.
Her first television role was on the sitcom Big Brother Jake in 1990. Afterward, she appeared in many TV movies and made guest appearances on shows like Melrose Place and Baywatch.
Mitchell's first major film role was in The Crow: City of Angels, playing teenaged drug-addict Grace. During the filming of The Crow, in 1996, she auditioned for the role of Mary Camden in a new family drama, 7th Heaven. Producers initially turned her down as they did not think she was suitable to play Mary. However, when she read for the part of sister Lucy, she was instantly cast.
'7th Heaven was a huge success, lasting for 11 seasons, beating both the The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie for the record as the longest-running family drama in television history, while also becoming the highest-rated show on The WB. Mitchell and co-star Stephen Collins were the only cast members to have appeared in all 243 episodes.
In 2005 during a hiatus from filming 7th Heaven, Mitchell played Laura Hunter in the horror sequel Saw II. She was skeptical about taking on the role at first as she has admitted she is not a fan of horror movies.
Her life-long dream of becoming a country music singer came true when, in 2006, she recorded her debut album, Beverley Mitchell with record producer D. Scott Miller in Nashville, TN. She co-wrote 8 of the songs featured on the album, including the hit single "Angel", which was written in memory of her late friend Angela.
Mitchell has been recently cast as a school counselor in another one of Brenda Hampton's show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Personal life
On April 11, 1997, Beverley's friend Angela was killed in a car accident when the vehicle she was in lost control - alcohol was not a factor in the accident. This affected Beverley deeply. She wrote about the experience of losing her friend in the book Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul. The 7th Heaven episode "Nothing Endures But Change" was also based on her experience. Beverley's hit song "Angel" which is featured on her debut album was also written for Angela.
On New Year's Eve 2005, during a trip to Colorado, Beverley became engaged to her long-time boyfriend, accountant Michael Cameron. They had originally planned to get married in 2007, but decided to put the wedding on hold due to the release of Beverley's debut album. The wedding took place on October 1, 2008. Former 7th Heaven castmates Jessica Biel and Mackenzie Rosman attended, with both as her bridesmaids.
Beverley is very close to her former 7th Heaven castmates, calling them her "second family," and is best friends with onscreen sister Jessica Biel. She is also good friends with Lance Bass and singer/actress, Haylie Duff.