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Elizabeth Gillies

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Elizabeth Gillies
Gillies at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Elizabeth Egan Gillies

(1993-07-26) July 26, 1993 (age 31)
Haworth, New Jersey, U.S.
Other namesLiz Gillies
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2005–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels

Elizabeth Egan Gillies (born July 26, 1993), also known as Liz Gillies, is an American actress and singer. She began her career as a teenager and made her Broadway debut in the musical 13 (2008).[1] She then received recognition for playing Jade West in the Nickelodeon series Victorious (2010–2013). She made her musical debut contributing to the show's soundtrack album and extended plays, all of which appeared on the Billboard 200. She also covered "Santa Baby" (2013) with Ariana Grande.

Gillies starred in the horror film Animal (2014) and the comedy film Vacation (2015). She starred as the lead singer of a band in the FX comedy series Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2015–2016), performing on two soundtracks for the show. She then led The CW reboot of Dynasty (2017–2022) as Fallon Carrington. She also starred in the comedy thriller film Arizona (2018) and voiced the titular superhero in the animated film Catwoman: Hunted (2022).

In 2021, Gillies released a Christmas extended play (EP) with Seth MacFarlane. She then collaborated with MacFarlane on her debut studio album, We Wish You the Merriest (2023), released through Republic Records to moderate commercial success. In 2025, Gillies returned to the stage in the Westside revival of Little Shop of Horrors.

Early life

[edit]

Elizabeth Egan Gillies[2] was born on July 26, 1993, in Haworth, New Jersey, to Dave and Lorrie Gillies.[3][4] She has one younger brother (b. 1996).[5] Gillies has stated that she has Irish ancestry, and an Italian grandmother and great-grandmother.[4][6] She left high school in her freshman year to pursue acting and participated in an online high school program.[7]

Career

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2005–2009: Early work and Broadway debut

[edit]

Gillies' acting career began at age 12 when she started going to local open casting calls. She quickly began appearing in commercials for companies such as Virgin Mobile.[8] Gillies' first television role was as a recurring character in three episodes of The Black Donnellys.[9]

In 2008, she played small roles in The Clique, Harold, and Locker 514. That year she was also cast as Lucy in a Goodspeed production of Jason Robert Brown's new musical 13, alongside her future Victorious co-star, Ariana Grande. Later that year, 13 moved to Broadway, which made it the first Broadway production to have a cast and band entirely made up of teenagers.[1] Gillies remained with the production until its closure on January 4, 2009.[10]

2010–2013: Breakthrough with Nickelodeon and music

[edit]
The cast of Victorious at the 64th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2012

In 2010, Gillies was cast as bad girl and occasional antagonist Jade West in the Nickelodeon television show Victorious, a sitcom revolving around teenagers at a performing arts high school in Hollywood,[11] which marked her second time working alongside 13 co-star Grande.[12][13] Regarding her Victorious character, Gillies said "It's wonderful. I love playing Jade. I always say she's not so much the 'mean' girl, but the 'bad' girl in so many ways. She has a lot of human qualities to her – she's not just completely sociopathic. She's sweet with her boyfriend. It's nice to play a character with some depth."[14]

Victorious premiered on March 27, 2010. During her time on Victorious, she performed on the soundtracks Victorious, Victorious 2.0, Victorious 3.0, most notably the songs "Give It Up" (duet with Grande), and "Take a Hint" (duet with Victoria Justice). The latter was the most successful commercially, earning Gillies her first platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)[15] and silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[16] She also wrote and recorded the song "You Don't Know Me" for an episode of Victorious,[17] which was featured in Victorious 3.0.[18][19]

For the network, Gillies voiced the character of Daphne on the Nickelodeon revival of Winx Club[20] and recorded Winx Club's official song, "We Are Believix".[21] She also appeared in an episode of Big Time Rush and as a contestant on BrainSurge and Figure It Out. Beginning in 2012, Gillies began playing small guest roles outside Nickelodeon. Notable appearances include White Collar and The Exes.

In July 2012, it was reported that Gillies was working on an alternative rock album.[22][23] Victorious ended on February 2, 2013, after four seasons. That same year, she was cast as Courtney in the musical adaptation of Jawbreaker and participated in a reading of the show in Manhattan.[24] The musical did not end up being taken to Broadway. On December 10, 2013, Gillies recorded a duet of "Santa Baby" with Grande for the latter's Christmas Kisses EP.[25]

2014–2019: Mainstream transition and Dynasty

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Gillies in 2016

In 2014, Gillies appeared in the horror film Animal as Mandy and the Lifetime movie Killing Daddy, playing Callie Ross. Animal was filmed in the summer of 2013 in Manchester, Connecticut, and was produced by Drew Barrymore. The film also features Gillies' former Winx Club co-star Keke Palmer and was released on June 17, 2014[26] to negative reviews.[27]

In 2015, Gillies was cast as Heather in the remake of Vacation. The film received a wide release on July 29, 2015. She was then cast in the comedy series Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll as Gigi, an aspiring singer and daughter of a former rock star named Johnny Rock (portrayed by the show's creator, Denis Leary).[28] The show premiered on July 16, 2015, to mixed reviews,[29] but Gillies' performance as Gigi was well received.[30] On September 9, 2016, FX declined to renew the show for a third season, effectively canceling the series.[31]

In 2017, Gillies was cast as Fallon Carrington in The CW television series Dynasty, a reboot of the 1980s series of the same name.[32][33][34] After Nicollette Sheridan left the role of Fallon's mother, Alexis Carrington, near the end of the second season, Gillies began playing the character temporarily, as well as continuing to portray Fallon.[35][36]

In 2018, Gillies starred in the dark-comedy thriller film Arizona as Kelsey.[37] It was first premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and later attained a theatrical release, as well as being released direct-to-video.[38][39] The following year, Gillies, alongside Matt Bennett, made a surprise appearance during the November 19 show of her Victorious co-star Grande's Sweetener World Tour in Atlanta, in which Grande and Bennett performed "I Think You're Swell", while Grande and Gillies performed "Give It Up", both songs from Victorious.[40]

2020–present: Return to music and stage

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Gillies performing in 2025

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillies collaborated with Seth MacFarlane on a series of songs, eight in total, on an extended play entitled Songs from Home released in 2021.[41] Also in 2021, it was announced Gillies would voice the titular character in the 2022 superhero feature Catwoman: Hunted.[42]

In 2023, Gillies released her debut studio album with Seth MacFarlane, titled We Wish You the Merriest.[43][44] In February 2025, Gillies began starring as Audrey opposite Milo Manheim as Seymour in the long-running Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors.[45] Her run is set to end in July 2025 opposite Graham Phillips as Seymour.[46]

Personal life

[edit]

Gillies met American music producer Michael Corcoran on the set of the Nickelodeon show Victorious, when she was 16 and he was 36. Corcoran co-wrote and produced the songs that Gillies sang on the show.[47] The pair began dating in late 2012, when she was 19.[48] On August 8, 2020, Gillies married Corcoran at a private ceremony in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey.[49] They reside in Atlanta, Georgia.[50]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Harold Evelyn Taylor
The Clique Shelby Wexler Direct-to-video
2011 The Death and Return of Superman Eradicator folks Short film
2012 Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom Daphne Voice role
2014 Animal Mandy
2015 Vacation Heather
2018 Arizona Kelsey
2019 15 Minutes at 400 Degrees Crystal Short film
2022 Catwoman: Hunted Catwoman / Selina Kyle Voice role
2024 Spread Ruby Clark Also executive producer

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Black Donnellys Young Jenny 3 episodes
2009 The Battery's Down Bat Mitzvah Guest Episode: "Bad Bad News"
2010–2013 Victorious Jade West Main role; 56 episodes
2011 iCarly Episode: "iParty with Victorious"
Big Time Rush Heather Fox Episode: "Big Time Secret"
2011–2014 Winx Club Daphne / Lorie / Kanika Voice role; 24 episodes
2012 White Collar Chloe Woods Episode: "Upper West Side Story"
2013 The Exes Tracy Cooper Episode: "Prelude to a Kiss"
2014 Sam & Cat Jade West Episode: "#TheKillerTunaJump: #Freddie #Jade #Robbie"
Killing Daddy Callie Ross Television film
2015–2016 Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Gigi Rock Main role; 20 episodes
2015 The Penguins of Madagascar Singer Voice role; Episode: "The Penguin Who Loved Me"
American Dad! Lena Horne Voice role; Episode: "A Star Is Reborn"
2017–2022 Dynasty Fallon Carrington / Alexis Carrington (season 2) Main role; 108 episodes
2018 Robot Chicken Sun Baby / Marie "Slim" Browning Voice role; Episode: "Gimme That Chocolate Milk"
2019 Welcome to the Wayne Parana Sycamore Voice role; Episode: "That's Squidjit Bowling"
2020 Make It Work! Herself Television special
2022 Family Guy Alana Fitzgerald Voice role; Episode: "All About Alana"
The Orville Dinal Episode: "Mortality Paradox"

Theater

[edit]
Year Title Role Director Venue Notes
2008 13 Lucy Jeremy Sams Norma Terris Theatre [51]
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Original Broadway Cast[52]
2008–2009
2013 Jawbreaker: The Musical Courtney Gabriel Barre Workshop reading[53]
2025 Little Shop of Horrors Audrey Michael Mayer Westside Theatre Off-Broadway[54]

Music videos

[edit]
Main article: Elizabeth Gillies discography § Music videos

Discography

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Main article: Elizabeth Gillies discography

Concert residencies

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  • Elizabeth Gillies at Café Carlyle (2025)[55]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Diamond, Robert (August 14, 2008). "13 A New Musical Announces Its Teenage Cast and Band". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Brantley, Ben (October 6, 2008). "Stranger in Strange Land: The Acne Years". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  3. ^ Gillies, Elizabeth [@LizGillies] (July 25, 2011). "Enjoying the last few hours of my childhood! Tomorrow I am a legal adult!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 22, 2017 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b Zutter, Natalie (March 13, 2011). "Interview: Broadway Star and 'Victorious' Mean Girl Elizabeth Gillies Couldn't Handle Bieber Fans". Alloy. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2018. But my Italian grandmother and great-grandmother weren't having any of it; they have their traditional Italian meal, and I had to watch this gorgeous food be consumed by my family. Lasagna, meatballs, and I'm just sitting there...
  5. ^ Gillies, Elizabeth [@LizGillies] (April 23, 2016). "My platinum blonde, bowl-cut-haired little brother is now a fully grown TWENTY YEAR OLD MAN. Can't believe it. Happy Bday @GeorgeGillies3 :)" (Tweet). Retrieved January 22, 2017 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Gillies, Elizabeth [@LizGillies] (March 17, 2015). "I'm Irish AF btw" (Tweet). Retrieved June 11, 2018 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Kidsday interviews actress Elizabeth Gillies" Archived November 8, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Newsday, October 26, 2011. Accessed December 17, 2019. "[Q] How do you balance your schoolwork and acting? [A] It’s hard. It’s very tricky. I had to leave high school freshman year, but I didn’t want to leave school in general because I want to have an education. It’s important. I’m doing online school."
  8. ^ Rohan, Virginia (July 20, 2011). "TV Mean Girl: Haworth's Elizabeth Gillies talks iParty with Victorious". Bergen.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015. Elizabeth Gillies is not a diva. She just plays one on TV. The Haworth teen is nothing but charming as she chats on the phone about Jade, the gifted character with attitude she plays on Nickelodeon's Victorious.
  9. ^ Dixon, Marcus James (March 7, 2020). "10 Reasons We Love Elizabeth Gillies, From 'Dynasty' To 'Victorious'". GoldDerby. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew; Jones, Kenneth (November 21, 2008). "New Musical 13 to Close on Broadway in January 2009". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Nesvig, Kara (January 21, 2020). "Liz Gillies Is Game for a "Victorious" Reboot, But Only If It's the Same Cast". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "Elizabeth Gillies – Broadway Cast & Staff". www.ibdb.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  13. ^ Gray, Delilah (May 12, 2021). "Inside Elizabeth Gillies And Ariana Grande's Friendship". TheList.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  14. ^ Orenstein, H. (July 27, 2012). "Elizabeth Gillies, Victorious Star, On Playing The Bad Girl And Being The Nice Girl". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "American single certifications – VICTORIOUS CAST – TAKE A HINT (FEAT. VICTORIA JUSTICE & ELIZABETH GILLIES)". Recording Industry Association of America.
  16. ^ "British certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Mulvaney, Nicole (November 13, 2012). "J-14 Exclusive: Liz Gillies Talks the End of 'Victorious' and New Music". J-14.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  18. ^ "Victorious 3.0 Track List". Archived from the original on October 2, 2013.
  19. ^ Gillies, Liz [@LizGillies] (October 16, 2012). "Everyone make sure to pre-order the Victorious3.0 soundtrack! Excited to have a song I wrote on there" (Tweet). Retrieved October 16, 2012 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Viacom Press - Nickelodeon Winx Club". ViacomCBS. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020. The series features the voices of some of Nick's biggest stars including ... Elizabeth Gillies (Victorious) as Daphne
  21. ^ "Nick.com - Listen to the Winx Club Theme Song!". Nick.com. July 27, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
  22. ^ Gillies, Liz [@LizGillies] (March 6, 2012). "@LizGOnline I know! I've been crazy busy writing original music so I haven't had any time do covers, but I promise I'll do one very soon :)" (Tweet). Retrieved July 27, 2012 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ Orenstein, Hannah (July 27, 2012). "Liz Gillies Interview". HuffPost. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  24. ^ Gans, Andrew (September 26, 2013). "Readings of Jawbreaker: The Musical, with Diana DeGarmo, Kate Flannery, Elizabeth Gillies, Presented Sept. 26-27". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  25. ^ Boardman, Madeline (December 10, 2013). "Ariana Grande Does 'Santa Baby' With Liz Gillies". HuffPost. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  26. ^ Ng, Philiana (July 25, 2013). "Drew Barrymore's 'Animal' Sets Ensemble Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  27. ^ Cooper, Patrick (June 19, 2014). "'Animal' Is a Redundant Creature Feature". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  28. ^ Patten, Dominic (June 30, 2014). "FX Orders Denis Leary's Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll To Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  29. ^ Lowry, Brian (July 14, 2015). "TV Review: Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll". Variety. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  30. ^ Paskin, Willa (July 15, 2015). "FX's New Show Proves the Ghosts of Rock 'n' Roll Past Are Less Cool Than We Think They Are". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  31. ^ Ausiello, Michael (September 9, 2016). "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll Cancelled at FX". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  32. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (February 10, 2017). "CW's Dynasty Reboot Casts Elizabeth Gillies in Starring Role". Variety. Archived from the original on May 12, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  33. ^ Petski, Denise (February 10, 2017). "Elizabeth Gillies Joins The CW's Dynasty Reboot; William Miller Cast In Searchers". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  34. ^ Holloway, Daniel (May 10, 2017). "Dynasty Reboot, Military Drama Valor Land Series Orders at CW". Variety. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  35. ^ Swift, Andy (April 20, 2019). "Dynasty's New Alexis Revealed: Who's Taking Over for Nicollette Sheridan?". TVLine. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  36. ^ Swift, Andy (April 26, 2019). "Dynasty's Elizabeth Gillies on Her 'Wild' Transformation From Fallon to Alexis: 'It Was Crazy, But I Love a Challenge'". TVLine. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  37. ^ Nicholson, Amy (January 28, 2018). "'Arizona' Review". Variety. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  38. ^ McNary, Dave (May 1, 2018). "Danny McBride's Comedy 'Arizona' Bought for Summer Release". Variety. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  39. ^ Kiefer, Halle (August 13, 2018). "Danny McBride Is Out for Homeowner's Revenge in Housing Crisis Thriller Arizona". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  40. ^ Aniftos, Rania (November 20, 2019). "Ariana Grande & Liz Gillies Recreated a 'Victorious' Scene Onstage & We Were Suddenly Transported to 2010". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  41. ^ "Liz Gillies and Seth MacFarlane: Songs from Home". All Music. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  42. ^ Couch, Aaron (August 17, 2021). "'Catwoman: Hunted' Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  43. ^ Woerner, Meredith (September 28, 2023). "Seth MacFarlane & Liz Gillies Debut Holiday Album". Variety. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  44. ^ Schube, Will (September 28, 2023). "Seth MacFarlane And Liz Gillies Announce 'We Wish You The Merriest'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  45. ^ Liz Gillies and Milo Manheim Are Off-Broadway's New Audrey and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Exclusive)
  46. ^ Levitt, Hailey Graham Phillips to Reunite with Teen Broadway Co-Star Elizabeth Gillies in Little Shop of Horrors Broadway.com, May 27, 2025
  47. ^ Waters, Lauren (February 6, 2022). "How Elizabeth Gillies And Michael Corcoran Didn't Let Their Age Gap Stop Them". Suggest. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  48. ^ "Who Is Elizabeth Gillies' Husband? All About Michael Corcoran". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  49. ^ Rollins, Chris (October 8, 2020). "Actress Elizabeth Gillies Just Got Married in Chesterfield". 94.5 PST. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  50. ^ Macon, Alexandra (September 16, 2020). "Actress Elizabeth Gillies Drove an RV to Her Wedding At a Charming Farm in New Jersey". Vogue. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  51. ^ "13 (Goodspeed Production, 2008) | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  52. ^ Edel, Victoria (August 12, 2022). "Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies Are Too Cute in These Throwback Photos From "13: The Musical"". Popsugar. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  53. ^ Gains, Andrew (September 26, 2013). "Readings of Jawbreaker: The Musical, with Diana DeGarmo, Kate Flannery, Elizabeth Gillies, Presented Sept. 26-27". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  54. ^ Liz Gillies and Milo Manheim Are Off-Broadway's New Audrey and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Exclusive)
  55. ^ Dimino, Vincenzo (May 13, 2025). "Liz Gillies Takes Over Café Carlye for Intimate Residency". PAPER Magazine. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
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