Alicia Leigh Willis
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SOAP STAR STATS
Alicia Leigh Willis (ex-Courtney, GH)
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Alicia Leigh Willis (ex-Courtney, GH)
— ABC
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Vital Statistics
- Birthday:
- March 1
- Years On Show:
- 2001 - 2006
- Marital Status:
- Single
- Awards:
- wo consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actress, 2003, 2004
The 411
Born in Atlanta, GA, and raised in Orange County, CA, Alicia Leigh Willis's acting career got off to a Grrrreat start when she was 15 years old and was cast in a Frosted Flakes commercial in which she played beach volleyball with none other than Tony the Tiger. The spot landed her an agent, and a year later, her one line in the Aaron Spelling family drama 7TH HEAVEN turned into a recurring gig. It also became a family affair: Her parents, actors David and Leigh, both played her parents on the show. Falling in love with her new craft, Alicia opted not to go to college and studied acting at South Coast Repertory and continued with Joanne Baron at the D.W. Brown Studio.
Willis broke into the daytime foray in 1998 when she was cast as troubled teen Alli Fowler on the venerable ANOTHER WORLD, but sadly, she landed the job six months before the show was canceled. Willis didn't let sudden unemployment sour her; she chose to learn from the experience. "It taught me how quickly things can be taken away from you," she told Digest in 2002. Willis returned to the West Coast, where she landed roles in both film and episodic television. Then came the pivotal role of Sonny's sweet, sassy sister, Courtney and the rest, as they say, is soap-opera history.
Et Cetera
—Willis is a pro at skiing, snowboarding, kickboxing and soccer. "Oddly enough, knock on wood, I haven't broken any bones. I just have stitches everywhere," she told Digest in 2002.
—She is one of four children, along with sisters Kimberly and Tiffany, and brother Ryan.
Career Highlights
Other Soap Roles
ANOTHER WORLD (ex-Alli, 1998-99)
TV Roles
SAVED BY THE BELL: THE NEW CLASS (Guest star, 1996)
7TH HEAVEN (Corey, recurring, 1996-2000, 2002)
GRACE UNDER FIRE (Maxine, 1998)
SOMETHING SO RIGHT (Jennifer, 1998)
MAGGIE WINTERS (Tiffany, 1998)
USA HIGH (Renee, 1998)
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL (Alyssa, 2000)
THE CHRONICLE (Alexis, 2002)
GREG THE BUNNY (Amy, 2002)
Film Roles
Anywhere But Here (Uncredited, 1999)
Lost & Found (Big Sister, 1999)
How High (Intellect, 2001)
Other Works
TV commercials for Frosted Flakes and Pizza Hut
Appeared in the Aerosmith music video "Pink"
MEMORABLE QUOTES
"I always seem to play the little rich girl for some reason. That's not me!" — Soap Opera Digest, 5/25/99
"I was a flower girl, a hostess and a waitress. Oh, I was the worst waitress. I feel so sorry for all the people I waited on!" — On holding down three jobs while taking acting classes, Digest, 4/23/02
"When they said, 'We want you to read for Sonny's sister,' I was like, 'Sure, I can see the family resemblance. Should I even bother?'" Digest, 4/23/02
"I'd like to see Jason in the kitchen, cooking Courtney dinner with oven mitts on ... while she's out guarding Sonny." Digest, 6/10/03
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