Josie Loren Explained

Josie Loren
Birth Name:Jocelyn Loren Lopez[1]
Birth Date:19 March 1987
Birth Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Other Names:Josie Leinart
Occupation:Attorney, actress
Years Active:
  • 2006–2015 (actress)
  • 2021–present (attorney)
Children:2
Party:Republican[2]

Jocelyn "Josie" Loren Lopez Leinart (born March 19, 1987) is an American attorney and former actress, best known for the role of Kaylie Cruz in the ABC Family series Make It or Break It,[3] and as FBI Agent Michelle Vega in the TV series The Mentalist.[4]

Early life

Loren was born in Miami, Florida, and is of Cuban descent. Her mother is Mercy Lopez, a middle school teacher at Zelda Glazer Middle School in Miami, Florida.[5] She has one older sister and two brothers. Her older brother, Javier Lopez, is a Harvard University graduate and a commercial litigator in Miami. In 2010, she was voted one of the 50 Sexiest Singles by OK! magazine.[6]

She attended high school at New World School of the Arts in Miami where she studied stage acting. Before becoming an actress, she cheered for an all-star cheerleading team in Miami called Top Gun All Stars.[7] She studied mass media communication, minoring in Spanish, at UCLA.[8] [9]

Career

Loren played the character Holly on Hannah Montana, working with the teen sensation Miley Cyrus on the episode "People Who Use People". Determined to make it big in show business, Loren then took on a role in Medium and later appeared on two episodes of the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh as Maria. In 2007, Loren was cast on the Disney series Cory in the House, playing the character Jessica in the episode "Get Smarter".

Her next project was The Bill Engvall Show, which led her to be chosen for a role in the short comedy Hardly Married, written and directed by Diego Nunez. She followed it up with Christmas in Paradise, and then with 2008’s comic drama This Is Not a Test. She starred alongside Hill Harper, Robinne Lee, and Tom Arnold. Loren then obtained further popularity with a role in the hit film, 17 Again. The big screen comedy was directed by Burr Steers, and starred Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, and Michelle Trachtenberg.[10] In 2009, Loren was cast in the Disney TV movie Hatching Pete. Later that year, she appeared in a starring role on the ABC Family series Make It or Break It, a program which follows the adventures of a group of gymnasts hoping to make it to the Olympics.[11]

In July 2014, Loren was cast as a series regular in the seventh and final season of the crime drama series The Mentalist as rookie FBI agent Michelle Vega.[4] [12]

Personal life

On May 28, 2018, Loren married former NFL player Matt Leinart.[13] They have two sons, one born in January 2020[14] and the other on May 24, 2021.[15]

On May 19, 2019, Loren graduated from LMU Law School.[16] [17]

Political views

Loren has repeatedly expressed pro-life views. She identifies as a Republican.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007Hardly MarriedLetiShort film
2007Christmas in ParadiseBlair
2008This Is Not a TestLaline
200917 AgainNicole
2011With MeJaydenShort film
201321 & OverPledge Aguilar
2014EverlastAdrianaShort film
2014SafeJessicaShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Veronica MarsChloeEpisode: "President Evil"
2006Hannah MontanaHollyEpisode: "People Who Use People"
2006MediumAmanda's FriendEpisode: "Blood Relation"
2007Drake & JoshMariaEpisode: "Battle of Panthatar"
2007Cory in the HouseJessicaEpisode: "Get Smarter"
2007The Bill Engvall ShowMarissaEpisode: "Good People"
2009Hatching PeteAngela MorrisseyDisney Channel Original Movie
2009–12Make It or Break ItKaylie CruzMain role; 48 episodes
201010 Things I Hate About YouKaylie CruzEpisode: "The Winner Takes It All"
2011NCISJaneEpisode: "Tell-All"
2011CastleBridget McManusEpisode: "The Dead Pool"
2011Drop Dead DivaJulia CampbellEpisode: "Prom"
2013Miles Across the SeaJessieEpisode: "Bed-Headed Fred"
2013Annie Sunbeam and FriendsAnnie SunbeamEpisode: "Introduction"
2013The GladesHanna KoskiEpisode: "Gallerinas"
2014Hit the FloorKendall3 episodes
2014Honor StudentTeresa SmithTelevision film
2014–15The MentalistMichelle VegaMain role (season 7); 10 episodes
2015Young & HungrySamEpisode: "Young & Doppelganger"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jocelyn Leinart # 325823 . apps.calbar.ca.gov.
  2. Web site: Josie Leinart . . September 29, 2023.
  3. Review: 'Make It or Break It' . Lowry. Brian . June 21, 2009 . . September 5, 2015.
  4. Web site: Ausiello . Michael . August 18, 2014 . The Mentalist Casts Make It or Break It's Josie Loren as (Potential) Regular . . May 15, 2015.
  5. Gandhi, Neha (May 27, 2011). "The Make It or Break It star spills on her college life, the pressure to party, and real-life romance!". Seventeen. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  6. http://m.okmagazine.com/4235/ "Introducing OK!'s 50 Sexiest women alive !"
  7. Ghosh, Korbi (July 20, 2009). "Make It or Break It : Kaylie Cruz on gymnastics, Kaylie's jerk boyfriend & more" . Zap2it. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  8. Web site: Yan . Marjorie . June 4, 2011 . Josie Loren balances school with acting, including lead role on ABC Family's 'Make It or Break It' . . March 8, 2021.
  9. Web site: Stunts and Circuses. UCLA Magazine . March 8, 2021.
  10. Web site: del Mármol. Sebastian . March 18, 2011. Josie Loren, Star of ABC Family's Make It or Break It, Back Home for Borscht. . March 8, 2021.
  11. Web site: Hernandez . Lee . May 14, 2012. Josie Loren Says She's 'Ready To Move On' From 'Make It Or Break It' (EXCLUSIVE). . March 8, 2021.
  12. Web site: Gajewski . Ryan . February 4, 2015 . 'The Mentalist' Postmortem: "Bittersweet" Twist Is "Catalyst" for Jane . . March 8, 2021.
  13. Web site: Former NFL Quarterback Matt Leinart Marries Actress Josie Loren . Rodriguez . Karla . Us Weekly. May 28, 2018. June 16, 2018.
  14. Web site: Investigating:'Make It Or Break It' Cast: Where Are They Now? . Gissen . Lillie . J-14. March 30, 2020 . June 17, 2020.
  15. Web site: Josie Leinart on Instagram: 'Cannon Asis Leinart. Born May 24, 2021. You may be my Number 2, but you'll never come second. My heart doubled in size the minute you were...' . Instagram.
  16. Web site: Leaders Of Influence: Minority Attorneys -Josie Leinart. January 24, 2022. Los Angeles Business Journal . July 9, 2022.
  17. Web site: Jocelyn L. Leinart - Munck Wilson Mandala. Munck Wilson Mandala. July 9, 2022.