Bellamy Young

Bellamy Young is an American television, film, theater actress and producer, best known for her role as First Lady of the United States Melody "Mellie" Grant in the ABC drama series "Scandal." In 2014, for her portrayal of Mellie, Young won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Young was born as Amy Maria Young in Asheville, North Carolina, and raised by adoptive parents. Young graduated from Asheville School in 1987, Yale University in 1991 and the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University in England.

Young began her acting career in theater. In 1990s, she performed in the number of Broadway shows including the original production of "The Life." On Off-Broadway, Young appeared of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Merrily We Roll Along" and Randy Newman's "Faust."

In 1995, Young made her television debut in the recurring role of the NBC daytime soap opera "Another World" as Dr. Courtney Evans. She guest-starred on "Law & Order" in 1997 and 1998, in two different roles. In 1999 she made her film debut with small role in the crime drama "Black and White" and later co-starred in the several independent films. In 2000s she began appearing in guest-starring roles on the number of television dramas and comedies. From 2000 to 2011, Young has made over 30 guest appearances on television shows.

In 2011 Shonda Rhimes cast Young in the recurring role of First Lady Melody "Mellie" Grant on the ABC political thriller television series "Scandal" opposite Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn. Before "Scandal," Young appeared in Shonda Rhimes' "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice." She appeared in every episode of the first season of "Scandal" and was upgraded to a series regular as of season two.

Young has received critical acclaim for her performance as First Lady and won generally favorable reviews from critics during the second and third seasons. The Daily Beast named her the "Breakout star" of the show in 2014. Many critics praised Young's performance in her character's centered episode "Everything's Coming Up Mellie" of the third season.

In 2014, Young was a promising contender for an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category, though she did not receive a nomination. She won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in season three.