Amanda Schull


Amanda Schull is an American actress and former professional ballet dancer. She is known for her lead role in the 2000 film Center Stage, and for her recurring roles on the American television series One Tree Hill and Pretty Little Liars. She has since starred in the Syfy television series 12 Monkeys, and played a recurring role on the USA television series Suits before being promoted to series regular for the show's eighth season.

Early life

Schull was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Susan Schull, the current president of Ballet Hawaii, and is one of three children. She attended Punahou School, and trained at Hawaii State Ballet under the instruction of John Landovsky.
Schull was offered a scholarship to Indiana University for ballet, and attended at age 17. While at Indiana University, she joined Delta Delta Delta. During her sophomore year, she attended the San Francisco Ballet School Summer Intensive. SFBS subsequently offered Schull a scholarship to continue her studies for an additional year.
When Schull's year-long scholarship ended in 1999, San Francisco Ballet's artistic director offered her an apprenticeship which she accepted. After filming Center Stage, she subsequently joined SFB as a full-time member of its corps de ballet.

Career

Schull was cast in the starring role of Jody Sawyer in the 2000 film Center Stage while still an apprentice with the San Francisco Ballet.
In April 2006, Schull retired from San Francisco Ballet. In May 2008 she went to Australia to film the movie adaptation of Li Cunxin's Mao's Last Dancer. In Mao's Last Dancer, released in North America in 2010, Schull has a major role as Elizabeth "Liz" Mackey, the girlfriend of Li Cunxin.
In 2009, Schull had a guest star role on the Fox TV show, Lie to Me. The same year, she was seen in the Lifetime Movie Sorority Wars starring Lucy Hale and Courtney Thorne-Smith. She also guest starred on The CW's One Tree Hill as Sara, the spirit and memory of the deceased wife of Clay, and also as Clay's wannabe lover who bears a striking resemblance to Sara—Katie Ryan. She guest starred in an episode of Ghost Whisperer in 2009, and episode 14 of Bones, in 2010. Schull recurringly appeared as Meredith, who is Aria's dad's former lover, in the ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars. She also appeared in an episode of Hawaii Five-0. In March 2012, she appeared in a McDonald's commercial for the Shamrock Shake and in April she guest starred in an episode of Psych. Also in 2012 she appeared in an episode of Grimm as Lucinda, a character who resembles Cinderella, but with a twist. In February 2013 she appeared as Agent Naomi in an episode of Nikita. Since 2013, Schull has appeared in the recurring role of Katrina Bennett in USA Network's Suits. In March 2018, she was promoted to series regular for the eighth season of Suits.
In November 2013, Schull was cast as Cassandra Railly on the television series 12 Monkeys, based on the 1995 film of the same name. The show premiered January 16, 2015.

Personal life

Schull met her husband, George Wilson, while filming Mao's Last Dancer in Australia. In February 2020, Schull gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008The CleanerAileenEpisode: "Five Little Words"
2008Cold CaseAllison 'Ally' ThurstonEpisode: "Wings"
2009Ghost WhispererEmily HarrisEpisode: "Greek Tragedy"
2009Lie to MePhoebe HeadlingEpisode: "Love Always"
2009Sorority WarsGwenTelevision film
2009–2010One Tree HillSara Evans / Katie RyanRecurring role; 13 episodes
2010BonesNeviah LarkinEpisode: "The Devil in the Details"
2010–2013Pretty Little LiarsMeredith SorensonRecurring role, 7 episodes
2011Hawaii Five-0Nicole DuncanEpisode: "He Kane Hewa' Ole"
2011CastleJoy JonesEpisode: "Pretty Dead"
2011Two and a Half MenAliciaEpisode: "Thank You for the Intercourse"
2012PsychThea Summers / Dalia TowneEpisode: "Santabarbaratown"
2012GrimmLucinda JarvisEpisode: "Happily Ever Aftermath"
2012The MentalistMarcy VictorEpisode: "Red Rover, Red Rover"
2012VegasCarol ReyesEpisode: "Money Plays"
2012Imaginary FriendBrittanyTelevision film
2013Hunt for the Labrynth KillerShelby CookTelevision film
2013The ArrangementMelodyTelevision film
2013–2019SuitsKatrina BennettRecurring role ; main role
2013NikitaNaomi CeaverEpisode: "Black Badge"
2014SuburgatoryLindaEpisode: "The Ballad of Piggy Duckworth"
2014BetrayedJulieTelevision film
2015–201812 MonkeysDr. Cassandra RaillyMain role
2016Murder in the FirstMelissa DansonRecurring role, 6 episodes
2018Love, Once and AlwaysLucyTelevision film
2020MacGyverEmilia WestEpisode: "Right + Wrong + Both + Neither"