Genuine, intelligent and independent are just a few of the words that
can describe Daytime Emmy® Award-winning actress Nancy Lee Grahn. The
seasoned actress, who arrived at “General Hospital” in 1996, plays
strong and savvy Alexis Davis, a brilliant attorney with a sense of
humor. In July 2001, Grahn graced the cover of the prestigious
magazine “California Lawyer,” with a caption that read “Move
over Ally; ‘General Hospital’s’ Alexis Davis is the best lawyer
on TV.”

Grahn has won Two Daytime Emmy Awards and has received 8 nominations.

Grahn grew up in Skokie, Illinois, and makes frequent return trips to
visit family members. It was in a Skokie community theater production
of “Oklahoma” that she landed her first role, “the pony on the
left that pulled the surrey with the fringe on top.” But as she
matured, so did her roles. While attending the Neighborhood Playhouse
in New York City, she had the great fortune to study with Sandy
Meisner and Bill Epsen. She went on to land roles in productions of
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Two for
the Seesaw” and “Barefoot in the Park” at various repertory
theaters including the Goodman Repertory, Dallas Theatre Center and
Michigan’s Meadowbrook Theater as well as playing Beverly Wilkes on
ABC’s “One Live To Live.”

After she decided to move to Los Angeles, Grahn’s television career
took off. She has recurred on several shows including “Castle,”
“Murder One,” “7th Heaven,” “Melrose Place,” and “Models
Inc.,” and guest starred on over 25 primetime shows. It was on
NBC’s internationally acclaimed Daytime Drama “Santa Barbara”
that Grahn won her first Daytime Emmy. Her ten-year run as Julia
Wainwright brought her not only an Emmy, but international fame as
well. “Santa Barbara” was the one of the highest watched shows in
over 150 countries.

Grahn wrote and produced the very well received roll out segments for
the 2013 Daytime Emmys, and most recently has co-written and produced
an original digital series for ABC.com called “GH NOW!” launching
January 2015.

The versatile Grahn is also active politically. She was a surrogate
for Clinton, Gore, Kerry and Obama as well as founder of “Daytime
for Choice,” where she toured college campuses to promote
Reproductive Health and Freedom. Her charities include chairing the
Media Access Awards to promote portrayal of disability in the media.
She also has appeared on various talk shows with her father, a
recovering alcoholic, to discuss the impact of alcoholism on the
family. Additionally, Grahn works closely with the Center for Judicial
Excellence, and is currently on the board of the Child and Family
Guidance Center, a non-profit organization to promote the health and
well-being of children and families through innovative mental health
services. She consistently raises money for Smile Train, Bonnie
Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and her father’s, Robert D. Grahn
Foundation.
Grahn’s greatest accomplishment was the birth of her daughter,
Katherine Grace, who she describes as “heaven on a stick.”

As a single working mother, Grahn’s life is filled to the brim. She
believes her real purpose in life is to be happy — and is grateful
to be just that.
