Michelle Bernard (actress)
Michelle Bernard (actress)
Michelle Bernard is an American actor, model, and writer. She was born on February 22 in Miami, Florida. Her father, Michael Bernard, is an electrical engineer and computer consultant, and her mother, Edie Grossman, is a medical technologist. Bernard began modeling in Miami Beach at age 15 and quickly found work in runway and photoshoots. She studied English writing and computer science at Florida State University before returning to Miami to continue modeling.
Career beginnings and training
After college, Bernard moved back to Miami to pursue modeling and acting. She signed with Mademoiselle Models and did print ads for Levi’s Jeans and commercials for Dillard’s. Her first notable film role was in Any Given Sunday (1999). She later moved to New York in 1999 to further her acting career, taking on background roles in shows like Sex and the City, Law & Order, and The Sopranos.
Move to Hollywood and creative work
In July 2003, Bernard moved to Hollywood and studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. She trained with The Groundlings and worked on improving her craft. She also created and produced her own web content, including a YouTube project called BackstageGirlsTV, which she starred in and helped edit. Bernard has worked on stage as well, including participating in the play Married People: A Comedy in 2017 at The Zephyr Theater in Hollywood.
Television and film roles
Bernard is known for a number of TV and film projects. On television, she has had recurring roles, most notably as Officer Carol Branford on 9-1-1, a part she has played across multiple seasons. She also appeared as Officer DeSantos on The Rookie for two seasons, and has appeared in shows such as Dads, Rake, Ironside, Grease Live!, and Why Women Kill, among others. Her work on screen spans features, TV series, and streaming projects.
Awards and other recognition
Bernard won an acting award in 2014 for her role as Tori Harper in the American Film Institute–associated short film Young Americans. In 2020, she received a People’s Telly Award for her recurring role as Randi Roach in the Brat TV web series Dirt. She has also done photo-doubling for Julia Roberts in Lancôme campaigns and has worked with well-known photographers. She has been a member of the Television Academy for more than a decade.
Writing and personal projects
Beyond acting, Bernard is a writer. She has kept journals since December 1998 and maintains a blog titled “There’s Always F**kin’ Somethin’.” She is working on her first novel, inspired by her blog and journals.
Selected filmography (highlights)
Film
- Any Given Sunday (1999) — Tina the Waitress/Players Wife
- Da Hip Hop Witch (2000) — Big Z’s Lady
- The Snow Queen (2011) — Flight Attendant
- Young Americans (2014) — Tori Harper
- Easy Silence (2014) — Samantha Sway
- Body High (2015) — Punk Bus Driver
- Bianca (2018) — Bianca’s Mother
- Surge of Dawn (2019) — Miranda/Black Out
- Disrupted (2020) — Cinnamon
- Tar (2020) — Detective Finnegan
- Breaking (2022) — Barricade Cop
Television (selected)
- Sex and the City (2002) — Cigarette Girl
- 9-1-1 (2018–present) — Officer Carol Branford (recurring)
- The Rookie (2019–2020) — Officer DeSantos (recurring)
- Dirt (2018) — Randi Roach (main role)
- Crown Lake (2019) — Randi Roach
- Why Women Kill (2019) — Red Haired Woman 1963
Music videos
- The Neighbourhood — Mom (2013)
- The Midnight Beast — Mom (2014)
- Above & Beyond — Louise (2014)
- Sleepy Hallow — Mom (2024)
Website
- michellebernard.com
Michelle Bernard continues to act, write, and create, building a diverse career in film, television, and online media.
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 21:08 (CET).