Chrishell Stause Bio
Terrina Chrishell Stause is an American actress, television personality, and real estate agent who has built a multifaceted career spanning daytime television, reality series, and luxury real estate sales. Born on July 21, 1981, in Draffenville, Kentucky, Stause first gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Amanda Dillon on the long-running ABC soap opera All My Children. Her career expanded beyond traditional acting when she joined the cast of the Netflix reality series Selling Sunset in 2019, which showcased her work as a real estate agent at The Oppenheim Group in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, Stause has demonstrated remarkable versatility, transitioning between dramatic acting roles and reality television while establishing herself as a prominent figure in both entertainment and real estate industries.
Early Life and Background
Terrina Chrishell Stause was born on July 21, 1981, in Draffenville, Kentucky, a small town that shaped her humble beginnings. Her unique middle name, Chrishell, originated from the circumstances surrounding her birth, as her mother experienced car troubles and stopped at a gas station where an attendant assisted her during pre-labor. During her childhood, Stause faced significant challenges, including living in a tent for a year while her family struggled with financial difficulties. Her parents dealt with addiction and mental health issues, and for a period, the family was involved with the Worldwide Church of God.
Despite these early hardships, Stause pursued education with determination. She attended Murray State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in theater in 2003. Her stepfather, Jeff, played a role in her upbringing after her biological father, who was half Japanese and half Spanish, separated from her mother before her birth. Stause has four sisters, including her oldest sister Shonda, who later appeared on multiple seasons of Selling Sunset. These formative experiences in Kentucky and her college theater education provided the foundation for her eventual career in entertainment.
Path to Acting
After graduating from Murray State University in 2003 with a theater degree, Stause moved to pursue acting opportunities in the entertainment industry. She joined The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe in Los Angeles, which helped hone her performance skills and provided valuable training in comedic timing and character development. This improvisational background complemented her formal theater education and prepared her for the fast-paced world of television acting. Her persistence in auditioning and training during these early years demonstrated her commitment to establishing herself as a professional actress.
Stause’s first major break came in 2005 when she was cast as Amanda Dillon on All My Children. The character had previously been portrayed by another actress, and Stause took over the role when Amanda returned to Pine Valley after a five-year absence. This opportunity marked her transition from a theater graduate to a daytime television performer. The role of Amanda Dillon became her first significant screen credit and launched her professional acting career in the soap opera genre, where she would find considerable success in subsequent years.
Chrishell Stause Career
Early Career (2005-2012)
Stause began her professional acting career on May 4, 2005, when she first appeared as Amanda Dillon on All My Children. She portrayed the character on the ABC daytime soap opera until the series was cancelled and ended on September 23, 2011. During her tenure on All My Children, Stause also expanded her repertoire by appearing in independent films, including Scaring the Fish in 2008 and The Crimson Mask in 2009. These early film roles allowed her to develop her craft beyond the soap opera format and gain experience in different acting mediums.
Following the conclusion of All My Children, Stause successfully transitioned to prime time television. She made her prime time debut with a guest-starring role in the second season of the ABC crime comedy-drama series Body of Proof. This appearance marked an important step in her career, demonstrating her ability to secure roles outside of the daytime television genre. The period between 2011 and 2012 represented a pivotal time as Stause navigated the changing landscape of her career and sought new opportunities in the entertainment industry following her long-running soap opera role.
Breakthrough (2013-2019)
In April 2013, Stause joined the cast of the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, portraying the character Jordan Ridgeway. Her character first appeared in Salem on August 15, 2013, and became a significant part of the show’s narrative during Stause’s initial run, which lasted until 2015. This role represented another major milestone in her daytime television career and solidified her reputation as a reliable performer in the soap opera genre. Her performance as Jordan Ridgeway would later earn her critical recognition and award nominations, further establishing her credentials as a dramatic actress.
Stause’s involvement with Days of Our Lives extended beyond her initial 2013-2015 run. In 2018, it was announced that she would reprise the role, with her return airing beginning in February 2019. Her character exited on November 11, 2019, but Stause made brief returns for guest appearances on March 4 and July 20, 2020, as well as on May 24-25, 2021. For her performance in this recurring capacity, Stause received a nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series at the 47th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2020. This recognition from her peers in the television industry highlighted her ability to deliver compelling performances in the soap opera format.
Reality Television and Real Estate Career (2019-Present)
In 2019, Stause’s career took a significant new direction when she began starring in the Netflix reality series Selling Sunset. The show focuses on The Oppenheim Group, a high-end real estate brokerage in Los Angeles, and showcases Stause’s work as a luxury real estate agent alongside her colleagues. This reality series introduced Stause to a broader audience and highlighted her professional life beyond acting. Her dual career as both an actress and real estate agent became a defining aspect of her public persona, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to succeed in multiple fields simultaneously.
Stause’s expanding career in reality television continued in 2020 when she was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars. She participated in the competition and was eliminated in the eighth week, finishing in eighth place. In 2022, her work on Selling Sunset earned her recognition at the MTV Movie and TV Awards, where she received an award for Best Reality Star. Her acting career also continued with roles in Lifetime films, including Staged Killer in 2019, A Rose for Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story in 2023, and You’re Not Supposed to Be Here in 2023. In May 2024, Stause expanded her international presence by joining the cast of the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Yasmine Shields.
Notable Works and Milestones
Terrina Chrishell Stause has achieved recognition across multiple entertainment platforms throughout her career. Her portrayal of Amanda Dillon on All My Children established her as a prominent daytime television actress, while her role as Jordan Ridgeway on Days of Our Lives earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series in 2020. Her transition to reality television with Selling Sunset brought her widespread visibility and an MTV Movie and TV Award for Best Reality Star in 2022. These diverse accomplishments span soap operas, prime time television, reality series, and independent films, showcasing her versatility as a performer and media personality.
Chrishell Stause Award Nominations
Terrina Chrishell Stause has received notable recognition for her work in television. In 2020, she earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for her performance as Jordan Ridgeway on Days of Our Lives. This nomination acknowledged her dramatic abilities in the soap opera genre and represented significant recognition from her peers in the television industry. The nomination highlighted her successful return to daytime television and the impact of her recurring role on the long-running NBC series.
Chrishell Stause Awards Won
Stause has received awards that recognize her impact in reality television. In 2022, she won the MTV Movie and TV Award for Best Reality Star for her work on the Netflix series Selling Sunset. This award acknowledged her popularity and influence as a cast member on the successful reality show about luxury real estate in Los Angeles. The award represented a milestone in her career, recognizing her success beyond traditional acting roles and validating her position as a prominent figure in reality television.
Chrishell Stause Family
Terrina Chrishell Stause was born to a mother whom she describes as free-spirited and self-righteous. Her biological father was half Japanese and half Spanish, though her parents separated before her birth, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Jeff. Tragically, both of Stause’s parents died from lung cancer between 2019 and 2020, a difficult period that occurred during the height of her visibility on Selling Sunset. Stause has four sisters, including her oldest sister Shonda, who has appeared on multiple seasons of Selling Sunset and resides in St. Louis. Her family background and relationships have occasionally been featured in her reality television appearances.
Personal Life
Terrina Chrishell Stause’s personal life has been the subject of public interest, particularly through her appearances on reality television. She was engaged to actor Matthew Morrison from December 2006 to 2007. In July 2017, she married actor Justin Hartley after the couple announced their engagement in July 2016. However, the marriage ended when Hartley filed for divorce in November 2019, citing irreconcilable differences, and the divorce was finalized on February 22, 2021. Following her divorce, Stause had a brief relationship with Dancing with the Stars dancer Keo Motsepe from December 2020 to February 2021.
In July 2021, Stause began a relationship with Jason Oppenheim, her co-star and boss on Selling Sunset, but the relationship ended in December 2021. In May 2022, Stause confirmed her relationship with Australian musician Georgia Flipo, known professionally as G Flip. The couple began dating in March 2022 and secretly married in Las Vegas in July 2022. They did not publicly announce their marriage until May 2023. In July 2023, on their first anniversary, Stause and G Flip held another ceremony in Palm Springs and expressed their intention to celebrate with a wedding ceremony each year on their anniversary.