Josie Loren Bio
Jocelyn ‘Josie’ Loren Leinart (born March 19, 1987) is an American attorney and former actress best known for portraying Kaylie Cruz in Make It or Break It and FBI Agent Michelle Vega in The Mentalist. Born in Miami, Florida, she is of Cuban descent and studied at UCLA before earning a JD from Loyola Law School. Loren left acting to pursue law, joining the bar and practicing as an attorney since 2021. In 2018 she married former NFL quarterback Matt Leinart, and they have three children. Her early work included guest roles on Hannah Montana and The Bill Engvall Show, and she remains recognized for her transition from entertainment to law.
Early Life and Background
Josie Loren was born in Miami, Florida, and is of Cuban descent. Her mother is Mercy Lopez, a middle school teacher at Zelda Glazer Middle School in Miami. She has one older sister and two brothers, including her older brother Javier Lopez who is a Harvard University graduate and commercial litigator in Miami. Loren attended New World School of the Arts in Miami where she studied stage acting before attending UCLA. Before becoming an actress, she cheered for the Top Gun All Stars cheerleading team in Miami. At UCLA, she studied mass media communication with a minor in Spanish.
Path to Acting
Loren’s entertainment career began with guest appearances on television shows. She played the character Holly on Hannah Montana in the episode ‘People Who Use People,’ working with Miley Cyrus. This was followed by appearances on Medium and Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh as Maria. In 2007, she was cast in Disney’s Cory in the House as Jessica in the episode ‘Get Smarter.’ Her work on The Bill Engvall Show led to her selection for the short comedy Hardly Married, written and directed by Diego Nunez. These early roles demonstrated her versatility in both comedy and drama as she worked to establish herself in the entertainment industry.
Josie Loren Career
Early Career (2006-2009)
Josie Loren began her professional career in 2006 with guest appearances on various television shows. She continued to build her resume with roles in Christmas in Paradise and the comic drama This Is Not a Test in 2008, where she starred alongside Hill Harper, Robinne Lee, and Tom Arnold. Her first major film role came in 2009 when she appeared in the hit comedy 17 Again, directed by Burr Steers and starring Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, and Michelle Trachtenberg. Later that same year, Loren was cast in the Disney TV movie Hatching Pete, which further established her presence in family-oriented programming.
Breakthrough (2009-2015)
In 2009, Loren landed a starring role as Kaylie Cruz in the ABC Family series Make It or Break It, which followed a group of gymnasts training for the Olympics. This role became one of her most recognizable performances and showcased her ability to portray athletic characters in a serialized drama. Following her success on Make It or Break It, Loren continued to work in television with various guest appearances. Her breakthrough in mainstream television came in 2014 when she was cast as a series regular in the seventh and final season of the crime drama The Mentalist, playing rookie FBI Agent Michelle Vega. This role demonstrated her ability to transition from teen-oriented programming to more serious adult dramas.
Notable Works and Milestones
Josie Loren’s most significant acting achievements include her roles in Make It or Break It (2009-2012) and The Mentalist (2014). These performances solidified her reputation as a versatile actress capable of handling both comedic and dramatic material. The opportunity to work on The Mentalist marked a significant milestone in her career as it represented her move into more mature television programming. Her film work in 17 Again demonstrated her ability to adapt to big-screen productions alongside established Hollywood actors. Loren’s career as an actress concluded around 2015 when she decided to focus on her legal education and new career path.
Josie Loren Family
Josie Loren married former NFL player Matt Leinart on May 28, 2018. They have three children together: two sons and a daughter. Loren is also the stepmother to Leinart’s son from a previous relationship. Her mother Mercy Lopez is a middle school teacher in Miami, and she has a large family including an older sister and two brothers, with one sibling working as a commercial litigator in Miami.
Personal Life
After completing her education, Josie Loren transitioned from acting to law. On May 19, 2019, she graduated from Loyola Law School with a Juris Doctor degree. Since 2021, she has been practicing as an attorney. Despite her successful transition to a new career, Loren remains connected to her Cuban heritage and roots in Miami. She maintains a balance between her professional legal career and family life with her husband and three children. Her career path from entertainment to law represents a significant life transition that she has managed successfully while continuing to build her family.