Early Life and Education

Bonnie Somerville was born on February 24, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York. Raised by her mother in a large Irish-American family alongside eight siblings, Somerville showed an early interest in performing arts. She regularly took part in school plays during her high school years at Poly Prep Country Day School in Bay Ridge, where she was also a cheerleader. Determined to pursue a career in entertainment, she majored in Musical Theatre at Boston University. After graduation, she returned to New York and further honed her acting skills at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.

Career in Acting and Music

While in New York, a chance encounter with a model scout gave Somerville the confidence to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. At age 22, she moved to Los Angeles to explore acting and music opportunities. She formed a band, secured a talent agent, and contributed backup vocals to Joshua Radin’s album We Were Here. Her song “Winding Road” was featured on the soundtrack of the 2004 independent film Garden State, directed by Zach Braff.

Somerville made her on-screen debut as an extra in the 1996 film City Hall. Her breakout performance came in 1999 when she starred in and performed for the CBS miniseries Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story. In 2000, she appeared in the TV series Grosse Pointe, a satire of teen dramas. She gained further attention for her role as Rachel Hoffman in the first season of Fox's hit series The O.C. Her appearance on the show led to a feature on the cover of Stuff magazine’s May 2004 issue, titled “Girls of The O.C.”

She went on to appear in the final season of NYPD Blue (2004–2005), where she portrayed Detective Laura Murphy in 15 episodes. In 2005, she joined the cast of the short-lived series Kitchen Confidential alongside Bradley Cooper. Her television credits also include recurring or guest appearances in Cashmere Mafia (2008), Gary Unmarried, and Royal Pains (2010).

Somerville’s film appearances include roles in Without a Paddle, Shades of Ray, The Ugly Truth, and Labor Pains. In 2010, she co-starred with Amy Sedaris and Neil Patrick Harris in the indie comedy The Best and the Brightest, playing a mother named Sam navigating New York City's competitive private school admissions. She also headlined the Hallmark Channel movie A Holiday Engagement in 2011 and portrayed a detective in the 2013 police drama Golden Boy.

In addition to acting, Bonnie Somerville is a vocalist with the celebrity charity cover band “Band from TV,” contributing her musical talents to philanthropic efforts.

Personal Life and Relationships

Bonnie Somerville has had a few noted relationships in the public eye. She previously dated animal trainer and television personality Dave Salmoni. She was also romantically linked to Kristian Harloff, a co-host and comedian, during a past period of collaboration.