Is Virgin River star Alexandra Breckenridge really a nurse?

Sometimes when an actor or actress plays a character with a very specific profession, viewers might wonder if they moonlight in that career or have any past experience doing the work. Virgin River fans could have those same feelings about leading star Alexandra Breckenridge.

Based on the series of novels by Robyn Carr, Virgin River stars Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe, a nurse practitioner and midwife who relocates from Los Angeles to the remote Northern California town of Virgin River. Once there, she settles into the tight-knit community.

Not only is Mel an incredible nurse, she’s also a midwife with an excellent bedside manner for expectant mothers. Even though Doc (Tim Matheson), the gruff local physician, doesn’t welcome Mel with open arms, she’s a definite asset to the town’s medical team.

And it appears that Alexandra Breckenridge has done such a stellar job portraying a nurse practitioner and midwife on screen that some viewers are wondering if she’s a nurse off-screen as well. Here’s everything to know about the Virgin River star.

Is Alexandra Breckenridge really a nurse?

Even though she plays one to perfection in Virgin River, no, Alexandra Breckenridge isn’t actually a nurse. The actress has been active in Hollywood since 1998 when she appeared in a pair of television movies. She then appeared in Dawson’s Creek in 2000.

Breckenridge made her film debut in the 2002 teen comedy Orange County and has since co-starred in such hit movies as Big Fat Liar and She’s the Man among others. She has also had an expansive career in television, appearing in dozens of hit shows.

You might have seen Breckenridge in hits series including Freaks and Geeks, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dirt, Life Unexpected, American Horror Story, The Walking Dead and This Is Us. Clearly, she’s a talented, working actress and only plays a nurse on Netflix.

And we’re grateful she does because Virgin River wouldn’t be the same without her. Thankfully, Alexandra Breckenridge will be back for two more seasons of the hit Netflix original series as the streamer renewed Virgin River for season 4 and season 5.

Make sure to watch Breckenridge in Virgin River on Netflix!