We Didn't Even Recognize ‘Virgin River’ Star Alexandra Breckenridge in This 2006 Channing Tatum Flick

Published Aug 26, 2021

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5:20pm

Ever since we finished the latest season of Virgin River, we've been discovering the show's stars all over the place. Whether it's a Martin Henderson-spotting in a Britney Spears music video or a Colin Lawrence cameo in Fifty Shades Darker, we're beginning to wonder what this cast hasn't been in.

Now, after a recent rewatch of the 2000s comedy She's the Man, we just noticed that Alexandra Breckenridge (aka "Mel" Monroe) has a supporting role in the flick...and we almost didn't recognize her.

She's the Man stars Amanda Bynes as Viola Hastings, a girl who pretends to be her twin brother, Sebastian, so that she can play soccer at a boarding school. Throughout the movie, Bynes encounters many obstacles as she impersonates her brother, such as falling for the soccer team captain, played by Channing Tatum. Meanwhile, she also deals with the introduction of Sebastian's girlfriend, Monique Valentine, who is played by Breckenridge.

Breckenridge makes comical appearances like the one above, where she chases Bynes around a restaurant thinking that it is her boyfriend.

Part of the reason we didn't recognize the star is because we're used to the long middle part she's rocked on Virgin River and This Is Us. In this movie, Breckenridge sports heavy side bangs that make her look totally different. Not to mention, she was only twenty-four when She's the Man was released, so we can understand why her look has changed over the years.

Recently, the Virgin River star has been reflecting on some of her past roles, like just last week, when she posted about working with Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

She's the Man actually celebrated its fifteenth anniversary earlier this year, and while Breckenridge didn't post anything on social media about it, we're keeping our fingers crossed that we'll get some good behind-the-scenes pics in the near future to celebrate.

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Joel Calfee

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

Joel is the former Associate Editor for News & Entertainment and has been reporting on all things pop culture for over 5 years. Before working at PureWow, he served as a Features Editor at ROCKET Magazine. When he's not dissecting the latest trends in entertainment (or guiding you on what to watch), he covers all the hottest red carpet looks and fashion movements. When he steps away from the keyboard, you can likely find him at an NYC concert, thrift store or LGBTQ+ bookstore happily perusing the shelves.

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