Elizabeth Henstridge

British actress Elizabeth Henstridge rose to stardom in the fall of 2013 after landing the part of the optimistic Jemma Simmons on "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (ABC 2013-). Born and raised on a farm near the Northern England town of Sheffield, Henstridge grew up wanting to be a film and TV actress. Her family, however, had different plans - they wanted young Elizabeth to pursue a stable career with a steady income.

Determined on becoming an actress, Henstridge defied her parents' wishes and began studying acting at the University of Birmingham while still a teen. It did not take her long to realize that she had found her life's calling, and after continuing her acting studies at London's prestigious East 15 Acting School, Henstridge decided to head across the pond and try her luck in Hollywood.

Within six months of landing in sunny Los Angeles, Henstridge landed a lead role in a J.J. Abrams TV pilot called "Shelter." The show was never produced, but it did put Henstridge on the radar of dozens of casting agents around town, and before long she had landed small parts in such films as "The Thompsons" (2012) and "Gangs of Tooting Broadway" (2012). Then Henstridge hit it big by landing a co-starring role in Joss Whedon's brand new superhero-themed TV show, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Henstridge played spy agent Jemma Simmons on the show, which premiered on ABC in September 2013 to overwhelmingly positive reviews.

The show was picked up for a second season in May 2014. In addition to her role on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Henstridge also appeared in a supporting role in the 2014 comedy-drama, "Reach Me." That film, which detailed the lives of several people who are touched in some way after reading the same self-help book, also starred Sylvester Stallone and Kyra Sedgwick.