Laura Spencer might not be a household name yet, but give it time and this Big Bang Theory actress will be all over television and film. With her fiery red hair and bright smile, she was poised to conquer screens. Considering her two big establishing roles were almost a decade ago, where has she been in the meantime?
Laura Spencer was born in May of 1986 and raised in the same area in Edmond, Oklahoma, not too far from Oklahoma City. While she would have a quiet childhood and wouldn’t get into acting until a little later than most, beginning after she finished school at the University of Oklahoma. She would earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008, jumping into Hollywood only a year after at the age of 25.
Starting Independent
Her first year as an actress took place mostly around her home state of Oklahoma, starring in student films and shorts made by fellow University of Oklahoma alumni. She would make the big move in 2010, taking up her first feature film role in Pearl before following it up in the same year with Dylan Dog: Dead of Night alongside former Superman Brandon Routh.
While she wouldn’t strike gold immediately, she padded out her resume with other indie film roles and a few guest roles on Criminal Minds and Two Broke Girls, among others. From 2011 to 2012, Laura Spencer passed into the orbits of Hollywood greats and cult darlings like John Waters, Leslie Jordan, and producer Chuck Lorre, who would lead her to her first big, recurring role.
A Big-Brain Move
Laura Spencer would get massive indie and web cred with her recurring character in the web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, but she would catch her first big television role in 2014. The Chuck Lorre-produced comedy The Big Bang Theory was going into its seventh season and was looking for a girlfriend for the series’ perpetually awkward and gaslighter extraordinaire, Raj.
She would be chosen to play Emily, a dermatologist/possible serial killer that Raj matches with in a dating app. The two would date over the next three seasons with Laura Spencer demonstrating an uncanny ability to keep a straight face while saying some of the more insidious lines on the show. While the character wouldn’t have confirmation as to if she was actually a serial killer, the evidence is pretty damning.
A Balancing Act
Her schedule would be split almost consistently through 2017 between her time on Big Bang Theory and other long-running hit Bones, where she would gain a recurring role as Jessica throughout the final four seasons alongside leads David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel until the shows end in 2017, the same year her character left Big Bang Theory as well.
Although she wouldn’t have a whole lot of free time while filming those two series simultaneously, she would find time to appear in film Heartland, a romantic drama set in her home state of Oklahoma.
Her input afterward has slowed significantly, with appearances in mostly shorts and a return to her roots with web series alongside former Lizzie Bennet costars, appearing in two episodes of experimental sketch comedy Matt and Dan. She would return to major television in 2021 though, making an appearance in the pilot episode of the FX series Reservation Dogs.
What is Laura Spencer Doing Now?
Laura Spencer prefers to keep her personal life private, understandably. While she married longtime boyfriend Michael Jack Greenwald near the end of 2019, the two keep quiet and the actress hasn’t updated her social media since their wedding, around the same time. Though, considering everything the world has gone through since then, it’s not too shocking if she’s decided to stay off social media completely.
Laura Spencer’s last credit was in 2021, appearing in the film 13 Minutes, about four families and their internal struggles before disaster strikes their small town in the form of a massive tornado. While the film wasn’t very well received, still sitting below five stars on IMDB, it’s notable for having a motley crew of a cast featuring country star Trace Adkins, late actress Anne Heche, and Ghost World star Thora Birch, among others.
All things considered, her acting was a shining part of the movie in contrast to the effects and more stilted acting from other actors (and musicians). Though it’s unknown as to why, Laura Spencer has seemingly disappeared from the industry since this film, with the actress going almost completely radio silent in all mediums.
While it remains to be seen if Laura Spencer will return to either the big or small screen in the future, the young actress definitely has the talent and skill to bring her up in Hollywood. While she was able to show off a sharp, unwavering wit in Big Bang Theory, and a more fun and serious side on Bones, she for sure has a strong career ahead of her if she chooses to return to Hollywood.
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