With each passing season, the quaint little town at the heart of Netflix's Virgin River gets a few new faces — and no series newcomer has become a fan-favorite quite as quickly as Jack's (Martin Henderson) sister Brie Sheridan, played by Zibby Allen. A no-nonsense lawyer with a heartbreaking past, Brie first appeared in Virgin River Season 3. She hit it off with her future sister-in-law Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge), as well as Jack's troubled ex-buddy Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth). Where Jack and Mel can seem like the old married couple of the Virgin River universe, Brie and Brady's subplot is a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride. One minute, they're enjoying cotton candy together in full Renaissance garb; the next, they're plotting a sting operation against local drug lord Calvin. (And we absolutely love them for it!)
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Before joining the cast of Virgin River, Zibby Allen recurred in Grey's Anatomy and had cameo roles across popular series like The Good Doctor and Bates Motel. She's even shared the screen with one of her Virgin River co-stars before. From her special connection to Scotland to her little-known podcasting gig, here's everything you need to know about Zibby Allen.
Who Is Zibby Allen?
Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Epic Pictures
Elizabeth "Zibby" Allen was born September 29, 1980 in San Francisco, California. The 43-year-old actress, musician, writer and podcast producer grew up in the Bay Area and began acting in TV series and independent film in her early-20s. Her husband, Adam James Blair, is an Irish-born visual artist. The pair tied the knot in the Scottish Highlands (big Outlander vibes) in 2018, and they currently divide their time between Los Angeles, Vancouver and Edinburgh.
When she's not filming, Allen enjoys exploring her husband's home country of Ireland, spending time with her dog named Kona and—like all of us—obsessing over juicy true-crime stories. Allen was formerly a producer and co-host of the award-winning true-crime podcast Small Town Dicks, which debuted in 2017.
When Did Zibby Allen Join the Cast of Virgin River?
Netflix
Allen made her debut as Jack's sister Brie Sheridan in Virgin River Season 3. A defense attorney with a wicked intellect (and a surprising edge), Brie quickly enters into an ill-advised but nonetheless adorable romance with Jack's rapscallion Marine buddy Brady (Hollingsworth). Virgin River Season 4 left off with Brie helping to prove Brady's innocence in Jack's shooting, and vowing to press charges against her abusive ex-boyfriend Don.
Speaking to TODAY in August 2022, Allen said of Brie and Jack's defrosting relationship:
"Even if they were estranged in their adult life for a while, there's that (familiarity). Brie is witness to who Jack is at the core. I'm happy that Jack has someone in his town and back in his life who really knows who he is and can, without judgment, see him go through all kinds of things and make missteps but still love him unconditionally. That's what family is."
What Else Has Zibby Allen Starred In?
Zibby Allen as Nurse Zibby in Grey's Anatomy. (ABC)
Allen is a TV veteran, with a long list of small-screen credits spanning virtually every genre imaginable. Before joining the cast of Virgin River, she was best known for her recurring role as Nurse Zibby in Grey's Anatomy.
Allen has also had cameo roles in shows like the Golden Globe-nominated The Good Doctor, Nancy Drew, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Twilight Zone, The Flash, The Exorcist, Bates Motel and Without a Trace. She appeared in the 2019 Lifetime romance flick The Story of Us, which also starred Virgin River's Marco Grazzini (Mike). In 2022, she starred in Lifetime's mystery-thriller Lies Between Friends.
