{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{short description|American actress and comedian}} {{Infobox person | name = Briga Heelan | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | birth_place = [[Andover, Massachusetts]], U.S. |alma_mater = [[University of Southern California]] | years_active = 2009–present | occupation = Actress, comedian | spouse = {{Marriage|[[Rene Gube]]|May 8, 2015}} | children = 2 }} '''Briga Heelan''' (pronunciation {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|r|iː|ɡ|ɑː}} {{respell|BREE|gah}})<ref name=Improper-GroundUp-2014 /> is an American actress and comedian. She is known for her work on the sitcoms ''[[Cougar Town]]'', ''[[Ground Floor]]'', ''[[Undateable]]'', ''[[Love (TV series)|Love]]'', ''[[Great News]]'', and ''[[B Positive]]''.
== Early life and education == Heelan was born in [[Andover, Massachusetts]],<ref name=ProspectTheater-2014>{{cite web|title=Meet the Cast – Part 3. Name: Briga Heelan|url=http://prospecttheater.wordpress.com/|website=Prospect Theater Company's Weblog|accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=October 14, 2010}}</ref> the daughter of actress and [[Lowell Public Schools]] teacher Kimball Heelan and [[playwright]] Kevin Heelan.<ref name=Improper-GroundUp-2014>{{cite web|last1=Soroff|first1=Jonathan|title=Briga Heelan - From the Ground Up|url=http://www.improper.com/features/briga-heelan-from-the-ground-up/|website=[[The Improper Bostonian]]|accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=May 2014}}</ref><ref name=Phillips-Andover-KevinHeelan>{{cite web|title=Kevin Heelan: Instructor of Playwriting, Acting and Directing |url=http://www.andover.edu/Academics/TheatreDance/Faculty/Pages/Kevin-Heelan.aspx|website=[[Phillips Academy Andover]]|accessdate=June 7, 2014}}</ref> She has a brother named Conor.<ref name=Phillips-Andover-KevinHeelan /> Heelan's father, as well as being a [[dramatist]], has been a [[faculty member]] at [[Phillips Andover Academy]] since 1983.<ref name=AndoverBulletin-KevinWheelan-91-93>{{cite web|last1=Britton|first1=Sharon|title=Kevin Wheelan: Bring On the Ghosts |url=https://archive.org/stream/andoverbulletin9193phil|website=Andover Bulletin |publisher=Phillips Academy|accessdate=June 7, 2014|pages=14–15|date=Fall 1997}}</ref>
Heelan attended [[Walnut Hill School|Walnut Hill School for the Arts]] and studied for a year at the [[University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music|Cincinnati Conservatory of Music]], before transferring to the [[University of Southern California]].<ref name=Improper-GroundUp-2014 /> She graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=Spring 2010 |title=Robert Redford Honored at Inaugural Gala Fundraiser |url=https://issuu.com/uscedu/docs/callboard_spring10 |magazine=Callboard |location=Los Angeles, CA |publisher=USC School of Theater |page=1 |via=[[Issuu]]}}</ref> At graduation, Heelan received the James B. Pendleton Award for outstanding contributions to the [[USC School of Dramatic Arts]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=Fall 2009 |title=2008-09 Award Recipients |url=https://issuu.com/uscedu/docs/callboard_09fall |magazine=Callboard |location=Los Angeles, CA |publisher=USC School of Theater |page=6 |via=[[Issuu]]}}</ref>
==Career== Heelan intended to focus on [[musical theatre]].<ref name=TVLine-8Things-2013 /> She met her ''[[Ground Floor]]'' co-star, [[Skylar Astin]], at a musical theatre convention.<ref name=TVLine-8Things-2013>{{cite web|last1=Mitovich|first1=Matt Webb|title=Ground Floor's Briga Heelan: 8 Things to Know About the TBS Comedy's Pretty 'Revelation' |url=http://tvline.com/2013/11/14/ground-floor-preview-tbs-briga-heelan/|website=[[TVLine]] |accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=November 14, 2013}}</ref>
Heelan's break-out TV role was on ''[[Cougar Town]].''<ref name=HitFix-Sepinwall-CougarTown-2012>{{cite web|last1=Sepinwall|first1=Alan|title=Review: 'Cougar Town' - 'Something Big': Who's Your Daddy|url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/cougar-town-something-big-whos-your-daddy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324191249/http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/cougar-town-something-big-whos-your-daddy|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2012|website=[[HitFix]]|accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> She was credited as a [[recurring character]] on ''[[Undateable]]'', appearing in three episodes plus the [[Television pilot|pilot]]. She was able to shoot both [[Bill Lawrence (TV producer)|Bill Lawrence]]-helmed ''[[Ground Floor]]'' and ''[[Undateable]]'' simultaneously<ref name=HitFix-FienPrint-BLawrenceInterview-2014>{{cite web|last1=Fienberg|first1=Daniel|title=Interview: Bill Lawrence and Adam Sztykiel on 'Undateable' and The State of TV Comedy|url=http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/interview-bill-lawrence-and-adam-sztykiel-on-undateable-and-the-state-of-tv-comedy/single-page|website=[[HitFix]]|accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=May 29, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714125702/http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/interview-bill-lawrence-and-adam-sztykiel-on-undateable-and-the-state-of-tv-comedy/single-page|archivedate=July 14, 2014}}</ref> because both comedies are [[Multiple-camera setup|multi-camera]], which require fewer production days than single-camera shows.<ref name=Deadline-Recurring-2013>{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie |title=Briga Heelan Back On NBC Comedy 'Undateable' As Recurring|url=https://deadline.com/2013/09/briga-heelan-back-on-nbc-comedy-undateable-as-recurring-579720/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=PMC|access-date=June 7, 2014|date=September 5, 2013}}</ref> She also guest starred in the first episode of Season 10 of ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''.
Regarding Heelan's role in ''Ground Floor'', TV critic [[Alan Sepinwall]] said Heelan is "simply terrific as Jenny: warm and quirky while always feeling like a strong and independent character".<ref name=HitFix-Sepinwall-GroundFloor-2013>{{cite web|last1=Sepinwall|first1=Alan|title=Opposites Attract Comedy from Lawrence & Malins a Reminder that Multi-Cam Can Be Fun|url=http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/review-tbs-ground-floor-a-retro-comedy-treat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116050751/http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/review-tbs-ground-floor-a-retro-comedy-treat|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2013|website=[[HitFix]]|accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=November 13, 2013}}</ref><ref name=HitFix-Sepinwall-PickedUp-2014>{{cite web|last1=Sepinwall|first1=Alan|title=Brody Has to Choose Between Mansfield and Jenny; Will the Show Come Back?|url=http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/season-finale-review-ground-floor-the-decision-come-fly-with-me|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120233509/http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/season-finale-review-ground-floor-the-decision-come-fly-with-me|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2014|website=[[HitFix]]|accessdate=June 7, 2014|date=January 17, 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said Heelan "makes ''Ground Floor'' watchable", describing her as "remarkably alive and in the moment; she makes real all that she touches. I could easily recommend tuning in just to watch her work {{ndash}} and hereby do."<ref name=LATimes-GFloor-Watchable-2013>{{cite news|last1=Lloyd|first1=Robert|title=TV review: Briga Heelan makes 'Ground Floor' watchable|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-ground-floor-review-story.html|accessdate=June 7, 2014|work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 14, 2013}}</ref>
On May 13, 2023, Heelan made her Broadway debut as Cinderella in ''[[Once Upon a One More Time]]'' at the [[Marquis Theatre]]. She had previously portrayed the same role in the 2021 world premiere run in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Briga Heelan, Justin Guarini, and Aisha Jackson Will Star in Broadway's Once Upon a One More Time |url=https://playbill.com/article/briga-heelan-justin-guarini-and-aisha-jackson-will-star-in-broadways-once-upon-a-one-more-time |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=PLAYBILL}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
On her unusual name, she said, "It's an Irish name. In fact, my last name was O'Heelahan back in the day. And Briga, I read somewhere, is some pagan [[Celtic goddess]], which sounds great, so I really like saying that. But I was named after my grandmother's best friend, who was Irish and came from [[Dublin]]."<ref name=Improper-GroundUp-2014/>
On October 16, 2014, Heelan became engaged to her ''[[Ground Floor]]'' co-star [[Rene Gube]].<ref name=Instagram-Engaged-2014>{{cite web|title=renegube: I'm out the game.|url=http://instagram.com/p/uM5ZalHz0Z/|website=[[Instagram]]|accessdate=January 28, 2015|date=October 16, 2014 |last=Gube|first=Rene}}</ref> They were married on May 8, 2015.<ref name=Instagram-Married-1>{{cite web|title=brigaheelan: My last morning as an unmarried woman. IM READY!! |url=http://instagram.com/p/uM5ZalHz0Z/|website=[[Instagram]]|accessdate=October 26, 2016|date=May 9, 2015|last=Heelan|first=Briga}}</ref><ref name=Instagram-Married-2>{{cite web|title=brigaheelan: Was surrounded by love in every way last night...|url=http://instagram.com/p/uM5ZalHz0Z/|website=[[Instagram]]|accessdate=October 26, 2016|date=May 9, 2015 |last=Heelan|first=Briga}}</ref> On October 31, 2016, they announced they were expecting their first child, a daughter, due in March 2017. Heelan gave birth to their daughter Bennet Alejandra Gube on March 23, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/briga-heelan-rene-gube-welcome-daughter-bennet-alejandra/|title=Briga Heelan and Rene Gube Welcome Daughter Bennet Alejandra|website=PEOPLE.com}}</ref> On June 24, 2024, Heelan announced they were expecting their second child.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C8lDV3tvv1u/?igsh=eGhtNWVsNHM1dDA5 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> Heelan gave birth to their second daughter, Lily Lourdes Gube, on November 25th, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DRfguoRDxfU/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>.
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2011 | ''[[Man Up!]]'' | Money | Episode: "Disciplining the Keens" |- | rowspan="2" | 2012 | ''[[Jane by Design]]'' | Amanda Clark | 5 episodes |- | ''[[Cougar Town]]'' | Holly | 7 episodes |- | 2013 | ''[[Happy Endings (TV series)|Happy Endings]]'' | Ryan | Episode: "The Ex Factor" |- | 2013–2015 | ''[[Ground Floor]]'' | Jenny Miller | Main role (20 episodes) |- | 2014–2015 | ''[[Undateable]]'' | Nicki | 7 episodes |- | 2015 | ''[[Truth Be Told (U.S. comedy series)|Truth Be Told]]'' | Katherine/Kiki | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Decorate" |- | 2016 | ''[[Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (TV series)|Crazy Ex-Girlfriend]]'' | Connie Cavanaugh | Episode: "That Text Was Not Meant for Josh!" |- | 2016–2017 | ''[[Love (TV series)|Love]]'' | Heidi | 6 episodes |- | 2017–2018 | ''[[Great News]]'' | Katie Wendelson | Lead role |- | rowspan="2" | 2019 | ''[[Brooklyn Nine-Nine]]'' | Keri Brennan | Episode: "[[He Said, She Said (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)|He Said, She Said]]" |- |''[[Modern Family]]'' |Linda |Episode: "Stand by Your Man" |- |2020 |''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'' |Valerie Ashburn |Episode: "Happy New Year" |- |2020–2021 |''[[B Positive]]'' |Samantha Turner |Recurring; 14 episodes |- |2022 |''[[Bob Hearts Abishola]]'' |Marion Mitchell |Episode: "Compress to Impress" |- |2023 |''[[So Help Me Todd]]'' |Amy |Episode: "12 Worried Persons" |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|3688635}} * {{Instagram|brigaheelan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heelan, Briga}} [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from Essex County, Massachusetts]] [[Category:American people of Irish descent]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American women comedians]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actors from Andover, Massachusetts]] [[Category:University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music alumni]] [[Category:USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni]] [[Category:21st-century American comedians]] [[Category:Comedians from Essex County, Massachusetts]] [[Category:Walnut Hill School alumni]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]