{{Short description|American actress (born 1993)}} {{Infobox person | name = Perry Mattfeld | birth_name = <!-- Valid citation required for full name for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | birth_place = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2006–present | known_for = | height = 5ft 10in | spouse = {{marriage|Mark Sanchez|2023}} | children = 2 }} '''Perry Mattfeld''' is an American actress and producer. She is known for her portrayal of a blind woman in The CW crime drama ''In the Dark'', as well for her role in the sports comedy ''Chad Powers''. In her early career, she played small roles as Mel in ''Shameless'' and FrankenGirl in ''Wizards of Waverly Place.''
== Early life == Mattfeld grew up in Long Beach, California.{{r|gg1}} Her mother is of Mexican descent. Her grandparents and great-grandparents were entertainers.{{r|vcbs}} She participated in ballet from the age of five, studying dancing for the following nine years under the guidance of Debbie Allen. By the age of 12, she was a full-fledged employee of Mattel when she played Kirsten Larson and Kit Kittredge as part of Mattel's American Girl Dolls musical theater troupe.{{r|gg1}}
She graduated from Long Beach Poly High School and attended college at the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting in 2016.<ref name="hc1" /><ref name="df1" /> She participated in cheerleading at both schools.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Radloff |first=Jessica |date=2025-09-30 |title=‘Chad Powers’ Breakout Star Perry Mattfeld Was Born for This Role |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/chad-powers-breakout-star-perry-mattfeld-was-born-for-this-role |access-date=2025-10-15 |website=Glamour |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == In her first starring role, in The CW crime comedy-drama, ''In the Dark'' (2019–2022), she plays a blind woman. For this part, she learned skills for coping with blindness such as using a guide dog and sending text messages with voice commands. She shadowed a blind person, on whose life the show is based, to observe how she did ordinary things.{{r|df1}} Fans have reportedly believed that she was blind herself.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2021 |title=Perry Mattfeld finds ways to handle demands of 'In the Dark' |url=https://www.kget.com/community/ricks-reviews/perry-mattfeld-finds-ways-to-handle-demands-of-in-the-dark/}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last=Leland |first=Andrew |date=July 1, 2021 |title=Is There a Right Way to Act Blind? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/magazine/in-the-dark-blindness.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Although the show has received criticism for not using an actual blind actress, the producer says she was "best for the role" despite having auditioned blind actresses.<ref name="auto" />
Mattfeld next played an assistant football coach Ricky Hudson in the comedy ''Chad Powers'', which began airing on Hulu in September 2025. She described playing Hudson a “dream role” to ''The Hollywood Report'' because of her connection to football through cheerleading and through her husband, who is a former NFL player.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carson |first=Lexi |date=2025-09-30 |title=For ‘Chad Powers’ Star Perry Mattfeld, Football Is a “Full-Time Job” |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/perry-mattfeld-chad-powers-football-career-interview-1236387748/ |access-date=2025-10-15 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Mattfeld and former New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez got engaged in May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Jakiel |first1=Olivia |date=May 13, 2022 |title=In the Dark Star Perry Mattfeld and Mark Sanchez Are Engaged — See the Stunning Photos! |url=https://people.com/tv/in-the-dark-star-perry-mattfeld-and-mark-sanchez-are-engaged-see-the-stunning-photos/ |website=People}}</ref> The couple married in Oaxaca, Mexico on May 28, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Esquibias |first=Liza |last2=Strohm |first2=Emily |title='Shameless' Actress Perry Mattfeld Marries Mark Sanchez in Mexico: 'Better Than I Ever Imagined' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/shameless-actress-perry-mattfeld-marries-mark-sanchez-in-romantic-wedding-exclusive-7506737 |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=People |language=en}}</ref> Mattfeld gave birth to twin daughters with Sanchez in March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Matthew |date=2025-10-05 |title=Who is Mark Sanchez's wife Perry Mattfeld? |url=https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/relationships/who-is-mark-sanchez-wife-perry-mattfeld |access-date=2025-10-15 |website=The Athlete Lifestyle On SI |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Filmography == ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+List of films and roles |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2007 |''AmazoBoy!'' |Samantha | Short film |- |2011 |''The Girl in the Flammable Skirt'' |Aimee | Short film |- |2012 |''My Mind the Love Story'' |Alex | Short film |- | rowspan="3"| 2022 |''A Little White Lie'' |Layla | Feature film |- |''Mending the Line'' |Lucy | Feature film |- |''Who Invited Them'' |Sasha | Feature film |- |2024 |''The Idea of You'' |Eva |Feature film |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+List of television appearances and roles |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2008 |''The Norton Avenue All-Stars'' |Amanda Hammerschmidt 'The Hammer' |Television film |- |2009 |''Wizards of Waverly Place'' |FrankenGirl (Frankie Stein) |2 episodes{{r|gg1}} |- |2011 |''4th and Forever'' |Herself - Cheerleader |4 episodes |- |2012 |''Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader'' |Suzie |Episode: "Angels in the Area"{{r|gg1}} |- |2013 |''Escape from Polygamy'' |Bonnielee |Television film{{r|gg1}} |- |2017 |''Stitchers'' |Monica Chamberlain |Episode: "Kill It Forward"{{r|gg1}} |- |2017–2018 |''Shameless'' |Mel |Recurring role{{r|gg1}} |- |2018 |''Homecoming'' |Makeover Associate |Episode: "Helping" |- |2019 |''Carrier'' |Pam |2 episodes |- |2019–2022 |''In The Dark'' |Murphy Mason |Lead role |- |2025-present |''Long Bright River'' |Paula |- |2025-present |''Chad Powers'' |Ricky Hudson | |}
== References == <references>
<ref name="gg1">{{Cite web|title=Perry Mattfeld Goes "In The Dark"|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/perry-mattfeld-goes-dark|access-date=January 30, 2021|website=goldenglobes.com|date=May 12, 2020 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019215606/https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/perry-mattfeld-goes-dark |url-status=live |archive-date=October 19, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="hc1">{{cite news |last1=Bokan |first1=Medeleine |title=How Perry Mattfeld Went From USC Student To CW TV Star |url=https://www.hercampus.com/money-career/how-she-got-there/perry-mattfeld-cw-usc |access-date=April 18, 2021 |work=Her Campus |date=June 25, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="df1">{{cite news |last1=Raga |first1=Pippa |title=For What It's Worth, 'In the Dark' Auditioned Plenty of Actresses with Visual Impairments Before Landing on Perry Mattfeld |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/is-perry-mattfield-actually-blind |access-date=April 18, 2021 |work=Distractify |date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name =vcbs>{{Cite web|url=https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/the-cw/shows/in-the-dark/bios?id=perry-mattfeld|title = ViacomCBS Press Express | in the Dark}}</ref>
</references>
== External links == * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3018183/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm Perry Mattfeld] on IMDB
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mattfeld, Perry}}
Category:Living people Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American child actresses Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Long Beach Polytechnic High School alumni Category:Actresses from Long Beach, California Category:American actresses of Mexican descent Category:USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni