Lyndsy Marie Fonseca (born January 7, 1987) is an American actress. She began her career by appearing as Colleen Carlton on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, on which she starred between 2001 and 2005. Thereafter, she had a series of other recurring roles, including Penny Mosby on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Donna on HBO's Big Love, and Dylan Mayfair on the fourth season of the ABC television series Desperate Housewives.

From 2010 to 2013, Fonseca starred as Alex Udinov on The CW's Nikita, and from 2015 to 2016 she played Angie Martinelli on ABC's Agent Carter. She has also appeared in a variety of film roles, including Jenny in Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) and Katie Deauxma in Kick-Ass (2010) and its 2013 sequel.

Early life

Lyndsy Marie Fonseca was born on January 7, 1987, in Oakland, California, United States, the daughter of Lima Lynn (née Bergmann)[better source needed] and James Victor Fonseca. She ethnically identifies as "half Portuguese". James's mother was an artist who made quilts, doll clothes, and stained glass. Lima and James married in 1985 and divorced when Fonseca was two years old. Lima, a psychologist, later married attorney Reid Dworkin, through whom Fonseca has a half-sister. Fonseca completed a course at Barbizon Modeling and Acting School in San Francisco and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 12. She soon made her screen debut as Colleen Connelly-Carlton on the soap opera The Young and the Restless.

Career

In 2005, Fonseca played a recurring role as Ted Mosby's future daughter on How I Met Your Mother and as Donna on HBO's Big Love. She starred in the 2005 Hallmark TV film Ordinary Miracles, as a 16-year-old juvenile delinquent who goes to live with a judge (Jaclyn Smith). In late 2007, Fonseca played Dawn in the film Remember the Daze.

She joined the cast of ABC's Desperate Housewives in the series' fourth season as Dylan Mayfair, the daughter of Katherine Mayfair (Dana Delany), a character moving onto Wisteria Lane. In 2008, she was nominated for the Actor award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for Desperate Housewives, shared with the cast.

Fonseca played Katie Deauxma in the 2010 superhero film Kick-Ass, followed by appearances in three more American films in 2010, including Hot Tub Time Machine. In 2010, Fonseca was cast in a starring role in the CW television series Nikita as Alex, a new recruit, a role she played throughout the series' four seasons. During its run, the Nikita cast included her Kick-Ass co-star Xander Berkeley and her future husband, co-star Noah Bean.

Fonseca starred in the 2021 Disney+ series Turner & Hooch, a remake of the 1989 film of the same name.

Personal life

Fonseca married Matthew Smiley in April 2009. The couple separated in July 2012, and Fonseca filed for divorce in January 2013, citing "irreconcilable differences".

In February 2016, Fonseca announced her engagement to her Nikita co-star, actor Noah Bean. She and Bean married on October 2, 2016, in Connecticut. Fonseca and Bean have a daughter, born in February 2018. A second daughter was born to the couple in June 2022.

Fonseca was listed at No. 62 on the 2010 Maxim Hot 100 and No. 88 on the 2011 list.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Intellectual PropertyJenny
2007Remember the DazeDawn
2010Kick-AssKatie Deauxma
Hot Tub Time MachineJenny
The WardIris
2011Fort McCoyAnna Gerkey
2013Kick-Ass 2Katie Deauxma
2015The EscortNatalie
2016Moments of ClarityDanielle
2017CurvatureHelen
2023Spinning GoldJoyce Biawitz

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001–2005The Young and the RestlessColleen CarltonRegular role
2003Boston PublicJenn Cardell4 episodes
2004Malcolm in the MiddleOliviaEpisode: "Lois' Sister"
NYPD BlueMadison BernsteinEpisode: "Colonel Knowledge"
Switched!HerselfEpisode: "Lyndsy/Jessie"
2005I Do, They Don'tSandy BarberTelevision film
Ordinary MiraclesSally Anne PowellTelevision film
Cyber Seduction: His Secret LifeAmyTelevision film
2005–2014How I Met Your MotherPenny MosbyRecurring role
2006WaterfrontAnnabelle MarksUnaired CBS series
Phil of the FutureKristyEpisode: "Not-So-Great Great Great Grandpa"
2006–2009Big LoveDonnaRecurring role (seasons 1–3)
2007Close to HomeJessica ConlonEpisode: "Hoosier Hold Em"
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMegan CooperEpisode: "Fallen Idols"
HouseAddieEpisode: "Resignation"
HeroesAprilEpisode: "Four Months Later..."
2007–2009Desperate HousewivesDylan MayfairRecurring role (season 4); guest role (season 6)
2010–2013NikitaAlex UdinovMain role
2011FiveCheyanneTelevision film
2015–2016Agent CarterAngie MartinelliRecurring role (season 1); guest role (season 2)
2015–2016GrandfatheredFrankieEpisodes: "Sexy Guardian Angel", "The Sat Pack"
2016RePlayAllisonWeb series (go90); main role
The World's Biggest AssholeSarahTelevision short
PitchCaraEpisode: "Wear It"
2017The HauntedJuno BradleyUnsold television pilot (Syfy)
2020, 20239-1-1: Lone StarIris Blake4 episodes
2020You Can't Take My DaughterAmy ThompsonTelevision film
2021Turner & HoochLaura TurnerMain role
Next Stop, ChristmasAngieTelevision film
2022North to HomePosyTelevision film
2023Where Are You Christmas?AddyTelevision film
2024The Magic of Lemon DropsLollyTelevision film
2025Single on the 25thNell DukeHallmark film

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2008Screen Actors GuildOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesDesperate Housewives (shared with rest of cast)Nominated
2009Screen Actors GuildOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesDesperate Housewives (shared with rest of cast)Nominated
2010Scream AwardsBreakout Performance – FemaleKick-AssNominated
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actress: ActionNikitaNominated
2012Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actress: ActionNikitaNominated
2013Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actress: ActionNikitaNominated

Notes

External links