Italia Ricci can be seen starring in ABC’s new political drama Designated Survivor, created by David Guggenheim and executive produced by Simon Kinberg. The series also stars Kiefer Sutherland, Kal Penn, Maggie Q and Natascha McElhone. Ricci plays ‘Emily’ who is the no-nonsense Chief of Staff to ‘Tom Kirkman’ (Sutherland). The conspiracy thriller centers on a lower level United States Cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession.  

Recently, Ricci recurred on the CBS (now CW) series Supergirl playing villain ‘Siobhan Smythe’ otherwise known as ‘Silver Banshee’. She is the latest hire by Calista Flockhart’s media mogul Cat Grant. Ricci’s character was first introduced as a workplace adversary for Melissa Benoist’s heroine but later became a much more deadly foe when she takes on the mantle of DC Comics villain Silver Banshee. The character had a five episode arc.

Ricci previously led the cast in ABC Family’s drama series Chasing Life, playing the lead role of ‘April Carver’ a twenty-something smart and quick witted aspiring journalist, who is trying to work her way up the ladder at a Boston newspaper by trying to impress her hard-nosed editor. Just as her career starts taking off, she receives news that she has been diagnosed with cancer.  

Born in Richmond Hill, Ontario and raised in Newmarket, Ricci always had a burning desire to be in the entertainment business. Beginning her career at nine years old, Italia starred in numerous local theatre productions and continued to do so throughout high school. While majoring in drama in college at Queen’s University, Ricci participated again in school productions and did a little modeling during summers. As much as she enjoyed performing, Ricci always planned on her entertainment career consisting of entertainment law. However, one day in college Ricci’s friend asked her to be an extra with him on the movie American Pie Presents: Naked Mile. During a lunch break, one of the writers approached her and asked her if she would like to audition to be upgraded from extra to a featured player and she booked it. Before she knew it, she was cast in the next American Pie movie, entitled American Pie Presents: Beta House.  

After graduating from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Ricci deferred her plans for law school to relocate to tinsel town to give acting a serious shot; giving herself a two year limit to see if she could make a living doing what she loves. She immediately landed a recurring role as ‘Chase Ravenwood’ on Disney XD’s original series Aaron Stone. Ricci went on to book guest-starring roles on such television shows as CSI: Las Vegas, House, Greek, and How I Met Your Mother. She followed these with the recurring role of ‘Sasha’ on the Comedy Central series Secret Girlfriend, and the lead role of ‘Maggie’ on the hit Cartoon Network live-action series Unnatural History.

Ricci has also found success on the big screen. In 2014, she played an early love interest for title character Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in the fall comedy feature Don Jon, and was seen in the lead role of ‘Allison’ in the 2014 Sony thriller The Remaining, a film that follows a group of friends trying to survive the end of the world according to the Bible, written and directed by Casey La Scala.  

When Ricci isn’t acting on location, she resides in LA. She enjoys cooking, reading, painting, and spending time with her husband, fellow actor Robbie Amell, and their dog Boo.  

She is also involved with the non-profits: Stand Up To Cancer as an Ambassador. She volunteers as much time as she can when she is in LA at Children’s Hospital L.A. (CHLA), and is this year’s 10 year honoree and Brand Ambassador for Stupid Cancer.