Lusia Strus | Biography

Famous For Playing Adam Sandler's Assistant 'Alexa' in '50 First Dates'

From 2016 to 2017, Strus portrayed Estelle in the TV series 'Good Behavior.' The series lasted two seasons and had twenty episodes. Its narrative is based on a series of novels penned by the author, Blake Crouch. Unfortunately, despite positive reviews, 'Good Behavior' was never a hit with the public. Also, the Live+same-day ratings were abysmal. The series was canceled by TNT after the second season because of this.

By Ojasbi
Update : October 07, 2021

Lusia Strus is a well-known figure in the landscape of theater or Broadway.

Who Is Lusia Strus?

Lusia Strus is an American writer and both an on-stage and on-screen actress with Neo-Futurists. She started her career in acting through theater. A few on-stage plays she performed in include A Confederacy of Dunces, Enron, Merry Wives of Windsor, Ironbound, Good People, and more.

Similarly, her big-screen acting credits encompass her feature on Stir of Echoes (1999), The Secret (2000), Soul Survivors (2001), Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide (2005-2007), Good Behavior (2016-2017), Everyday Miracles (2015), Buffaloed (2019) and many others.

Early Life and Education

Strus was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 13 December 1969. She earned a bachelor’s degree in theater from Illinois State University in 1991.

Career in Theater

Strus was a part of the stage play, A Confederacy of Dunces, in 2016 at The Huntington, Boston’s leading theatre company. She also possesses credits for Broadway performances; in Enron and Elling. Besides, she is credited for the Off-Broadway show of The Undeniable Sound of Right Now at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and Women’s Project Theater. Off-Broadway is a theater with lesser capacity than Broadway theater.

Moreover, Strus was a part of the regional stage show of the plays Travesties and Are You There, McPhee? at McCarter Theatre. She was also cast in Slasher at Humana Festival and Actors Theatre of Louisville, Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry IV 1 & 2, and Love’s Labour’s Lost at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In addition, Strus featured in SLAVS! and Go Away, Go Away at European Repertory Company, and Ironbound and Our Town at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, among others. Also, she played Zola in the world premiere of John Guare’s More Stars Than There Are in Heaven at the Tennessee Williams Festival in Provincetown in 2018.

Besides starring, Strus has also written a play or two. As a member of the Chicago/NYC-based group called The Neo-Futurists, she wrote the play Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. She as well performed in it for many years. She has performed on international stages as well. She was Mistress Quickly in Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2) at the Royal Shakespeare Company in England.

Television Shows

Strus owns substantial big-screen credits as well. She guest-starred as a slinky woman in the TV series Cupid in 1998 and as Patty Davlin on Early Edition in 2000. She also guest-starred on the TV series Crossing Jordan in 2006, Modern Family in 2011, Blue Bloods in 2011, Whatever This Is in 2013, Wayward Pines (voiced Marcy) in 2015, New Amsterdam in 2018, The Blacklist in 2019, and Search Party in 2020.

Furthermore, she played a recurring role of Dr. Xavier in the TV series Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide (2005-2007), Gloria on Jack in a Box (2010-2012), Estelle on Good Behavior (2016-2017), and Brenda on Claws (2018-2019).

Movies

Her movie credits include Stir of Echoes (1999), The Secret (2000), Soul Survivors (2001), Danny’s Wish (2001), Design (2002), No Sleep ’til Madison (2002), 50 First Dates (2004), Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous (2005), Moonpie (2006), Playing Chicken (2007), I’m with Stupid (2007), Restless (2011), Kelly & Cal (2014), The Mend (2014), Everyday Miracles (2015), and Buffaloed (2019).

‘Good Behaviour’

From 2016 to 2017, Strus portrayed Estelle in the TV series Good Behavior. The series lasted two seasons and had twenty episodes. Its narrative is based on a series of novels penned by the author, Blake Crouch.

Good Behavior depicts the tale of Letty Raines (played by Dockery), a con man and burglar who becomes enamored with a hitman named Javier Pereira (played by Juan Diego Botto). Unfortunately, despite positive reviews, Good Behavior was never a hit with the public. Also, the Live+same-day ratings were abysmal. The series was canceled by TNT after the second season because of this.

New Projects

Strus has a few upcoming projects that are expected to be launched shortly. First, she will appear in the independent film Paint, which is in the post-production stage as of October 2021 and will be released in 2022. Second, she will also portray Edith Malcolm in her next feature film, The Descendant, which is also in post-production as of October 2021.

Awards & Accolades

Strus was nominated for the ‘Jeff Award’ in the category ‘Supporting Actress’ for her performance in the play Good People. Additionally, in her solo show, It Ain’t No Fairy Tale, which she performed at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, she received the ‘LA Weekly Award’ for ‘Outstanding Solo Performance.’ Furthermore, she bagged the ‘Jeff Award’ in the category ‘Principle Actress’ for her performance in the play Go Away, Go Away.

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