Alexandra Vandernoot
- Actress
- Producer
Alexandra Vandernoot is a Belgian actress of Yugoslavian descent. To English-speaking audiences she is primarily known for portraying Tessa Noël, the first lover and confidant of immortal protagonist Duncan MacLeod in the fantasy series "Highlander: The Series" (1992-1998). Vandernoot was a regular cast member in all season 1 episodes and the first four episodes of season 2, but then departed the series for personal reasons. She has since had regular roles in many French-speaking television series and mini-series, such as the comedy-drama series "Station Horizon" (2015).
In 1965, Vandernoot was born in Brussels. Her father was André Vandernoot (1927-1991), an award-winning music conductor. He also served as the artistic director for various orchestras, and for the opera house La Monnaie. Vandernoot's mother was Dusanka Sifnios (1933-2016), a Yugoslavian ballerina and choreographer with an international career. Sifnios had served as the muse of choreographer Maurice Béjart (1927-2007) during the 1960s, and was the first person to perform Béjart's ballet version of Maurice Ravel's "Boléro".
Vandernoot studied drama at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels .She started her film career in the 1980s, but was often limited to minor roles. Among her few notable film roles was the period film "The Supper" (1992), which depicted the private meeting of a politician with the scheming diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838). Taleyrand was famous for serving leaders of four different French regimes, and for his betrayal of his supposed masters. Vandernoot portrayed Dorothea von Biron, Duchess of Dino (1793-1862), the favorite niece and alleged mistress of Talleyrand.
Vandernoot's first major role in a television production was that of Tessa Noël in "Highlander: The Series" . Her character was depicted as a French antique dealer, professional sculptor, and professional illustrator. Tessa was the long-term lover and business partner of immortal Duncan MacLeod, and one of the few peoples aware of his immortality and the struggles which he faced with rival immortals. She was also aware that he was destined to outlive her, and that he was sterile and unable to produce children with her. Tessa tended to remind Duncan that he was not omnipotent, and that the he was not solely responsible for the safety of the world.
While the role of Tessa made Vandernoot famous for a while, she found the work schedule of the series to be exhausting. "Highlander" had twice as many episodes per season as the average European television series, and she had to appear in all of them. Shootings for the series took place in two different series: Vancouver, Canada and Paris, France. This required Vandernoot to spend several months in Canada, where she had no family or friends. She found herself missing her family, and she requested to leave the series in order to re-establish contact with them. The producers and writers quickly developed a death scene for Tessa. Having already survived encounters with several dangerous foes over the previous episodes, Tessa is eventually ambushed and killed by a random mugger. Her death continued to haunt Duncan for the entire duration of the series.
Following her return to Europe, Vandernoot started a long-term with Bernard Uzan. Uzan was a French director and screenwriter. They had their first son, Léo in 1995. Their daughter Julia was born in 2003. Vandernoot eventually returned to "Highlander" for guest star appearances. She initially played a villain impersonating Tessa, and later an alternate reality version of Tessa. To Vandernoot's reported surprise, her character remained highly popular with the series' audience. This led to her guest appearances in the series, and also to Vandernoot's appearances in fan conventions.
Vandernoot had the supporting role of Christine Brochant in the box-office hit "The Dinner Game" (1998). Her character was the wife of Parisian publisher Pierre Brochant (played by Thierry Lhermitte). During her husband's brief association with a supposedly foolish civil servant, Brochant's new friend accidentally reveals to Christine that her husband has a mistress. This comedy was the top-grossing French film of 1998. It has inspired four different remakes.
During the 2010s, Vandernoot had several theatrical roles. She appeared in new plays by (among others) Bernard Uzan, Francis Vener, Éric Le Roch, and Alil Vardar. She has went on theatrical tours to perform her various notable roles. Vandernoot has kept working into the 2020s. By 2022, she was 57-years-old. She seems to have no plans to retire.
In 1965, Vandernoot was born in Brussels. Her father was André Vandernoot (1927-1991), an award-winning music conductor. He also served as the artistic director for various orchestras, and for the opera house La Monnaie. Vandernoot's mother was Dusanka Sifnios (1933-2016), a Yugoslavian ballerina and choreographer with an international career. Sifnios had served as the muse of choreographer Maurice Béjart (1927-2007) during the 1960s, and was the first person to perform Béjart's ballet version of Maurice Ravel's "Boléro".
Vandernoot studied drama at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels .She started her film career in the 1980s, but was often limited to minor roles. Among her few notable film roles was the period film "The Supper" (1992), which depicted the private meeting of a politician with the scheming diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838). Taleyrand was famous for serving leaders of four different French regimes, and for his betrayal of his supposed masters. Vandernoot portrayed Dorothea von Biron, Duchess of Dino (1793-1862), the favorite niece and alleged mistress of Talleyrand.
Vandernoot's first major role in a television production was that of Tessa Noël in "Highlander: The Series" . Her character was depicted as a French antique dealer, professional sculptor, and professional illustrator. Tessa was the long-term lover and business partner of immortal Duncan MacLeod, and one of the few peoples aware of his immortality and the struggles which he faced with rival immortals. She was also aware that he was destined to outlive her, and that he was sterile and unable to produce children with her. Tessa tended to remind Duncan that he was not omnipotent, and that the he was not solely responsible for the safety of the world.
While the role of Tessa made Vandernoot famous for a while, she found the work schedule of the series to be exhausting. "Highlander" had twice as many episodes per season as the average European television series, and she had to appear in all of them. Shootings for the series took place in two different series: Vancouver, Canada and Paris, France. This required Vandernoot to spend several months in Canada, where she had no family or friends. She found herself missing her family, and she requested to leave the series in order to re-establish contact with them. The producers and writers quickly developed a death scene for Tessa. Having already survived encounters with several dangerous foes over the previous episodes, Tessa is eventually ambushed and killed by a random mugger. Her death continued to haunt Duncan for the entire duration of the series.
Following her return to Europe, Vandernoot started a long-term with Bernard Uzan. Uzan was a French director and screenwriter. They had their first son, Léo in 1995. Their daughter Julia was born in 2003. Vandernoot eventually returned to "Highlander" for guest star appearances. She initially played a villain impersonating Tessa, and later an alternate reality version of Tessa. To Vandernoot's reported surprise, her character remained highly popular with the series' audience. This led to her guest appearances in the series, and also to Vandernoot's appearances in fan conventions.
Vandernoot had the supporting role of Christine Brochant in the box-office hit "The Dinner Game" (1998). Her character was the wife of Parisian publisher Pierre Brochant (played by Thierry Lhermitte). During her husband's brief association with a supposedly foolish civil servant, Brochant's new friend accidentally reveals to Christine that her husband has a mistress. This comedy was the top-grossing French film of 1998. It has inspired four different remakes.
During the 2010s, Vandernoot had several theatrical roles. She appeared in new plays by (among others) Bernard Uzan, Francis Vener, Éric Le Roch, and Alil Vardar. She has went on theatrical tours to perform her various notable roles. Vandernoot has kept working into the 2020s. By 2022, she was 57-years-old. She seems to have no plans to retire.
