Laura Prepon is an American actress, an alumna of Caroline Thomas’ Total Theater Lab in New York City. While her star-making role was that of an ordinary girl-next-door in the sit-com That 70’s Show, she has not shied away from more challenging roles in potentially controversial productions.
She played a Goth girl love interest by the name of Angevin Duvet in the 2004 film Lightning Bug, which was a visual autobiography of Robert Hall’s troubled childhood. Prepon even stepped up to be executive producer for the film. In 2005, Prepon starred in Karla, a psychological thriller in which she played the eponymous role of a kidnapper and murderer.
While Prepon has guest-starred on occasion in some popular television series such as How I Met Your Mother and Castle, her popularity revived when she was cast as a series regular in Orange Is The New Black. This television series focuses on women’s prison life. The main character, Piper Chapman (played by Taylor Schilling) is a bisexual drug dealer who lives in New York.
Chapman’s journalist fiancée tries to make the relationship work despite Chapman’s arrest and imprisonment for drug trafficking charges. Prepon plays Alex Vause, a drug-dealing ex-girlfriend of Piper Chapman who reunites with her in prison.
“There is a big gay and lesbian community out there and it’s good to have more relationships on television that they can relate to,” Prepon said. “I’m glad we could be a part of that.”
Prepon identifies as a supporter of the gay and lesbian community. About the role itself, she spoke on The Arsenio Hall show of the comfortable chemistry that she had with her co-star, Taylor Schilling.
“Making out with a girl on camera, they’re beautiful and soft and—I get why you guys are into it. They’re just so beautiful, you know?”
