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Margo Harshman

Margo Harshman (born March 4, 1986) is an best known for her recurring television roles as Tawny Dean on the series (2000–2003), Alex Jensen on (2012–2013), and Delilah Fielding-McGee on (2013–present). Born in , , Harshman grew up in until age 12, attending La Costa Heights Elementary School before moving to with her family. She began her acting career at a young age, participating in beauty pageants and securing early roles in the 1997 family film The Elf Who Didn't Believe as Jolie and the television movie Murphy's Dozen (2001) as Bridget. Her breakthrough came with the role of Tawny Dean, the friend and eventual girlfriend of the protagonist on , which also led to her appearance in the 2003 Disney TV movie . Following her Disney tenure, Harshman starred in short-lived sitcoms such as (2003) and (2004–2005) alongside , while building a film resume that includes (2008), (2008), Fired Up! (2009), and (2009). In the 2010s, she gained further recognition for her guest and recurring appearances on popular series, including (2012), (2009), and her multi-episode arcs on as Sheldon Cooper's intelligent assistant and on as the NSA analyst Delilah Fielding, who becomes a key supporting character and wife to . In her , Harshman was married to Austen Hooks from 2017 until their divorce in 2018. She has continued to appear in episodic television and independent films, maintaining a steady presence in the industry as of 2025.

Early life

Family background

Margo Cathleen Harshman was born on March 4, 1986, in , , the youngest child of David James Harshman, who held a salesperson license in (DRE #00861883), and Janelle Louise Sorenson Harshman. Her parents married on July 24, 1971, in , and Janelle, born July 15, 1950, in , , devoted much of her early married life to being a stay-at-home mother while raising their four children in . The family enjoyed a stable, close-knit dynamic, with Janelle taking pride in homemaking, organizing beach vacations, and hosting gatherings that emphasized humor, wit, and strong familial bonds. Harshman has three older siblings: sisters Allison Colleen Harshman and Davielle Christine Harshman, and brother Daniel Christopher Harshman. Growing up in the coastal suburb of in County, the siblings shared a supportive that fostered family unity amid the region's mild climate and outdoor lifestyle, contributing to a nurturing upbringing for Margo as the youngest. The Harshmans' residence in this area until Margo was 12 years old allowed for consistent family routines and activities centered on their shared home life. In 1998, the family relocated to , maintaining their stability in and continuing the traditions of togetherness that defined their dynamics. Janelle Harshman passed away on May 14, 2014, in , from . David Harshman and the siblings survived her, upholding the familial connections built over decades in the region.

Early years and acting debut

Margo Cathleen Harshman was born on March 4, 1986, in , . She spent her early childhood in the nearby area, where she attended La Costa Heights Elementary School until age 12. Following her family's move to , she continued her education at Hewes Middle School and Foothill High School. In August 2002, at age 16, Harshman enrolled as a freshman in , though her burgeoning career soon shifted her focus away from formal . From a young age, Harshman showed a strong interest in the , beginning with participation in beauty pageants at age two. Her passion for acting developed further when she joined Coast Kids Theatre in , performing in local productions starting circa 1994. This involvement in junior theater and community stage work honed her skills through various theatrical roles, providing foundational experience in performance. Harshman's family supported her early pursuits in , facilitating her transition from pageants to stage work. At age 11, she secured her first professional in the 1997 family The Elf Who Didn’t Believe, marking her debut on screen.

Career

Early career (1997–2009)

Harshman's early professional career gained significant momentum with her recurring as Tawny Dean on the Even Stevens from 2000 to 2003, appearing in 47 episodes as the sharp-witted best friend of the lead character Louis Stevens. This provided her first substantial television exposure, showcasing her comedic timing in a family-oriented series that ran for three seasons and helped launch the career of co-star . In film, Harshman transitioned to supporting parts in ensemble comedies, notably playing Katie, a friend of the protagonist, in the Disney family road-trip movie (2008), co-starring alongside and . She followed this with roles in cheerleading comedy Fired Up! (2009) as Sylvia and horror-thriller (2009) as Charlene "Chugs" Bradley, marking her entry into more genre-diverse teen films. Throughout this period, Harshman navigated the shift from child performer—having begun acting at age two in commercials and theater—to teen leads, steadily building her resume through consistent work in accessible, high-profile projects for younger viewers while avoiding in a competitive industry.

Later career (2010–present)

Harshman's television career gained momentum in the early with a recurring role as , the intelligent and flirtatious research assistant to , appearing in four episodes of across seasons 6 and 7 from 2012 to 2013. This role showcased her ability to blend humor and subtle romantic tension in a high-profile ensemble comedy. Building on this visibility, she transitioned to a more dramatic recurring part as Delilah Fielding, a Department of Defense cybersecurity analyst and wife of Agent , debuting in season 11 of in 2013 and appearing in over 20 episodes through 2025. Her character's storyline, which includes surviving a bombing that resulted in , added depth to the long-running procedural, with Harshman reprising the role in the season 22 episode "," aired April 14, 2025, amid the show's renewal for its 22nd season. In film, Harshman took on a lead role as Nicole in the 2023 psychological thriller Exposure, directed by Peter Cannon and released in theaters on July 9, 2024, co-starring Douglas Smith as a husband grappling with trauma and obsessive fears during exposure therapy sessions. The film explores themes of mental health and marital strain, earning praise for Harshman's portrayal of a supportive yet frustrated spouse. This project marked a departure toward more introspective, character-driven narratives compared to her earlier comedic work. Throughout the 2020s, Harshman maintained a steady presence in television with guest appearances, including a single episode as Mia in the series in 2022, where she played a key figure in a romantic subplot. No significant projects emerged in this period, but her work reflected a shift toward mature ensemble dramas, emphasizing complex relationships and procedural storytelling in established franchises. This evolution underscored her versatility and longevity in the industry, with renewals ensuring continued opportunities into 2025 and beyond.

Personal life

Relationships

Harshman was previously married to Austen Hooks. The couple wed in 2017 and separated on October 4, 2018. Harshman filed for in Superior Court on November 29, 2018, citing after an approximately eight-week separation, and requested that neither party receive spousal support. The was finalized shortly after the filing. As of 2025, Harshman remains single, with no further public romantic partnerships reported.

Residence

Margo Harshman was raised in , a neighborhood in , where she spent her early childhood attending La Costa Heights Elementary School. At the age of 12, her family relocated to , coinciding with the early stages of her acting career. Harshman has resided in Orange County, California, as of recent reports, favoring a low-profile suburban lifestyle that allows her to maintain a degree of privacy away from the public eye. This choice reflects her preference for stability in , where she remains close to her father and family members, including her two older sisters and younger brother, following the death of her mother Janelle in 2014. Following her in 2018, she has emphasized personal privacy in her daily life, limiting public disclosures about her living arrangements.

Filmography

Film

Harshman's debut came in the fantasy The Elf Who Didn't Believe (1997), where she portrayed Jolie, a young girl who encounters an escaped . In the slasher Simon Says (2006), she played , a targeted by a killer during a camping trip. She appeared as Tricia Rawlins, a reporter's assistant, in the vampire action film Rise: Blood Hunter (2007). Harshman took on the role of Rebecca Korda in the action Recipe for Disaster (2003). She portrayed Gina in the Fellowship (2005). In the Hiding Victoria (2006), she played the title role of Victoria Walker. In the horror thriller From Within (2008), she portrayed Sadie, a teenager grappling with a curse. In the romantic drama Keith (2008), she portrayed Brooke, the best friend of the protagonist. She played Katie, one of the supportive friends in the family comedy College Road Trip (2008). Harshman starred as Sylvia, a cheerleader, in the teen comedy Fired Up! (2009). In the horror film (2009), she portrayed Charlene "Chugs" Bradley, a party-loving sorority sister whose prank leads to deadly consequences. She appeared as Ashley in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009). She had a supporting role as Mandy, a friend exposed to a deadly , in the sci-fi Toxin (2015). Harshman starred as Diana in the romantic drama Love on the Vines (2017). Harshman's most recent film role is Nicole, the supportive but frustrated wife of a man undergoing exposure therapy for OCD, in the psychological thriller Exposure (2023), which received a limited theatrical and on-demand release by Gravitas Ventures on July 9, 2024.

Television

Harshman's television career began with her breakout role as Tawny Dean, the quirky best friend and eventual girlfriend of Louis Stevens in the Disney Channel sitcom Even Stevens, where she appeared in all 47 episodes across three seasons from 2000 to 2003. She followed this with a lead role as Brooke Franklin in the short-lived sitcom (2003–2004), portraying the youngest sibling in a chaotic family dynamic over 19 episodes. In 2004, Harshman guest-starred as Sara in six episodes of the CBS sitcom , playing the daughter of John Goodman's character. Her guest appearances in the mid-2000s included a role as in an episode of (2005) on . Harshman recurred as , the intelligent and flirtatious assistant to , in four episodes of from 2011 to 2013. In 2012, she appeared in six episodes of the NBC comedy Bent as the character Screwsie and guest-starred as in one episode of titled "." From 2013 to 2014, Harshman played Lisa in the series , appearing in multiple episodes of the tech comedy. Harshman's most prominent ongoing television role is as Fielding-McGee in , debuting in 2013 as a Department of Defense analyst who becomes a key recurring character and wife to , with their storyline evolving to include the birth and raising of twins; she has appeared in 20 episodes through 2025, including Season 22 episodes such as "" (2025) and "" (2025). Additional guest spots include roles in (2005), (2006), (2007), (2009), (2010), and (2008). In 2022, she guest-starred as Mia in one episode of the Hulu series .

Music videos

Harshman has made limited appearances in music videos, primarily as a supporting actress alongside her film and television work. In 2009, she appeared alongside her Sorority Row co-stars in the music video for Shwayze's "Get U Home," directed by Marc Klasfeld and featuring the ensemble in party scenes to promote the film's soundtrack. She starred as the lead actress in Garrison Starr's 2021 music video for "The Devil In Me," portraying a central character in the narrative-driven clip directed by Greg Jardin.
YearArtistTitleRole
2009Shwayze"Get U Home"Supporting (with Sorority Row cast)
2021Garrison Starr"The Devil In Me"Lead actress

Awards and nominations

Young Artist Awards

In 2004, Margo Harshman was nominated for two Young Artist Awards recognizing her supporting roles in Disney Channel projects from her early career. She received a nomination in the Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Supporting Young Actress category for her work on Even Stevens. She also earned a nomination for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special – Supporting Young Actress for The Even Stevens Movie. Neither nomination resulted in a win, with the awards presented to other young actors at the 25th Annual Young Artist Awards ceremony held on May 8, 2004. The Young Artist Awards, founded in 1978 by the Young Artist Foundation, aim to honor exceptional performances by actors under 21 in , television, and theater, providing early recognition for emerging youth talent. These nods underscored Harshman's contributions to programming during her teenage years.

Other recognitions

In 2009, Margo Harshman received the Female Stars of Tomorrow award at the ShoWest Convention, shared with her co-stars , , , , and . This honor highlighted her as an emerging talent in , building on her breakout roles in projects like . The ShoWest Convention, the annual event of the (NATO), played a pivotal role in the film industry by convening theater owners, distributors, and studios to preview upcoming releases and celebrate rising stars through targeted awards. Harshman's accolades remain limited to this professional recognition beyond youth categories, with no additional major wins or nominations recorded in comprehensive databases.