Alexandra Cassavetes

Alexandra "Xan" Cassavetes, born on 21 September 1965, is an acclaimed American actress and director. She is known for being part of an illustrious filmmaking family. She is indeed the daughter of prominent Greek-American actor-director John Cassavetes and renowned actress Gena Rowlands. She also has close relations within the industry owing to her brother, actor-director Nick Cassavetes, and actor-screenwriter-director Zoe Cassavetes. Additionally, she's the granddaughter of celebrated actress Katherine Cassavetes, highlighting the lineage of artistic pursuits in her family. She initially made her mark in the industry as an actress before branching into directing which further solidified her reputation. Cassavetes brought her remarkable observational skills and intuitive understanding of characters and narratives from her acting career into her directorial pursuits. Her 2004 documentary, Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, exploring the profound influence of the cable television station Z Channel, earned her acclaim and was screened out of competition at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival. In 2012, she demonstrated her creative versatility by writing and directing her first dramatic feature, Kiss of the Damned, a captivating vampire tale.