Virgin River fans have been intrigued by the complex character of Dan Brady, but what do we know about Benjamin Hollingsworth, the actor who brings him to life?
In the latest episodes of season six, viewers see Jack Sheridan (played by Martin Henderson) and Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) finally get their happily ever after as they say their vows.
However, Brady’s (Benjamin Hollingsworth) love life remains rocky following his split with Brie Sheridan (Zibby Allen), after she finds out about his involvement in drug dealing.
Despite her new romance with police officer Mike (Marco Grazzini), many viewers are still hoping for a reunion between her and Brady in the current series.
As fans settle down to binge-watch season six, here’s everything you need to know about the actor behind Virgin River’s Brady, reports the Express US.
Early Struggles
Born in Ontario in 1984, Hollingsworth had dreams of becoming an actor from a young age. He followed this dream by studying at the National Theatre School of Canada, graduating in 2006.
It wasn’t long before he started landing roles and hit a career high with his first major film, The Joneses, where he starred alongside Demi Moore and David Duchovny.
He was working on a new show for The CW, The Beautiful Life, produced by Ashton Kutcher. However, the series was cancelled after only two episodes were broadcast.
Hollingsworth took to Instagram, sharing how a dramatic turn on set unfolded: “Midday we had 30 minutes to clear out of our dressing rooms”. Alongside a paparazzi photo from the morning his show got cancelled, he revealed: “Young, dumb and now broke, I moved back to LA with my tail between my legs.”
The actor admitted to spending a year wallowing in self-pity and misplaced priorities: “Couch surfing with my little dog Stella. I wasted a year of my life feeling sorry for myself, self sabotaging opportunities and chasing after celebrity instead of the work.”
He reflected on the challenging time at the age of 40, affirming it wasn’t the end: “BUT, this wasn’t the worst morning of my life.
“In hindsight it was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. I learned a lesson they don’t teach you in theater school. Take nothing for granted, nothing is guaranteed or owed to you. Resilience is earned not inherited.”
Famous ex-girlfriend
Regarding his personal life, Hollingsworth once dated Nina Dobrev, acclaimed actress from The Vampire Diaries. They started as roommates before their relationship blossomed in 2006, lasting three years.
Despite the break-up, Hollingsworth speaks highly of Dobrev, telling Pop Culturalist in 2021: “My good friend, Nina Dobrev, was on another CW show at the time, The Vampire Diaries. That went on for eight or nine seasons.
“It was fun to see where she went. It’s interesting to see all sides of this business.”
Family Life
In 2010, the actor known for playing Brady on screen met lingerie designer and Bar Method instructor Nila Myers, sparking a whirlwind romance. They got engaged within two years and were married shortly thereafter, just two months following their engagement.
The couple has since expanded their family with three children: sons Hemingway Nash and Gatsby Willem, along with daughter Juniper Bloom.
Speaking to iHeartRadio in 2020, Hollingsworth couldn’t help but heap praise on his spouse, saying: “She’s amazing. Three kids later, she’s still such a hero. I’m so lucky to have her.”
Virgin River season 6 is available to stream on Netflix.