Melissa Ordway

American actress and model (born 1983)

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|

Melissa Ordway

Ordway in 2014

Born|

Melissa Pam Ordway

(1983-03-31) March 31, 1983 (age 40)

Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Alma mater| Georgia State University
Occupation(s)| Actress, model
Years active| 2004–present
Known for| The Young and the Restless
Spouse|

Justin Gaston

(m. 2012)​

Children| 2

Melissa Pam Gaston[1] (née Ordway; born March 31, 1983[2]) is an American actress and model.[3] She has been featured in campaigns by a number of major brands including Skechers, Old Navy, David's Bridal, Anchor Blue and Tillys.[4] She is best known for portraying Abby Newman on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless.[5] In May 2022, she was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama for her portrayal of Abby Newman on The Young and the Restless.

## Early life[edit]

Ordway was born in Atlanta, Georgia, an only child, to John and Christine Ordway. She began doing community theatre in Atlanta and also acting in theatre productions at her high school in Snellville, Georgia. She starred in the stage performances of Beauty and the Beast, The Women, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and many other shows. After graduating from high school, Ordway attended Georgia State University and is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. While at Georgia State, Ordway was chosen to participate in a reality show on MTV called The Assistant.[6] She won the show and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and modeling.[7]

## Career[edit]

### Modeling[edit]

She is signed with Nous Model Management in Los Angeles and Front Management in Miami.[4][6] She has been featured in campaigns for several brands including Skechers, Old Navy, David's Bridal, Anchor Blue. Tillys, Kirstie Kelly and Fabrizio Gianni.[8] She has appeared in television commercials for Axe, Geico Cavemen, Pontiac Vibe, Carl's Jr. and Payless.[9]

She has also appeared on the cover Los Angeles Weddings Magazine, Grand Sierra Magazine and Hona Hou Magazine.[6] She is featured as a frequent guest model on the game show The Price is Right including the week of October 7, 2015.[5]

### Acting[edit]

Melissa Ordway's first major acting part was the recurring roles of Jordanna on The CW television series Privileged. Ordway's feature film debut was in 17 Again. She has guest starred on such television shows as Entourage and How I Met Your Mother, as well as starring in several independent films including Callers, Tales of an Ancient Empire[10] and I Heart Veronica Martin. In 2010, Ordway appeared in the film The Last Song as Ashley and guest starred on Melrose Place as Morgan McKellan. She starred in the fantasy thriller film Tales of an Ancient Empire.[11] In 2011, she co-starred in Escapee and appeared in Ted directed by Seth MacFarlane.

She was cast in the main role of Chloe Carter on the TeenNick series Hollywood Heights in 2012.[12] In March 2013, Ordway was cast in the role of Abby Newman on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, replacing previous actress Marcy Rylan.[13] She also appeared in the 2013 supernatural thriller film Odd Thomas as Lysette.

## Personal life[edit]

On September 22, 2012, she married actor Justin Gaston, whom she met during the filming of Escapee.[14] In 2016, Justin and Melissa adopted their first child, a daughter named Olivia Christine, born April 2016.[15] Melissa gave birth to a daughter, their second child, Sophie Jolie, on December 9, 2017.[16][17][18]

## Filmography[edit]

Film roles  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2006  | Friendly Fire | Roller Goddess  |
2008  | I Heart Veronica Martin | Vanessa  | Short film
2009  | 17 Again | Lauren  |
2009  | Miss March | Gorgeous Girl  |
2009  | Alpha Males Experiment | Tiffany  |
2010  | Elektra Luxx | Sabrina Capri  |
2010  | The Last Song | Ashley  |
2010  | Bones | Samantha Reeves  |
2010  | Tales of an Ancient Empire | Princess Tanis  |
2011  | Minkow | Mindy Jameson  |
2011  | Escapee | Renee Sanders  |
2011  | Retail | Lizzie  | Short film
2011  | Callers | Amanda  |
2011  | In Time | Leila  |
2011  | A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas | Gracie  |
2012  | Ted | Michelle  |
2013  | Amelia's 25th | Loralei  |
2013  | The Incredible Burt Wonderstone | Reporter  |
2013  | Channeling | Victoria  |
2013  | Odd Thomas | Lysette  |
2014  | The Outsider | Samantha  |
2018  | Con Man | Mindy  | Uncredited
Television roles  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2004  | The Assistant | Herself  | Contestant (winner); 8 episodes
2007  | Entourage | Morgan  | Episode: "The Young and the Stoned"
2007  | How I Met Your Mother | Woman #1  | Episode: "Third Wheel"
2008–09  | Privileged | Jordanna  | Recurring role, 8 episodes
2009  | Xtra Credit | Lindsey  | Television movie
2010  | Cold Case | Diane Yates '80  | Episodes: "Bullet", "The Last Drive-In"
2010  | Melrose Place | Morgan McKellan  | Episodes: "Mulholland", "Santa Fe", "Wilshire"
2010  | CSI: NY | Jenny Harper  | Episode: "Out of the Sky"
2011  | The Chicago Code | Taylor  | Episode: "The Gold Coin Kid"
2011  | Miami Magma | Emily Vitrini  | Television movie
2012  | Hollywood Heights | Chloe Carter / Cynthia Kowalski  | Main role, 80 episodes
2012  | The League | Sutton  | Episode: "The Hoodie"
2013  | 90210 | Sydney Price  | Recurring role, 6 episodes
2014  | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Herself  | Episode: "Star Sighting"
2013–present  | The Young and the Restless | Abby Newman | Main role
The Price Is Right | Herself / model  | 32 episodes
2020  | Stalked by My Husband's Ex | Sierra  | Television film
Video games  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2004  | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Radio Station Caller  | Voice; uncredited
Music videos  Year  | Title  | Artist  | Role

|
|
|

2008  | "It's Over"  | Jesse McCartney | Love interest

## References[edit]

1. ^ Soap Opera Digest 2012-08-13 issue. Vol. 37, No. 33. Pg. 55: "High Hollywood".
2. ^ "Melissa Ordway". Retrieved 2016-05-28.
3. ^ Flemming, Jack (2019-11-12). "Soap star Melissa Ordway sells charming Lake Balboa abode". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
4. ^ a b "Y&R Melissa Ordway Celebrates Her Birthday". Soap Hub. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
5. ^ a b Melissa Ordway - The Young and the Restless Cast Member, retrieved 2020-11-05
6. ^ a b c "Melissa Ordway - Fashion Model | Models | Photos, Editorials & Latest News | The FMD". The FMD - FashionModelDirectory.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
7. ^ Bentley, Rosalind (2004-09-19). "Q&A / MELISSA ORDWAY: Reality TV gig bites, but she loves it". Gwinnett News. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. JJ5.
8. ^ "Melissa Ordway". Soaps.com. 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
9. ^ "Melissa Ordway". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
10. ^ "Terror Tweets: Scream 4 Update, Pyun Posts Tales Rough Cuts, Eclipse Nearly Wrapped". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
11. ^ Woman, The (2010-04-05). "Fangs and Blood: More Stills from Tales of an Ancient Empire. She appeared in a Jesse McCartney music video "It's Over" as Jessies ex Kacey". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
12. ^ "Nick at Nite Heats Up the Summer With Stardom, Romance and Deceit With the Premiere of Nightly Primetime Drama "Hollywood Heights," Monday, June 18, at 9 P.M. (ET/PT)" (Press release). TeenNick. 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2016-05-28 - via The Futon Critic.
13. ^ Giddens, Jamey (2013-03-06). "EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood Heights Beauty Melissa Ordway is New Abby on The Young and the Restless!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on 2013-03-10. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
14. ^ "Miley Cyrus' Ex Justin Gaston Weds Melissa Ordway". E! Online. 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
15. ^ Young, Candace (2016-05-03). "Melissa Ordway and Justin Gaston Welcome Baby Girl". Soaps.sheknows.com. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
16. ^ Kimble, Lindsay (July 12, 2017). "Melissa Ordway Pregnant. Expecting Second Child". People.com. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
17. ^ SOD (December 11, 2017). "Y&R's Melissa Ordway Welcomes Daughter". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
18. ^ "Y&R Star Melissa Ordway's Daughters Love Each Other so Much!". Soaps In Depth. Retrieved 2020-11-05.

## External links[edit]

* Melissa Ordway on Twitter
* Melissa Ordway at IMDb
* Fashion Model Directory
* Nous Models

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data
* United States

People|

* Deutsche Synchronkartei

Other|

* IdRef

*[m.]: married