American actress and singer Beverley Mitchell was born on January 22, 1981 in Arcadia, California. She was discovered when she was four years old—a talent agent spotted her as she was throwing a tantrum in a shopping mall. That tantrum led her to many television commercials, most notably one for Oscar Meyer’s. She later moved on to acting for television, first starring in the sitcom Big Brother Jake.
Mitchell made several guest appearances on television shows like Quantum Leap, Phenom, Baywatch, Melrose Place and The Faculty, and also starred in television movies like Sinatra, Mother of the Bride and White Dwarf. In 1994, she made her film debut, appearing in a small role in the thriller film Killing Obsession. However, it was in 1996, and the film The Crow: City of Angels, where she got wide recognition for her portrayal of a teenaged drug addict.
Around the same time, Mitchell auditioned for a role in the family drama 7th Heaven. She originally gunned for the role of Mary Camden, although she lost it to Jessica Biel. However, she was cast in another role: that of Lucy Camden, the third child of Eric and Annie Camden (Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks). Earlier known for having many boyfriends and being very dramatic about it, she progressed throughout the series as a devoted Christian, following her father’s footsteps in becoming a church minister.
During her eleven-year run in the drama, she starred in the horror flick Saw 2. She also realized her dream of becoming a country singer, releasing her eponymous first album in 2006, where she co-wrote some of the songs. One of the songs was dedicated to her best friend, who died from a drunk driving-related accident; she wrote about the experience on Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul.