Fans of Virgin River know just how convincing the on-screen chemistry is between Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson, who play Mel and Jack. Their connection is so natural that it’s easy to forget the two are not actually a couple off screen.
In reality, Alexandra has been happily married since 2015—and her real-life love story is far more peaceful than Mel’s drama-filled romances in Virgin River.
The actress, who also starred as Sophie in This Is Us, is married to Casey Hooper, best known as Katy Perry’s lead guitarist. In addition to touring with the pop star, Casey also performs with the band SurfMaster and appeared in the documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me.
The couple first met years ago at a Grammys after-party while both were living in California. Alexandra was actively building her acting résumé with roles in American Horror Story and The Walking Dead, while Casey was wrapping up a world tour with Perry. Sparks flew instantly, and their relationship quickly deepened.
On September 13, 2015, Alexandra and Casey exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in Dunton Springs, Colorado.
One year later, they welcomed their first child, a son named Jack—an amusing coincidence for Virgin River fans. Fifteen months after that, their daughter Billie was born. Eventually, the family of four traded Los Angeles for a quieter, more connected lifestyle in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.
“The rural areas of Georgia have an amazing sense of community we were lacking in L.A.,” Alexandra told Atlanta Magazine in 2019. Living just outside of the so-called “Hollywood of the South” allows both Alexandra and Casey to stay active in the entertainment industry while enjoying a slower, more family-focused life.
And what about Martin Henderson? The 48-year-old New Zealand actor has never been married. He currently lives in New Zealand with his partner, Penny, an interior designer. Prior to Penny, he was in a serious relationship with Mexican influencer Aisha Mendez, but the two split in January 2021.
So while Mel and Jack’s romance exists only in the world of Virgin River, Alexandra Breckenridge certainly has her own real-life happily-ever-after.
