Biografia
Milena Govich is a director, actor, and musician known for directing numerous TV episodes, including The Equalizer (2021), Chicago Med (2015), FBI: Most Wanted (2020), and Chicago Fire (2012). She also served as Co-Executive Producer and Producing Director on Dick Wolf's CBS series FBI (2018) and is set to direct two pilots currently in development. Milena was among eight filmmakers chosen for AFI's prestigious Directing Workshop for Women and participated in the exclusive Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program. Her short film and TV series proof-of-concept, Unspeakable (2018), starring Laura Vandervoort and Jeff Kober, premiered at SXSW and earned Best Episodic at the Seattle International Film Festival and Best Pilot at the SoHo International Film Festival. Her short film Temporary (2017) has been showcased nationwide, winning Best Narrative Short at Anthem Film Festival, Best Dark Comedy at Atlanta ShortsFest, and the Director's Choice Award at Sedona International Film Festival.
As an actor, Milena has appeared in nearly 100 television episodes. She first gained national recognition on CBS's Love Monkey (2006), then as the prostitute and con artist Candy on three seasons of Rescue Me (2004) (Denis Leary/FX). She starred in Dick Wolf’s Conviction (2006), which led to her role as the first and only female detective on the Emmy-winning series Law & Order (1990). Her other TV credits include recurring or featured roles on K-Ville (2007) (Fox); The Defenders (2010) (CBS); Make It or Break It (2009) (ABC Family); and as Lori Stevens on MTV’s Finding Carter (2014). Milena has also appeared in films such as Sordid Things (2009); A Novel Romance (2011), opposite Steve Guttenberg; Pass the Light (2015); #Lucky Number (2015), opposite Method Man; and the features Closure (2018), Be the Light (2020), and The Cleaner (2021).
A native of Norman, Oklahoma, Milena was valedictorian of her high school and graduated as valedictorian from the University of Central Oklahoma with a double major in vocal performance and pre-med, along with minors in dance and violin. Drawing on her classical ballet training, she appeared on Broadway in the Sam Mendes/Rob Marshall production of Cabaret at Studio 54, initially playing Lulu—highlighting her singing, dancing, and violin skills—and later understudying and replacing the lead role of Sally Bowles. She also danced on Broadway in the musical revival of The Boys From Syracuse (choreographed by Tony winner Rob Ashford) and in the Beach Boys musical Good Vibrations. Milena starred as Millie in the first regional production of Thoroughly Modern Millie and played the title role in Sweet Charity at the Lyric Theatre.
Milena currently lives in Los Angeles and collaborates on TV and film projects with her husband and producing partner, writer David Cornue.
milenagovich.com
