Biography
A native Texan born and raised in the Dallas Metroplex, Scarlett is the eldest sibling to Patrick and Molly and the daughter of Steve and Linda McAlister. Her large extended family stands as some of her most enthusiastic supporters. At age 8, Scarlett began riding lessons, following in the footsteps of her mother, a former jockey. By 17, she had gained recognition as a skilled horse trainer and riding instructor. Alongside her work as an instructor and trainer, she volunteered with T.R.O.T., an organization that helps mentally and physically handicapped children build confidence and strength through supervised horseback riding. During this time, she also competed in equestrian events across the Southern U.S., earning numerous trophies, ribbons, and awards.
At 15, Scarlett auditioned for a role in a local Murder Mystery/Dinner Theatre group. Despite no prior acting experience, she secured the part and many more thereafter. What began as a hobby soon turned into a dedicated career. Encouraged by renowned casting director Jo Edna Boldin, Scarlett started auditioning for film and television roles. Simultaneously, her mother Linda—who has entertainment industry ties through her own father, a theater owner—became a licensed agent to support Scarlett’s auditions. In 1994, Linda McAlister Talent was founded and has grown into one of Texas' most respected agencies, representing professional, well-trained film and TV actors. While Linda treats Scarlett like any other talent, she acknowledges that Scarlett is among her most in-demand clients.
With over 40 film and television credits and more than 250 commercials, industrials, print ads, and voice-overs, Scarlett has earned significant respect in the acting community. She continually hones her skills through ongoing acting classes and regularly participates in industry seminars and educational events.
While in Texas, Scarlett was a dedicated equestrian professional. As owner of McAlister Harris Performance Horses, she developed, trained, and coached a team of talented riders and horses. Alongside her younger sister Molly, they proudly competed in numerous equestrian events with their skilled team.
Currently, Scarlett lives in the Los Angeles, California area with her husband Chris Harris, an SMU graduate and IT professional. They share their home with a 225-pound English Mastiff named Angus and look forward to acquiring a larger residence to accommodate their growing family of pot-bellied pigs, ferrets, horses, cats, dogs, birds, and eventually children.
