Merritt Patterson

Merritt Patterson began her career as a teen model out of Whistler, British Columbia, winning the Canadian Herbal Essence Teen Model Search in 2006. She couldn't get representation though, since she wasn't considered tall enough. This led her to her fallback, acting. She first appeared on the fantasy series "Kyle XY" (ABC Family 2006-2009), followed by a small role in the young adult fantasy adaptation "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (2010). After appearing in several TV movies, she auditioned for the supporting role of Tess Hamilton on the "Pretty Little Liars" spin-off "Ravenswood" (ABC Family 2013-2014). Although she was initially cast in that role, producers decided to change directions for the character, casting Haley Lu Richardson as Tess and rewarding Patterson with the considerably meatier co-starring role of Olivia Matheson. The series was not renewed after its first season. Patterson next appeared in the campy soap opera "The Royals" (E!, 2015-), a tale of a scandalous British royal family with Elizabeth Hurley as an oversexed monarch.