Alex McLeod

Alex McLeod
McLeod at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards
Born	Alexandra Ann McLeod (1968-12-21) December 21, 1968 (age 48) Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Texas at Austin
Occupation	Television Host, Entertainment News Correspondent
Years active	1992–Present
Website	http://www.alexmcleod.net

Alexandra Ann McLeod born December 21, 1968 is an American television host and entertainment news correspondent best known for being the original host of TLC’s hit cable show, Trading Spaces. She initially got her start as a comedic actress and became a household name by hosting the first forty episodes of the reality-based home improvement series that launched the makeover show phenomenon.

McLeod was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, in the United States. Her father was a politician and real estate developer and her mother a teacher. As a young girl she spent a lot of time on the campaign trail with her father, a former Texas state legislator.

McLeod attended the prestigious Kinkaid High School in Houston. Later, she attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she received a degree in Communications. While in college on summer break, McLeod got her first broadcasting job as a news intern at KPRC-NBC in Houston. She began acting at UCLA, where she took acting and film history classes.

McLeod began her career in Hollywood performing in numerous national commercial spots and sitcoms (Married... with Children, Nightstand, and Partners) McLeod’s first real break came as the cheeky Hollywood correspondent of the irreverent and popular film review series, Moviewatch, which aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. From 1996 to 1998 McLeod spent two seasons as the sidekick to British TV personality and comedian, Johnny Vaughan (The Big Breakfast, Passport To Paradise) engaging in interviews with A-list film stars, reporting movie news from Los Angeles, and performing in comedy sketches satirizing the entertainment industry. In 1999 McLeod went on to perform comedy sketches for the cable show IZ, which aired late night and on the internet, the web site formerly named IZ.com.