You probably remember her for the "Herman Munster" shoes or that iconic, slightly vibrating showdown in Morocco. But if you think Alex McCord’s resume starts and ends with a Bravo contract, you're missing about half the story. Honestly, it's wild how much the "Brooklyn social climber" narrative overshadowed the fact that she was a working actress and voice talent years before Andy Cohen ever called her name.
She wasn't just some random person plucked off the street for The Real Housewives of New York City. She had been in the trenches of the New York entertainment scene since the late 90s. We’re talking soap operas, cult-classic anime dubs, and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it roles in major Hollywood films.
Alex McCord Movies and TV Shows: More Than Just Reality TV
Before she was dodging Ramona Singer’s insults, Alex was actually building a decent little filmography. It wasn’t "A-list movie star" level, sure, but she was a "worker bee" in the industry. Her early days involved a lot of voice work. If you were an anime fan in the late 90s, you might recognize her voice as Birdy in Birdy the Mighty or as WD-1 in Agent Aika.
That's the thing people get wrong—they think she was just a bored housewife. In reality, she was a theater kid from Northwestern who moved to the city to make it.
The Big Screen Cameos
You’ve likely seen her in the background of some of your favorite early 2000s movies without even realizing it.
- Uptown Girls (2003): She played "Molly’s Girlfriend."
- The Architect (2006): She had a role as Trisha.
- The Warrior Class (2007): She popped up as a reporter.
- Kate & Leopold (2001): She was a stand-in/uncredited bit part.
It’s easy to poke fun at small roles, but in New York, getting those SAG credits is a grind. She was consistently working in indies like The Great New Wonderful and The Tollbooth while also holding down a "real" job in visual merchandising.
The Bravo Era: RHONY and the Ultimate Girls Trip
Then came 2008. The Real Housewives of New York City changed everything for Alex and her husband, Simon van Kempen. For four seasons, we watched them navigate the social hierarchy of Manhattan (while living in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn—the horror!).
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But the TV appearances didn't stop there. She became a staple on the talk show circuit. You couldn't turn on a TV in 2010 without seeing her on The Wendy Williams Show, The Joy Behar Show, or Watch What Happens Live.
The Missing Season
The biggest "what if" in her TV career happened recently. Alex was cast in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 4 (the Morocco trip). It was supposed to be her big return to the franchise. However, due to alleged incidents involving other cast members, that season has been famously shelved by Bravo. Fans are still holding out hope it’ll leak or see the light of day eventually, but for now, it's the "lost season" of Alex McCord's TV history.
From Screen to Science: Why She Quit
The most impressive part of the Alex McCord story isn't a movie role. It's the fact that she basically looked at the entertainment industry and said, "I'm done."
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After moving to Australia in 2014, she pivoted hard. She didn't try to launch another reality show or a lifestyle brand. Instead, she went back to school.
She is now Dr. Alexandra McCord. Seriously. As of late 2025, she officially conferred her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of New England in Australia. She’s published research on child and adolescent eating disorders and works as a registered psychologist.
What You Should Do If You're a Fan
If you're looking to catch up on her work, don't just stick to the RHONY reruns.
- Check out the early stuff: Look up Birdy the Mighty if you want to hear her voice acting range.
- Follow the research: If you’re interested in the "new" Alex, look for her academic publications under the name Alexandra McCord. She’s doing real work in the field of mental health, specifically with the elderly and those with eating disorders.
- Stream the classics: RHONY Seasons 1-4 are still the gold standard for reality TV drama, and honestly, Alex’s "authentic" awkwardness has aged better than most of the other women's storylines.
It's a rare trajectory. Most people use reality TV to get into movies; Alex used it as a stepping stone to get a doctorate and leave the spotlight behind. She’s probably the only person in history to go from a heated argument on "Scary Island" to presenting peer-reviewed data at a clinical psychology conference. That’s a career path you just can’t script.
If you’re hunting for her latest TV projects, you might be waiting a while. Aside from the ill-fated Girls Trip, she seems perfectly content with her clinical practice and her life in the Northern Rivers of Australia. She's proven that there is a very successful Life After Bravo, provided you're willing to do the work.