5 Things to Know About 'Sweet Magnolias' Star Brooke Elliott

These past few months may have been filled with sparkling new indoor hobbies, like managing a growing houseplants collection, learning a new language on Rosetta Stone, or knitting enough blankets to cover Mount Rushmore. Or, it may have been filled with a whole lot of Sweet Magnolias and Virgin River episodes on Netflix.

If you're in the latter camp — or opted for misting your houseplants with a side of Netflix — and found yourself bingeing on Sweet Magnolias, you likely fell in love with the character Dana Sue Sullivan, played by Brooke Elliott. That's why we were thrilled to find this article on ScreenRant.com sharing little-known facts about the talented actor and inspiring us to do some additional sleuthing ourselves. Below, five things we were surprised to learn about the chef we've come to know and love.

1. She's from Minnesota.

She may do a darn good job of portraying Southern hospitality on Sweet Magnolias, but Elliott has strong Midwestern roots. Born in Fridley, Minnesota, her family moved to Blaine, Minnesota when she was young, along with relocations to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Illinois, before settling in Riverview, Michigan, when Elliott was a junior in high school. She later attended and graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in musical theatre performance.

2. She's starred in shows under the neon lights of Broadway.

If you think her contagious energy would be captivating on stage, you'd be right, and Elliott has put her musical theatre degree to use many times, starring in Broadway productions of The Pirate Queen and Taboo, as well as touring across the country for Broadawy shows. Fun fact: In a 2011 interview with MyEntertainmentWorld.ca, Elliott revealed that Rosie O'Donnell helped her land her first job on Broadway.

3. She's the leading lady on Drop Dead Diva.

Ah, you knew you recognized her from somewhere. Indeed, Elliott starred as attorney Jane Bingum in the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva from 2009 to 2014. Now, you can stream the dramedy on Hulu or Amazon Prime.

4. She's a Barbara Streisand superfan.

Let's hear it for Babs. "At first, when I was growing up, I wanted to be Barbra Streisand. That's what I wanted to do, I would be another Barbra Streisand," she said in the above interview with MyEntertainmentWorld.ca. "Then as I got into high school, and the option is drama club not Barbara Streisand club, I got into drama. And I found that I really belonged there."

5. She keeps her private life to herself.

Elliott keeps her personal life out of the media. She also keeps a glimpse into her private life away from her Instagram feed, though she doesn't shy away from cracking a good joke on the social media platform. "I'm just as excited as you are to find out #whosinthecar! I mean, honestly, who's in the car?!?!?!" she humorously captions a post in July.

The good news: Since Sweet Magnolias has been renewed for a second season we can all look forward to getting some answers. With the coronavirus pandemic, it's unclear when filming will resume, so far now, we'll just rewatch season one and anticipate the day when we're back with Dana Sue, Maddie, and Helen in Serenity — and chowing down vicariously at Sullivan's.