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Based on the novels by Robyn Carr, Netflix’s Virgin River is a stunning romantic drama about hope, love, and community. The central storyline of the series centers on Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a Los Angeles-based nurse who moves to Virgin River for a fresh start. She strikes up a relationship with Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a retired Marine who co-owns the town’s bar with his best friend Preacher (Collin Lawrence).

Virgin River Season 3 introduced Jack’s sister Brie (Zibby Allen), but the role was almost played by another actor.

Ben Hollingsworth as Brady and Zibby Allen as Brie sitting on a wooden bench in a colorful garden on 'Virgin River'
Ben Hollingsworth as Brady and Zibby Allen as Brie on ‘Virgin River’ | Netflix

Who is Brie on ‘Virgin River’?

Fans were delighted to meet Jack’s sister Brie in the third season of Virgin River. Since a lot of his backstory is still fuzzy, meeting Brie allowed us a bit more insight into Jack. The retired Marine was stunned when his hotshot attorney, baby sister arrives in town amid a “leave of absence” for work. Though Brie was standoffish at first she eventually began to open up. She bonded with Mel and eventually begins hooking up with Brady (Ben Hollingsworth).

Fans learned in season 3 that Brie did not appear in Virgin River by accident. After being sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, she fled for the familiarity and safety of her brother’s home.

Brie was almost played by a different actor

Though fans know Allen as Brie, the character could have also been portrayed by Stacey Farber who portrays Tara Anderson on the series. Virgin River fans know that Tara came to town to help her ailing mother Lilly (Lynda Boyd) with her younger sister. In the season 3 finale, Lilly died leaving Tara heartbroken.

Farber explained that she originally auditioned to portray Brie. “I got the booking in Vancouver in the pandemic, so I was just so grateful to have a job,” she told Express. “I don’t think people know this, but I actually taped an audition for the role of Brie first. And then I made a tape for the character of Tara. I didn’t know how popular the show was when I started, so I just did my thing.”

We think Farber absolutely nailed it as Tara.

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Brie’s storyline is very different from the ‘Virgin River’ books

Brie’s journey in Virgin River author Robyn Carr’s books is very different than in the books. In the novels, Brie pops up in Virgin River after learning her husband had left her for her best friend. However, Virgin River showrunner Sue Tenney wanted to give the character a different path than fans of the book series may have expected.

“She’s one of my favorite characters from the books,” Tenney told TV Line via Express. “We were waiting for the right time to bring her in, and we feel like this is the perfect season. Her brother was shot, so her coming to town was completely 

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