The Transformation Of Laura Prepon From That 70's Show To Now

Laura Prepon was not knocked down by the cancellation of Are You There, Chelsea?, as she moved from network shows to streaming, signing on to the Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, which ran for seven seasons, ending in 2019. In the prison drama, Prepon played Alex Vause, the ex-girlfriend of the show's protagonist Piper Chapman. It is due to Alex that Piper lands in prison, as Alex was a heroin smuggler who first convinces Piper to join her then names Piper during her testimony, leading to Piper's arrest.

During their time in prison together, Alex reveals more of herself to Piper, admitting to previously being addicted to heroin and to having been on anti-depressants before. After double-crossing Piper, Alex gains her freedom from prison but ends up back behind bars when Piper arranges for Alex to get caught violating her parole. In season 4, an attempt on her life causes Alex to kill a corrupt corrections officer, burying him in the prison garden, and this murder haunts Alex even though she's not caught. Alex and Piper continue to have an on-again, off-again relationship that culminates in the two having a prison wedding at the end of season 6. The series culminates in Alex ending up transferred to Ohio after she breaks off an affair she was having with a corrections officer. While Alex tries to break up with Piper as a result, Piper moves to Ohio alongside Alex and the two remain together at the end of the show.

Laura Prepon, in addition to her professional career, has had a number of developments in her off-screen life as well. She has given birth to two children, one in 2017 and one in 2020, and married fellow actor Ben Foster in 2018. She has also veered into directing, even taking the reins on three episodes of Orange Is The New Black, opening a number of possibilities for what turn her career will take next.