Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975)[1][2] is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films Stay, The Family Stone, Sweet Land, Against the Current, The Twilight Saga, Young Adult, and Ouija: Origin of Evil, and the TV series Saved, Grey's Anatomy, The Ex-List, The Good Wife, True Detective, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Haunting of Hill House.
Elizabeth Reaser | |
|---|---|
 Reaser in July 2011 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Ann Reaser July 2, 1975 Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | Oakland University Juilliard School (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse |
Bruce Gilbert (m. 2023) |
Early life and education
editReaser was born in the affluent Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills. Her parents are Karen Davidson (née Weidman) and John Reaser.[3] She is the middle of three sisters.[3] In 1995, her mother married billionaire businessman William Davidson.[3][4][5]
Reaser attended both the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills[6] and Avondale High School in Auburn Hills[7] where she graduated in 1993. After high school, she attended Oakland University for one year,[8] then attended the Juilliard School's Drama Division (1995–1999, Group 28),[9] where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1999.[2][8]
Career
editReaser prepared for her role on Saved by spending time in an emergency room, observing the behavior of medical staff.[10] In October 2004, Interview magazine hailed her as one of the "14 To Be" emerging creative women.[11] Her work in the film Sweet Land earned the "Jury Award" at the Newport Beach Film Festival and a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award "Best Female Lead" award.[citation needed] Reaser earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring guest appearance throughout 2007 and 2008 on the television series Grey's Anatomy.[citation needed]
Reaser is best known for her portrayal of Esme Cullen in the film Twilight,[12] and its follow-ups The Twilight Saga: New Moon in 2009, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in 2010,[13] and parts one (2011) and two (2012) of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.[14]
Reaser appeared on the CBS' legal drama, The Good Wife in October 2010.[15]
Reaser appeared in Season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu.[16]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Believer | Miriam | |
| Thirteen Conversations About One Thing | Young Woman In Class | ||
| 2002 | Emmett's Mark | Alison Holmes | |
| 2004 | Mind the Gap | Malissa Zubach | |
| 2005 | Stay | Athena | |
| Sweet Land | Young Inge | ||
| The Family Stone | Susannah Stone Trousdale | ||
| 2006 | The Wedding Weekend | Julep | |
| Puccini for Beginners | Allegra | ||
| 2007 | Purple Violets | Bernadette | |
| 2008 | Twilight | Esme Cullen | |
| 2009 | Against the Current | Liz Clark | |
| The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Esme Cullen | ||
| 2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Esme Cullen | |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Charlotte Howe | |
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 | Esme Cullen | ||
| Young Adult | Beth Slade | ||
| 2012 | Liberal Arts | Ana | |
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | Esme Cullen | ||
| 2015 | One & Two | Elizabeth | |
| Hello, My Name Is Doris | Dr. Edwards | ||
| 2016 | Ouija: Origin of Evil | Alice Zander | |
| 2018 | Nightmare Cinema | Helen | "This Way to Egress" segment |
| 2020 | Embattled | Susan Boykins | |
| 2023 | Dark Harvest | Donna Shepard | |
| 2024 | The Uninvited | Rose |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | Molly | Episode: "Scrubs" |
| 2000 | The Sopranos | Stace | Episode: "D-Girl" |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Serena Whitfield | Episode: "The Insider" |
| 2004 | Hack | Elaine Jones | Episode: "Extreme Commerce" |
| The Jury | Rachel Byrnes | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Jillian Slaughter | Episode: "Proud Flesh" |
| Saved | Alice Alden, M.D. | 13 episodes | |
| Standoff | Anya Reed | Episode: "Heroine" | |
| 2007–2008 | Grey's Anatomy | Ava / Rebecca Pope | 18 episodes |
| 2008 | Wainy Days | Annie | Episode: "The Waindow" |
| The Ex List | Bella Bloom | 13 episodes | |
| 2010–2012 | The Good Wife | Tammy Linnata | 7 episodes |
| 2013 | Bonnie and Clyde: Dead and Alive | P.J. Lane | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | True Detective | Laurie Perkins | Episode: "The Secret Fate of All Life" |
| 2015 | Mad Men | Diana Baur | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2019 | Easy | Andi | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Manhunt: Unabomber | Ellie Fitzgerald | 8 episodes |
| Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders | Pam Bozanich | 7 episodes | |
| 2018 | The Haunting of Hill House | Adult Shirley Crain | 8 episodes |
| 2019 | The Handmaid's Tale[17] | Mrs. Winslow | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | 50 States of Fright | Sara | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Impeachment: American Crime Story | Kathleen Willey | 2 episodes |
Theater
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Sweet Bird of Youth | Heavenly | La Jolla Playhouse |
| 2000 | The Hologram Theory | Mimi | Blue Lights Theatre Company |
| 2001 | Blackbird | Froggy | Bush Theatre |
| Closer | Alice | Portland Center Stage | |
| 2002 | Stone Cold Dead Serious | Shaylee Ledbetter / Sharice | American Repertory Theater |
| 2003 | The Winter's Tale | Perdita | Classic Stage Company |
| 2005 | Top Girls | Patient Griselda / Nell / Jeanine | Williamstown Theatre Festival |
| 2012 | How I Learned to Drive | Li'l Bit | Second Stage Theatre |
| 2014 | Conviction | No Name | Bay Street Theater |
| 2015 | The Money Shot | Karen | Lucille Lortel Theater |
| Permission | Cyndy |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Newport Beach Film Festival | Jury Award – Best Actress (Feature Film) | Sweet Land | Won |
| 2007 | Independent Spirit Award | Best Female Lead | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | Nominated |
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Prism Award | Best Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes but my bday is July 2". Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- ^ a b Jason Buchanan (2007). "Elizabeth Reaser". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^ a b c The Jewish News: "Bill’s Dreams Live On" Archived October 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine October 11, 2012
- ^ Davidson's Wife to Succeed Him As Owner of the Pistons[permanent dead link] Yahoo Sports, March 14, 2009
- ^ Bloom, Nate (December 8, 2009). "Twilight". InterFaithFamily. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016.
- ^ "Slow climb for actress Elizabeth Reaser is more than 'Getting By'". The Oakland Press. June 26, 2011. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ KRUG, KURT ANTHONY. ""Twilight" actress, Avondale grad talks about the end of her role as Esme Cullen". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ a b Nassour, Ellis. "Elizabeth Reaser – Actress on the rise". Lifestyles Magazine. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
- ^ "Alumni News". The Juilliard School. February 2008. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011.
- ^ Martindale, David (July 15, 2003). "No Real-Life MD for Elizabeth Reaser". Tnt.tv. Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
- ^ "Elizabeth Reaser- Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Larry Carroll (February 19, 2008). "'Twilight' Film's First Family Revealed: Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser Lead Cullen Clan". MTV. Archived from the original on February 21, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
- ^ Another New The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Still - The Cullen Men
- ^ "Peter Facinelli, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, and Billy Burke Sign on to BREAKING DAWN; Plus Three New TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE Posters". Collider. May 19, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ "Exclusive: Elizabeth Reaser, Lili Taylor Join The Good Wife". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
- ^ Roschke, Ryan (January 31, 2019). "Blessed Be the Fruit: We Have All Kinds of Details For The Handmaid's Tale Season 3". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "The Handmaid's Tale Season 3 Adds Christopher Meloni, Elizabeth Reaser". TVLine.com. January 24, 2019. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.