Connie Britton
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| Connie Britton | |
|---|---|
 Britton at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival |
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| Born | Constance Womack March 6, 1967 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse | John Britton (1991–1995) (divorced) |
Constance "Connie" Britton (née Womack) (born March 6, 1967) is an American actress. She is best known for the roles of Nikki Faber on Spin City and Tami Taylor on the Friday Night Lights television series. Her most notable films are Friday Night Lights and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Britton currently stars in the FX drama series American Horror Story as Vivien Harmon.
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[edit] Personal life
Britton was born Constance Womack in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Linda and Allen Womack, who was a physicist.[1] When she was seven years old, she moved with her parents and twin sister Cynthia [2] to Lynchburg, Virginia where she attended E.C. Glass High School. She majored in Asian studies at Dartmouth College. After graduating in 1989, she moved to New York City, where she spent two years at the Neighborhood Playhouse studying with Sanford Meisner. Britton uses her married name as her stage name, though she is now divorced from her husband John Britton.[citation needed] In November 2011, she adopted a son, Eyob "Yoby" Britton, from Ethiopia.[3]
[edit] Career
While studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Britton (then Womack) made her New York theatrical debut in Caroline Kava's The Early Girl at The Courtyard Playhouse. Britton played seasoned prostitute Laurel opposite Cooper Lawrence, who played Joan. Britton's performance, while well received, nearly got her ousted from the Neighborhood Playhouse program, which prohibited students from taking professional employment during their course of study. After graduating, Britton spent two more years working in off-Broadway theatre productions. She moved to Los Angeles after the success of The Brothers McMullen.
Britton had a regular role in Spin City as Nikki Faber from 1996 to 2000.[4] Her character was written out of the show when Charlie Sheen replaced Michael J. Fox as the main character. She had a recurring role on 24 during its fifth season as Diane Huxley, the landlady and girlfriend of protagonist Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). She co-starred in the indie-thriller The Last Winter in 2006.
Britton received critical acclaim for her starring turn in the television drama Friday Night Lights. She had a role in the original Friday Night Lights movie, also as the head coach's wife.[5]
Britton also was on a few episodes of The West Wing. She appeared in the Episodes "Manchester Part I and Part II" Season 3, as part of Bruno Gianelli's team. She appeared in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, portraying Dr. Gwendoline "Gwen" Holbrook.[6] She was also featured on This American Life's 429th episode, "Will They Know Me at Home?", in which she performed monologues from David Finkel's nonfiction book The Good Soldiers.[7]
Britton currently stars in the horror/drama American Horror Story on FX as Vivien Harmon, who recently relocated with her family to California after a series of tragic marital and family issues.[8] Unfortunately for The Harmons, the new house they purchase quickly reveals itself to be haunted.
Britton has stated after American Horror Story wraps that she will be taking a couple of months off to be with her new son, but that she will then begin to re-focus on developing an FX drama collaboration with David O. Russell.[9]
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Brothers McMullen | Molly McMullen | |
| 1998 | No Looking Back | Kelly | |
| 2001 | One Eyed King | Helen Riley | |
| 2001 | The Next Big Thing | Kate Crowley | |
| 2003 | Lost at Home | Rachel Rouse | |
| 2004 | Looking for Kitty | Marcie Petracelli | |
| 2004 | Friday Night Lights | Sharon Gaines | |
| 2005 | Special Ed | Abi | |
| 2005 | The Life Coach | Connie | |
| 2006 | The Lather Effect | Valinda | |
| 2006 | The Last Winter | Abby Sellers | |
| 2009 | Women in Trouble | Doris | |
| 2010 | A Nightmare on Elm Street | Dr. Gwendoline Holbrook | |
| 2011 | Conception | Gloria |
[edit] Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | Ellen | Heather | 3 episodes ("The Shower Scene" & "When the Vows Break (Parts 1 & 2)") |
| 1996 | Escape Clause | Leslie Bullard | TV Movie |
| 1996–2000 | Spin City | Nikki Faber | 90 episodes |
| 1998 | Cupid | Madeleine | 1 episode ("Pilot") |
| 2000–01 | The Fugitive | Maggie Kimble Hume | 3 episodes ("Pilot," "Sanctuary," "Flesh and Blood") |
| 2001 | Child Star: The Story of Shirley Temple | Gertrude Temple | TV Movie |
| 2001 | The Fighting Fitzgeralds | Sophie | |
| 2001 | The West Wing | Connie Tate | |
| 2003 | Lost at Home | Rachel Davis | |
| 2005 | Life as We Know It | 1 episode ("Papa Wheelie") | |
| 2006 | 24 | Diane Huxley | Recurring Season 5: 6 episodes |
| 2006–11 | Friday Night Lights | Tami Taylor | 76 Episodes |
| 2011 | American Horror Story | Vivien Harmon | 12 episodes |
[edit] Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Television Critics Association Awards | Individual Achievement in a Drama Series - Friday Night Lights | Nominated |
| Gotham Awards 2007 | Best Ensemble Cast - The Last Winter | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Television Critics Association Awards | Individual Achievement in a Drama Series - Friday Night Lights | Nominated |
| 2010 | Satellite Awards 2010 | Best Actress - Television Series Drama - Friday Night Lights | Won |
| 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Friday Night Lights | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Satellite Awards 2011 | Best Actress - Television Series Drama - Friday Night Lights | Nominated |
| 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Friday Night Lights | Nominated |
[edit] References
- ^ filmreference.com biography
- ^ Interview with Chris Hardwick. Nerdist Podcast #157: Connie Britton, available at [1]. 10 Jan 2012.
- ^ Jennifer Garcia (November 16, 2011). "Connie Britton Adopts a Baby Boy". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20545811,00.html.
- ^ Connie Britton's IMDB page
- ^ Connie Britton: 'The audience will feel socked in the gut'
- ^ Nancy's Mother Talks 'Elm Street' Remake and Keeping it Fresh
- ^ [2]
- ^ Stransky, Tanner (March 18, 2011). "'Friday Night Lights' star Connie Britton cast in Ryan Murphy's 'American Horror Story' pilot". Entertainment Weekly. http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/18/connie-britton-ryan-murphy-american-horror-stor/. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
- ^ Michael Ausiello (February 4, 2011). "Exclusive: Connie Britton Developing FX Drama with The Fighter's David O. Russell". TVLine. http://www.tvline.com/2011/02/exclusive-connie-britton-developing-fx-drama-with-the-fighters-david-o-russell/.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Connie Britton |
- 1967 births
- Actors from Virginia
- American film actors
- American television actors
- American vegans
- Dartmouth College alumni
- Living people
- Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni
- People from Boston, Massachusetts
- People from Lynchburg, Virginia
- People from New York City
- 20th-century actors
- 21st-century actors
