- Connie Britton
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Connie Britton
Britton at the 2006 Toronto International Film FestivalBorn Constance Womack
March 6, 1967
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Occupation Actress Years active 1995–present Connie Britton (born March 6, 1967)[citation needed] is an American actress. She is best known for the roles of Nikki Faber on Spin City and on Friday Night Lights as Tami Taylor. Her most notable films are Friday Night Lights and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Despite the fact that the Friday Night Lights television series is based on the film, she portrays different characters in both of them. Her character in the show is named Tami Taylor while in the film her character is named Sharon Gaines. Britton currently stars in FX drama series American Horror Story as Vivien Harmon.
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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 sister Cynthia 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.[citation needed] On November 16, 2011, Britton revealed she had adopted a baby boy from Ethiopa, named Eyob, whom she calls "Yoby". [2]
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 then unknown television and radio personality 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. In her free time, Britton, who resides in both New York and Los Angeles, enjoys hiking, yoga, and doing volunteer work.
Britton had a regular role in Spin City as Nikki Faber from 1996 to 2000.[3] 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 starred in the television drama Friday Night Lights. She starred in the original Friday Night Lights, the movie, also as the head coach's wife.[4]
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.
Most recently, she appeared in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, portraying Dr. Gwendoline "Gwen" Holbrook.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7] Unfortunately for The Harmons, the new house they purchase quickly reveals itself to be haunted.
Filmography
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 Nominated — Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast 2009 Women in Trouble Doris 2010 A Nightmare on Elm Street Dr. Gwendoline Holbrook 2010 Conception Gloria post-production 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
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2010–11)
Nominated — Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama (2007–08)2011 American Horror Story Vivien Harmon References
- ^ filmreference.com biography
- ^ 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
- ^ [1]
- ^ 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.
External links
- Connie Britton at the Internet Movie Database
- Connie Britton at AllRovi
Categories:- 1967 births
- Actors from Virginia
- American film actors
- American television actors
- 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
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