PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 23: Actress Joan Allen visits the Senet Entertainment display at the Gibson Gift Lounge during the 2005 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2005 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Getty Images for Gibson Lounge
Joan Allen
Joan Allen (born August 20, 1956) is an American actress who has worked in theatre, film, and television. She won the 1988 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her Broadway debut in Burn This. She is also a three-time Academy Award nominee; receiving Best Supporting Actress nominations for Nixon (1995) and The Crucible (1996), and a Best Actress nomination for The Contender (2000).
Allen began her acting career in 1977 with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Her New York stage credits include And a Nightingale Sang (1984) and The Heidi Chronicles (1988). Her other film roles include Manhunter (1986), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986),Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), The Ice Storm (1997), Face/Off (1997), Pleasantville (1998), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Upside of Anger (2005), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Death Race (2008), The Bourne Legacy (2012), and Room (2015). She starred in the ABC drama The Family (2016).
Allen, the youngest of four children, was born in Rochelle, Illinois, the daughter of Dorothea Marie (née Wirth), a homemaker, and James Jefferson Allen, a gas station owner. She has an older brother, David, and two older sisters, Mary and Lynn. Allen attended Rochelle Township High School, and was voted most likely to succeed. She first attended Eastern Illinois University, performing in a few plays with John Malkovich, who was also a student, and then Northern Illinois University, where she graduated with a BFA in Theater.
Allen began her performing career as a stage actress and on television before making her film debut in the movie, Compromising Positions (1985). She became a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 1977 when John Malkovich asked her to join. She’s been a member ever since. In 1984, she won a Clarence Derwent Award for her portrayal of Hellen Stott in And a Nightingale Sang.
Allen, the youngest of four children, was born in Rochelle, Illinois, the daughter of Dorothea Marie (née Wirth), a homemaker, and James Jefferson Allen, a gas station owner. She has an older brother, David, and two older sisters, Mary and Lynn. Allen attended Rochelle Township High School, and was voted most likely to succeed.[citation needed] She first attended Eastern Illinois University, performing in a few plays with John Malkovich, who was also a student, and then Northern Illinois University, where she graduated with a BFA in Theater.
Allen began her performing career as a stage actress and on television before making her film debut in the movie, Compromising Positions (1985). She became a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 1977 when John Malkovich asked her to join. She’s been a member ever since. In 1984, she won a Clarence Derwent Award for her portrayal of Hellen Stott in And a Nightingale Sang.
She had starring roles in the drama The Ice Storm, directed by Ang Lee, and the action thriller Face/Off, directed by John Woo, both released in 1997, as well as in the comedy Pleasantville (1998).
In 2015, Allen signed for the leading role in the ABC drama series, The Family, playing the role of villainous and manipulative mayor and matriarch of her family.
Personal life
In 1990 Allen married actor Peter Friedman. They divorced in 2002 but live close to each other to share time with their daughter, Sadie, born in 1994.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1983 Say Goodnight, Gracie Ginny Television movie
1985 Compromising Positions Mary Alice Mahoney
1985 Evergreen Iris Friedman Television miniseries
1986 Manhunter Reba McClane
1986 Zeisters Lala
1986 Peggy Sue Got Married Maddy Nagle
1987 All My Sons Ann Deever Television movie
1987 The Room Upstairs Ellie Television movie
1988 Tucker: The Man and His Dream Vera Tucker
1989 In Country Irene
1991 Without Warning: The James Brady Story Sarah Brady Television movie
1993 Ethan Frome Zeena Frome
1993 Searching for Bobby Fischer Bonnie Waitzkin
1993 Josh and S.A.M. Caroline Whitney
1995 Mad Love Margaret Roberts
1995 Nixon Pat Nixon Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Society of Texas Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
1996 The Crucible Elizabeth Proctor Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress
Empire Award for Best Actress
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1997 The Ice Storm Elena Hood Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
1997 Face/Off Dr. Eve Archer Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Action/Adventure
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
1998 Pleasantville Betty Parker Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Funniest Scene
1999 All The Rage Helen
2000 When the Sky Falls Sinead Hamilton
2000 The Contender Senator Laine Billings Hanson Critic’s Choice Alan J. Pakula Award (shared)
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Drama
Nominated—Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female
Nominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
2001 The Mists of Avalon Morgause TV miniseries
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
2003 Off the Map Arlene Groden
2004 The Notebook Ann Hamilton
2004 The Bourne Supremacy CIA Dep. Dir. Pamela Landy
2004 Yes She Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Nominated—British Independent Film Award for Best Actress
2005 The Upside of Anger Terry Ann Wolfmeyer Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Iowa Film Critics Award for Best Actress
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
2006 Bonneville Carol
2007 The Bourne Ultimatum CIA Dep. Dir. Pamela Landy
2008 Death Race Prison Warden Claire Hennessey Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
2009 Hachi: A Dog’s Tale Kate Wilson
2009 Georgia O’Keeffe Georgia O’Keeffe Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie
Nominated—Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2009 The Word of Promise Audio Bible Deborah (voice) Audio play voice-over
2011 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim[14] Delphine (voice) Video game voice-over
2012 Luck Claire Lachay TV series
2012 The Bourne Legacy CIA Dep. Dir. Pamela Landy Cameo
2014 A Good Marriage Darcy Anderson
2014 The Killing Colonel Margaret Rayne Fourth and final season (appeared in all 6 episodes); credited as special guest star.
2015 Room Nancy Newsome Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Indiana Film Journalists Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
2016 The Family Claire Warren