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Carrie Coon
Carrie Coon at 2013 Toronto Film Festival.jpg
Coon in 2013
Born
Carrie Alexandra Coon

(1981-01-24) January 24, 1981 (age 44)
Education University of Mount Union (BA)
University of Wisconsin–Madison (MFA)
Occupation Actress
Years active 2006–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2013)
Children 2

Carrie Alexandra Coon (born January 24, 1981) is an American actress. She is known for her portrayals of complex women on stage and screen. She has received a Critics' Choice Television Award as well as nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.

On television, she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, her first for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Gloria Burgle in the third season of the FX anthology series Fargo (2017), and her second for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for playing an aspiring socialite in the HBO period drama series The Gilded Age (2022–present). She has also starred as grieving mother in the HBO drama series The Leftovers (2014–2017), and a mysterious woman in the anthology drama series The Sinner (2018).

She made her film debut in Gone Girl (2014) and has since taken roles in films such as Widows (2018), The Post (2017), The Nest (2020) and His Three Daughters (2024). She has also portrayed Proxima Midnight in the superhero film Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and starred in the comedy films Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024). On stage, Coon made her Broadway debut as a naive wife in the revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2012) for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

Early life and education

Carrie Alexandra Coon was born in Copley, Ohio, on January 24, 1981, to Paula (née Ploenes) and John Coon. She has an older sister, an older brother, and two younger brothers. She graduated from Copley High School in 1999, next attending the University of Mount Union, graduating in 2003 with a BA in English and Spanish. In 2006, she earned her MFA in acting from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Career

Early career

Coon began her career in regional theater. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Coon was immediately recruited by the Madison Repertory Theatre and made her professional stage debut in a production of Our Town. After her debut with the Madison Repertory Theatre, Coon joined the American Players Theatre and stayed with them for four seasons. Coon moved to Chicago in 2008 and made her Chicago debut with a production of Brontë at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. Coon commuted between Chicago and Wisconsin for several years, alternating between Chicago productions, productions in Milwaukee, and seasons with the American Players Theatre. During these years, Coon provided for herself by performing motion capture work for a video game company based in Wisconsin.

Coon's breakthrough came in 2010 when she was cast as Honey in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The role immediately resulted in further parts in Chicago productions, and she followed the production to performances in Washington, D.C. and New York City, making her Broadway debut. For her performance, she won a Theatre World Award and received a Tony Award nomination.

Coon guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ironside, and Intelligence.

Breakthrough

Following her Tony Award nomination in 2014, Coon was cast as one of the main characters in the HBO drama series The Leftovers, alongside Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, and Ann Dowd. That same year, she made her film debut in Gone Girl, based on the 2012 novel of same name and directed by David Fincher.

In early 2015, Coon starred in the lead role of the Off-Broadway production of Placebo at Playwrights Horizons. She also participated in readings for her husband Tracy Letts' 2015–2016 season play Mary Page Marlowe and was in talks to perform in the production in Chicago if her filming schedule with The Leftovers permitted; in December 2015, it was announced that Coon would be one of six actresses portraying the title character in Mary Page Marlowe for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago from March to May 2016. In April 2015, Coon left The Gersh Agency for United Talent Agency. In October and November 2015, Coon filmed the movie Strange Weather alongside actress Holly Hunter for director Katherine Dieckmann in Mississippi. In December 2015, she filmed the horror romance The Keeping Hours for director Karen Moncrieff and Blumhouse Productions.

Coon starred in the lead role of Gloria Burgle in the third season of the FX anthology series Fargo. She received a nomination for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role and won the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama for both Fargo and The Leftovers. In 2017, she filmed Great Choice, a horror short mimicking a 1990s Red Lobster commercial. The same year she played real life journalist Meg Greenfield in the Steven Spielberg–directed historical drama film The Post. In 2018, Coon co-starred in the Steve McQueen heist thriller film Widows. Coon provided the voice and motion capture for Proxima Midnight, a member of the Black Order and a child of Thanos, in the superhero film Avengers: Infinity War (2018) directed by the Russo brothers.

On April 30, 2020, Coon joined the cast of the HBO drama series The Gilded Age as Bertha Russell. She received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actress at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021 for her work in the film The Nest. In January 2024, Coon joined the cast of the third season of the HBO anthology series The White Lotus, which is expected to premiere in 2025. She starred in the Azazel Jacobs family drama His Three Daughters (2023) alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Natasha Lyonne. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows three estranged daughters as they care for their dying father. Jon Frosch of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Coon is masterful at conveying the space between those inner and outer selves." The film was picked up for distribution by Netflix and released in September 2024.

Personal life

Coon married actor and playwright Tracy Letts in 2013. They have a son born in 2018 and a daughter born in 2021.

Acting credits

Film

Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2014 Gone Girl Margo "Go" Dunne
2016 Strange Weather Byrd
2017 The Keeping Hours Elizabeth
Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town Virginia
The Post Meg Greenfield
2018 The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter Linda Ferguson
Avengers: Infinity War Proxima Midnight
Kin Morgan Hunter
Widows Amanda Nunn
2020 The Nest Allison O'Hara
2021 Ghostbusters: Afterlife Callie Spengler
2023 His Three Daughters Katie
Another Happy Day Irene
2024 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Callie Spengler
Lake George Phyllis

Television

Key
Television series that have not yet been released Denotes television series that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Talia Blaine Episode: "Girl Dishonored"
2013 Ironside Rachel Ryan Episode: "Pilot"
2014 Intelligence Luanne Vick Episode: "Patient Zero"
2014–2017 The Leftovers Nora Durst Main role
2017 Fargo Gloria Burgle Main role (season 3)
2018 The Sinner Vera Walker Main role (season 2)
2021 What If...? Proxima Midnight (voice) Episode: "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?"
2022–present The Gilded Age Bertha Russell Main role
2025 The White Lotus Not yet released TBA Main role (season 3)

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Our Town Emily Overture Center for the Arts (Madison Repertory Theatre)
Romeo and Juliet Ensemble American Players Theatre (Spring Green, Wisconsin)
The Matchmaker Ermengarde
Measure for Measure Juliet
2007 Anna Christie Anna Overture Center for the Arts
Misalliance Hypatia American Players Theatre
The Merchant of Venice Ensemble
The Night of the Iguana Charlotte
2008 The Diary of Anne Frank Miep Gies Overture Center for the Arts
Brontë Emily Remy Bumppo Theatre Company (Chicago debut)
A Midsummer Night's Dream Helena American Players Theatre
Henry IV Lady Percy
The Belle's Stratagem Miss Ogle
2009 Magnolia Ariel Goodman Theatre (Chicago)
Henry V Kate American Players Theatre
2010 Blackbird Una Renaissance Theatreworks (Milwaukee)
Reasons to Be Pretty Stephanie
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Honey Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago)
2011 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Honey Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.)
The Real Thing Annie Writers Theatre (Glencoe)
2012 The Girl in the Yellow Dress Celia Next Theatre (Evanston)
Pretty Penny Crystal Writers Theatre
The March Emily Thompson Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Three Sisters Masha
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Honey Booth Theatre (Broadway debut)
2015 Placebo Louise Playwrights Horizons (Off-Broadway)
2016 Mary Page Marlowe Mary Page Marlowe (ages 27–36) Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago)
2017 Mary Jane Mary Jane New York Theatre Workshop (Off-Broadway)
2020 Bug Agnes White Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2013 Theatre World Award N/A Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Won
Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominated
2014 St. Louis Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Gone Girl Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
Golden Schmoes Awards Best Supporting Actress of the Year Nominated
IGN Summer Movie Awards Best Movie Supporting Actress Nominated
IndieWire Critics Poll Best Supporting Actress 6th place
Village Voice Film Poll Best Supporting Actress 6th place
2015 Empire Awards Best Female Newcomer Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Ensemble (shared with cast) Nominated
Georgia Film Critics Association Best Ensemble (shared with cast) Nominated
Gold Derby Awards Ensemble Cast (shared with cast) Nominated
Breakthrough Performer Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Leftovers Nominated
2016 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Won
2017 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Fargo Nominated
TCA Awards Individual Achievement in Drama The Leftovers and Fargo Won
2018 Chlotrudis Awards Best Supporting Actress Strange Weather Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Fargo Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Mary Jane Nominated
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play Won
MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Fight (shared with Scarlett Johansson, Danai Gurira, and Elizabeth Olsen) Avengers: Infinity War Nominated
Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Actress Mary Jane Won
Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Drama / Genre Series The Leftovers Nominated
2019 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries The Sinner Nominated
2020 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Actress The Nest Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Best Actress Nominated
Gotham Awards Best Actress Nominated
Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Actress Nominated
Jeff Award Performer in a Principal Role – Play Bug Won
2021 Canadian Screen Awards Best Actress The Nest Nominated
2022 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress Ghostbusters: Afterlife Nominated
2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with cast) The Gilded Age Nominated
2024 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
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