Lauren Ambrose

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Lauren Ambrose (born February 20, 1978) is an American actress.

Ambrose gained recognition and critical acclaim for her starring role as Claire Fisher in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under (2001–2005), for which she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and won two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She went on to star as Jilly Kitzinger in the BBC One science fiction series Torchwood: Miracle Day (2011), Dorothy Turner in the Apple TV+ psychological horror series Servant (2019–2023), and as the adult version of Vanessa "Van" Palmer in the Showtime drama thriller series Yellowjackets (2023–present).

Her film credits include In & Out (1997), Can't Hardly Wait (1998), Psycho Beach Party (2000), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), and The Other Woman (2009). Ambrose played the title role in Loving Leah, a 2009 Hallmark film. Other credits include About Sunny (2011), Sleepwalk with Me (2012), and Wanderlust (2012).

Ambrose's stage credits include Buried Child (2004), Awake and Sing! (2006), and Exit the King (2009). She portrayed the lead role of Eliza Doolittle in the 2018 Lincoln Center Theater revival of My Fair Lady on Broadway, for which she garnered a Tony Award nomination and a Grammy Award, as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award. She is lead singer of the ragtime band Lauren Ambrose and the Leisure Class.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Lauren Ambrose was born on February 20, 1978.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She is the daughter of Frank D'Ambruoso, a caterer, and Anne (née Wachtel), an interior designer. She is of Italian descent on her father's side,<ref>Template:Cite interview</ref> and German, English, and Irish on her mother's side. Ambrose attended Choate Rosemary Hall, Wilbur Cross High School, High School in the Community, and the ACES Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven as part of the class of 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She is also a trained opera singer who studied voice and opera at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in the summers of 1994 and 1995.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

1990–1998: Career beginnings

Ambrose began her career in New York theater, starring in the Off-Broadway play Soulful Scream of a Chosen Son at the Vineyard Theatre from August to September 1990.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her early career also included television appearances, most notably playing supporting guest roles in the NBC crime drama series Law & Order, and a feature guest role on the show in the 1998 episode "Damaged" as Valerie Maxwell, an intellectually disabled young woman raped by a group of popular high school students. Her first film role was as Vicky Rayburn in the comedy In & Out (1997).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She went on to have a prominent role as Denise Fleming in the high school comedy film Can't Hardly Wait (1998).

1999–2005: Breakthrough and Six Feet Under

In 1999, Ambrose had a recurring role as Myra Wringler in five episodes of the Fox teen drama Party of Five. She played the ingenue lead, Florence "Chicklet" Forrest, in the horror comedy Psycho Beach Party (2000). The same year, she starred as Frankie Wheeler in the coming-of-age drama film Swimming.

Ambrose gained wider recognition and critical acclaim for her starring role as Claire Fisher in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under (2001–2005). For her performance, she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Drama Actress. She also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series twice, from five nominations as a part of the ensemble cast.

In 2004, she starred as Shelly in the Royal National Theatre production of the play Buried Child.

2006–2017: Broadway debut

In 2006, Ambrose made her Broadway debut in the Lincoln Center Theater revival production of Awake and Sing! at the Belasco Theatre. She went on to appear in the drama films Diggers (2006) and Starting Out in the Evening (2007).

In 2007, she starred as Juliet in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. She also appeared as Ophelia in the 2008 performance of Hamlet for Shakespeare in the Park.<ref>Public Theater – Shakespeare in the Park Template:Webarchive</ref>

In 2008, she had a starring role as Coco Tompkins in the Fox comedy series The Return of Jezebel James, which was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. The series was cancelled after one season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ambrose returned to Broadway in the 2009 revival of Eugène Ionesco's Exit the King at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, opposite Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon. Also in 2009, she starred in numerous films, such as the comedy-dramas A Dog Year and Cold Souls, and the romance dramas The Other Woman and Loving Leah. Additionally, she provided the voice of the monster KW in Spike Jonze's fantasy drama film Where the Wild Things Are.

Ambrose is the lead singer of Lauren Ambrose and the Leisure Class, a ragtime dixieland jazz band formed in 2009. They have performed several times at Joe's Pub and charity events.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2011, Ambrose appeared in seven episodes of the BBC One science fiction series Torchwood: Miracle Day. She played Jilly Kitzinger, a "sweet-talking PR genius with a heart of stone who's just cornered the most important client of her career and maybe of all time".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For her performance, she received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress on Television.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ambrose produced and starred in the drama film About Sunny (2011), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. For her performance, she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. In 2012, she appeared in the comedy films Sleepwalk with Me, Wanderlust, and Grassroots. She was set to play Fanny Brice in a 2012 Broadway revival of Funny Girl, directed by Bartlett Sher, but the production was indefinitely postponed due to financial concerns.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Ambrose made numerous TV appearances, including roles in the A&E miniseries Coma (2012), the Adult Swim animated series Robot Chicken (2013), the NBC crime drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2013), the Lifetime television film Deliverance Creek (2014), and the USA Network miniseries Dig (2015). From 2016 to 2018, she had a recurring role as Special Agent Liz Einstein in the Fox science fiction drama series The X-Files.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2018–present: Broadway return and Servant

In March 2018, Ambrose began a leading role as Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway revival of My Fair Lady at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, directed by Bartlett Sher.<ref>Fierberg, Ruthie; Hetrick, Adam. "Read Reviews for Broadway's Latest Revival of 'My Fair Lady', Starring Lauren Ambrose" Template:Webarchive Playbill, April 19, 2018</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> For her performance, she received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. She also won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

In October 2018, Ambrose left My Fair Lady to take on the lead role as Dorothy Turner in the psychological horror series Servant, which was produced by M. Night Shyamalan and Tony Basgallop for Apple TV+.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The series premiered in November 2019 and ended after four seasons in March 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="S2Renewal">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For her performance in the series, she garnered a nomination for the Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Horror Series.

Ambrose has also narrated various audiobooks,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> most recently The Maid by Nita Prose in 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2023, Ambrose began starring in the Showtime drama thriller series Yellowjackets, portraying the adult version of the character Vanessa "Van" Palmer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Ambrose has been married to professional writer Sam Handel since September 2001. They have two children.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	In & Out	Vicky Rayburn
1998	Can't Hardly Wait	Denise Fleming
	Summertime's Calling MeTemplate:Citation needed	Tami	Short film
2000	Swimming	Frankie Wheeler
	Psycho Beach Party	Florence "Chicklet" Forrest
2004	AdmissionsTemplate:Citation needed	Evie Brighton
2006	Diggers	Zoey
2007	Starting Out in the Evening	Heather Wolfe
2009	A Dog Year	Emma
	Cold Souls	Stephanie
	Where the Wild Things Are	KW (voice)
	The Other Woman	Mindy
2011	I'm Coming OverTemplate:Citation needed	Greta	Short film
	About Sunny	Angela	Also producer
2012	Sleepwalk with Me	Abby
	Wanderlust	Almond Cohen
	Grassroots	Emily Bowen
2013	The RiverTemplate:Citation needed	Maria	Short film
2018	Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the PeopleTemplate:Citation needed	Kate Davis
2024	Caddo Lake	Celeste

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Law & Order	Jessica	Episode: "Skin Deep"
1993	Law & Order	Maureen McKinnon	Episode: "Pride and Joy"
1995	The State	Audience Member	Episode: "3.10"
1998	Law & Order	Valerie Maxwell	Episode: "Damaged"
1999	Party of Five	Myra Wringler	5 episodes
2001–2005	Six Feet Under	Claire Fisher	Main role
2008	The Return of Jezebel James	Coco Tompkins	Main role
2009	Loving Leah	Leah Lever	Television film
2011	Torchwood: Miracle Day	Jilly Kitzinger	7 episodes
	Weekends at Bellevue	Ellie Harlow	Pilot
2012	Coma	Susan Wheeler	2 episodes
2013	Robot Chicken	Anita Radcliffe / Natasha Fatale (voices)	Episode: "Papercut to Aorta"
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Vanessa Mayer	2 episodes
2014	Deliverance Creek	Belle Gatlin Barlow	Television film
2015	Dig	Debbie Morgan	Main role
	Broad Squad	Eileen	Pilot
2016–2018	The X-Files	Special Agent Liz Einstein	3 episodes
2016	The Interestings	Jules Jacobson	Pilot
2017	Monsters of God	Cynthia Lancaster	Pilot
2019–2023	Servant	Dorothy Turner	Main role
2023–2025	Yellowjackets	Adult Vanessa "Van" Palmer	Main role (seasons 2–3)

Video games

List of Lauren Ambrose video game credits

Year	Title	Voice role	Notes
2007	The Darkness	Jenny Romano

Stage

List of Lauren Ambrose stage credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2004	Buried Child	Shelly	Royal National Theatre
2006	Awake and Sing!	Hennie Berger	Belasco Theatre
2007	Romeo and Juliet	Juliet	Delacorte Theatre
2008	Hamlet	Ophelia	Delacorte Theatre
2009	Exit the King	Queen Marie	Ethel Barrymore Theatre
2018	My Fair Lady	Eliza Doolittle	Vivian Beaumont Theatre

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received by Lauren Ambrose

Year	Association	Category	Work	Result	Template:Refh
2002	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Six Feet Under	Template:Nom	<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2002	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2002	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Drama Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2003	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series		Template:Nom	<ref name=":0" />
2003	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2005	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2009	Satellite Awards	Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film	Loving Leah	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012	Independent Spirit Awards	Best Female Lead	Think of Me	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2012	Saturn Awards	Best Supporting Actress on Television	Torchwood: Miracle Day	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	Tony Award	Best Actress in a Musical	My Fair Lady	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	Drama League Award	Distinguished Performance		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	Outer Critics Circle Award	Outstanding Actress in a Musical		Template:Win	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2019	Grammy Award	Best Musical Theater Album		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2021	SEC Awards	Best Actress in a Thriller Series	Servant	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	Critics' Choice Super Award	Best Actress in a Horror Series		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards	Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series	Yellowjackets	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0024404

 | name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0024404|2=^nm}}
   | Template:Trim/
   | nm0024404/
   }}
 | {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
   | name/Template:First word/
   | find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+Lauren+Ambrose%0A++++++%7C+Lauren+Ambrose%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
   }}
 }}{{#if: 0024404  {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch: 
 | award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
 }}}} {{#if: Lauren Ambrose
 | Lauren Ambrose
 | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
 }}] at IMDb{{#if: 0024404{{#property:P345}}
 | Template:EditAtWikidata
 | Template:Main other

}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=0024404|plain=false}}

 | 1 | 3 =  Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
 | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}

• {{#if: {{#property:P1220}}

| [https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/{{#if:

 | {{{id}}}
 | Template:First word
 }} {{#if: 
 | {{{name}}}
 | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
 }}] at the Internet Broadway DatabaseTemplate:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck{{#ifeq:0|0|{{#if:||}}}}

| {{#ifeq:0|0|}}

}}

• Template:Iobdb name