Hope Davis

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Hope Davis
Davis in 2010
Born (1964-03-23) March 23, 1964 (age 60)
Alma materVassar College (B.A. 1986)[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1989–present
Spouse
Jon Patrick Walker
(m. 2000)
Children2

Hope Davis (born March 23, 1964)[2] is an American actress. She is known for her performances on stage and screen earning various awards and nominations including a Tony Award nomination, three Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and two Golden Globe Award nominations.

She made her film debut in Joel Schumacher's Flatliners in 1990. She then starred in the critically acclaimed films The Daytrippers (1996), About Schmidt (2002), Infamous (2006), and Asteroid City (2023). She received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture nomination for her role in American Splendor (2003). She received an Independent Spirit Award with the cast of Synecdoche, New York (2008). In 2016, she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe portraying Tony Stark's mother Maria Stark in Captain America: Civil War (2016).

In 1992, she made her Broadway theatre debut in Two Shakespearean Actors. In 1997 she starred as Sasha in Ivanov opposite Kevin Kline and Marian Seldes. She earned acclaim for her role in Yazmina Reza's God of Carnage in 2009 acting alongside Jeff Daniels, Marcia Gay Harden, and James Gandolfini. For her performance she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.

Hope's early television roles include Dick Wolf NBC series Deadline (2000-2001) and the ABC drama Six Degrees (2006-2007). She later earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her performances in the HBO projects In Treatment (2009), The Special Relationship (2010) and Succession (2021–2023).[3] Her other notable roles include in Mildred Pierce (2011), The Newsroom (2012–2013), and Your Honor (2020–2023).

Career[edit]

1990–1999: Early work and theatre debut[edit]

Davis made her debut as a dramatic actress in the Joel Schumacher directed psychological horror film Flatliners (1990), starring as William Baldwin's fiancée.[4] That same year she appeared in the hit family film Home Alone (1990) in a small role as a Parisian airport receptionist.[5] Her major stage debut came after she starred in the Wisdom Bridge/Remains Theater co-production of David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow for Joel Schumacher with William Petersen in Chicago in 1992.[6] That same year she made her Broadway debut in Two Shakespearean Actors (1992) at the Cort Theatre. In 1995 she had her first starring role as Eliza Malone D'Amico in the Greg Mottola directed independent comedy-drama The Daytrippers acting opposite Liev Schreiber, Parker Posey, Anne Meara and Stanley Tucci. Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote, "Ms. Meara, who plays her role like an old pro, and Ms. Davis, who has the makings of a young one, are part of a cast that easily makes the film worth seeing".[7] In 1997 she returned to Broadway debut playing Sasha in the Anton Chekov play Ivanov at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. Davis acted alongside Kevin Kline, Jayne Atkinson, Tom McGowan, and Marian Seldes.[8]

The following year she starred in independent romantic comedy film Next Stop Wonderland (1998) directed by Brad Anderson. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote of the film, "[It] isn't really much more than a beautifully acted, finely edited sitcom, but it creates and sustains an intelligent, seriocomic mood better than any recent film about the urban single life. If the movie at moments recalls "As Good as It Gets", its characters are subtler and its vision of humanity more truthful."[9] That same year she had a supporting role in the comedy The Impostors (1998) starring Oliver Platt and Stanley Tucci.[10] These led her to roles in Hollywood films such as the thriller Arlington Road (1999).

2000–2008: Established actress[edit]

Davis also starred in an NBC short-lived drama series called Deadline with Oliver Platt in 2001. She played the ex-wife to Platt's character at a newspaper giant.[11] She acted in the Alexander Payne directed comedy-drama About Schmidt playing the daughter of Warren R. Schmidt played Jack Nicholson. She was nominated for the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.[12] The following year she starred opposite Paul Giamatti in the movie adaptation of the Harvey Pekar comic American Splendor as the comic book version of Pekar's real-life wife, Joyce Brabner. For this role, Davis won the New York Film Critics Circle Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.[13]

Later, she had lead roles in the New York premiere of Rebecca Gilman's Spinning into Butter in 2000, and in the 2005 audio play Hope Leaves the Theater, written and directed by Charlie Kaufman. This was a segment of the sound-only production Theater of the New Ear, which debuted at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, NY. The title actually refers to Davis's character "leaving the theater".[14] In 2005 she took supporting roles in the black comedy The Matador, the John Madden directed drama Proof, and the Gore Verbinski comedy-drama The Weather Man. She portrayed socialite Slim Keith in the Truman Capote biopic Infamous starring Toby Jones.[15] The following year she acted in the science fiction thriller The Nines (2007) and the coming-of-age film Charlie Bartlett (2007). She acted in Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York (2008) playing Madeleine Gravis.[16]

2009–2019: Return to Broadway and other roles[edit]

Davis co-starred as the bitter and self-deprecating Mia with Golden Globe winner Gabriel Byrne in the second season (2009) of HBO's In Treatment, a dramatic series that tracks the backstory and progress of five patients during their series of psychological therapeutic sessions. Mia is a successful, unmarried malpractice attorney who returns to therapy with Dr. Paul Weston after a 20-year absence because of a lack of stability in her personal life. Also in 2009 Davis returned to Broadway starring in Yasmina Reza's play God of Carnage with Marcia Gay Harden, James Gandolfini and Jeff Daniels.[17] The play surrounds two parents who come together to discuss a fight between their children. Davis played a Annette a wealth manager.[18] The role earned her a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play.[19] The following year she portrayed Hillary Clinton in the BBC / HBO film The Special Relationship released in 2010. The film was written by Peter Morgan and also starred Michael Sheen and Dennis Quaid.[20] She has received a nomination for Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie.[21]

Davis took recurring roles playing Mrs. Forrester in the HBO limited series Mildred Pierce (2011) starring Kate Winslet[22] and a fictional gossip columnist Nina Howard in The Newsroom (2012–2013) starring Jeff Daniels.[23] Davis also starred in the short-lived NBC television drama, Allegiance (2015), where she plays Katya O'Connor, an ex-KGB agent. Her son works for the FBI/CIA, and Katya's family is brought back into action by the SVR in hopes that Alex, her son, can be swayed to join the SVR.[24] In 2015, she was approached by Marvel to play Maria Stark, mother of Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War.[25] She also appeared in a reoccurring capacity on Wayward Pines (2015-2016) and American Crime. (2016)

2020–present[edit]

In 2020, Davis narrated The Truth About Fat episode of the PBS television series Nova. From 2020 to 2023 she took a main role as Gina Baxter in the Showtime series Your Honor starring Bryan Cranston.[26] She took a recurring role as Sandi Furness in the HBO drama series Succession from 2021 to 2023. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in 2022.[27] She acted in the Wes Anderson comedy film Asteroid City (2023).[28]

Personal life[edit]

Davis, second of three children, was born in Englewood, New Jersey, the daughter of Joan, a librarian, and William Davis, an engineer.[29] Davis has described her mother as a "great storyteller" who would take Davis and her siblings to museums or to "something cultural" every Sunday after church.[30][31] Davis was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, and graduated in 1982 from Tenafly High School.[32]

She was a childhood friend of Mira Sorvino, who lived almost directly across the street, and with whom she wrote and acted in backyard plays. Davis has a degree in cognitive science from Vassar College.[33] She studied acting at HB Studio in New York City.[34] She is married to actor Jon Patrick Walker. They have two children, Georgia and Mae.[35]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Flatliners Anne Coldren
Home Alone French Ticket Agent
1995 Run for Cover Prescott's Secretary
Kiss of Death Junior's Girlfriend
1996 The Daytrippers Eliza Malone D'Amico
Mr. Wrong Annie
1997 The Myth of Fingerprints Margaret
Guy Camera
1998 Next Stop Wonderland Erin Castleton
The Impostors Emily Essendine
1999 Arlington Road Brooke Wolfe
Mumford Sofie Crisp
2000 Joe Gould's Secret Therese Mitchell
2001 Final Dr. Ann Johnson
Hearts in Atlantis Liz Garfield
2002 About Schmidt Jeannie Schmidt
The Secret Lives of Dentists Dana Hurst
2003 American Splendor Joyce Brabner
2005 The Matador Carolyn 'Bean' Wright
Duma Kristin
Proof Claire
The Weather Man Noreen
2006 Infamous Slim Keith
The Hoax Andrea Tate
2007 The Nines Sarah / Susan / Sierra
Charlie Bartlett Marilyn Bartlett
2008 Synecdoche, New York Madeleine Gravis
Genova Marianne
2009 The Lodger Ellen Bunting
2011 The Family Tree Bunnie Burnett
Real Steel Aunt Debra
2012 Disconnect Lydia Boyd
2013 Louder Than Words Brenda Fareri
2015 Wild Card Cassandra
2016 Captain America: Civil War Maria Stark
2017 Rebel in the Rye Miriam Salinger
2020 Greenland Judy Vento
2023 Cat Person Kelly
Asteroid City Sandy Borden

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2000–2001 Deadline Brooke Benton Main role, 13 episodes
2006–2007 Six Degrees Laura Morgan Main role, 13 episodes
2009 In Treatment Mia Main role, 7 episodes
2010 The Special Relationship Hillary Clinton Television film
2011 Mildred Pierce Mrs. Forrester Miniseries, 3 episodes
2012–2013 The Newsroom Nina Howard Recurring role, 5 episodes
2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Viola Mesner 1 episode
2015 Allegiance Katya O'Connor Main role, 13 episodes
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Herself 1 episode
2015–2016 Wayward Pines Megan Fisher Main role, 14 episodes
2016 American Crime Steph Sullivan Recurring role, 7 episodes
2018–2019 For the People Jill Carlan Main role, 20 episodes
Strange Angel Ruth Parsons Recurring role, 7 episodes
2020 Nova Narrator (voice) 1 episode
Love Life Claudia Recurring role, 6 episodes
2020–2023 Your Honor Gina Baxter Main role, 20 episodes
2021–2023 Succession Sandi Furness Recurring role, 7 episodes
2022 Minx Victoria Hartnett 1 episode
2023 Perry Mason Camilla Nygaard Recurring role, 6 episodes
TBA Before Dr. Jane Upcoming miniseries

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1992 Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) Juliett / Student / Soldier of Cyprus East 13th Street Theatre, Off-Broadway [36]
Two Shakespearean Actors Miss Anne Holland Cort Theatre, Broadway [37]
1993 Measure for Measure Mariana Delacorte Theater, Off-Broadway [38]
Pterodactyls Emma Duncan Vineyard Theatre, Off-Broadway [39]
1995–1996 The Food Chain Amanda Westside Theatre, Off-Broadway [40]
1997–1998 Ivanov Sasha Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway [41]
2000 Spinning Into Butter Sarah Lincoln Center, Off-Broadway [42]
2005 Hope Leaves the Theater Various roles St. Ann's Warehouse, Off-Broadway [43]
2007 The 24 Hour Plays Hope American Airlines Theatre, Broadway [44]
2009 The 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition Judge Minskoff Theatre, Broadway [45]
2009 God of Carnage Annette Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre [46]
2016–2017 The Red Barn Ingrid Dodd Royal National Theatre, London [47]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1994 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Pterodactyls
Nominated
2002 New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2003 Village Voice Film Poll Best Supporting Performance Nominated
Seattle Film Critics Society Best Actress Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Actress American Splendor
&
The Secret Lives of Dentists
Won
2004 National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Actress Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress
American Splendor
Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Nominated
Chlotrudis Awards Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Female
The Secret Lives of Dentists
Nominated
2008 Gotham Independent Film Awards Best Ensemble Cast Synecdoche, New York Won
2009 Independent Spirit Awards Robert Altman Award Won
Tony Awards Best Actress in a Play Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2010 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated
2011 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2021 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2022 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ ""THE FAMILY TREE" screening and reception with writer, producer MARK LISSON", Vassar College, October 2011
  2. ^ "AM Prep-Today in Entertainment History". AP NEWS. March 23, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Moreau, Jordan (July 12, 2022). "Emmys 2022: Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "Flatlines (1990)". IMDB. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "Hope Davis List of Movies". TV Guide. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "`SPEED-THE-PLOW` TAKES ON FILM INDUSTRY". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "The Daytrippers". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "Ivanov: Shows". Lincoln Center. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "'Next Stop Wonderland': Love Lies in an Emerson Quotation". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Impostors". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "Deadline". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "New York Film Critics Circle 2002". IMDB. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "American Splendor - Awards". IMDB. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "Davis, Dinklage and Streep Star in Charlie Kaufman Sound Play Hope Leaves the Theater in L.A." Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "Review: Infamous". Film Comment. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "Synecdoche, New York". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Gandolfini Stars on Broadway in God of Carnage The Associated Press, January 12, 2009
  18. ^ "Rumble in the Living Room". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  19. ^ "JUST THE LIST: Winners and Nominees of the 2009 Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 8, 2009). "Hope Davis to play Hillary Clinton". The Hollywood Reporter (Nielsen Business Media).
  21. ^ "Hope Davis Emmy Nominated". Emmys.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  22. ^ "'In Treatment's' Hope Davis Lands Female Lead in CBS Thriller 'The Ordained'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  23. ^ "Sorkin's HBO effort 'The Newsroom' has turned into a network drama, and it's (slightly) better this way". Politico. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  24. ^ "NBC Orders Hope Davis Spy Drama 'Allegiance' to Series". Yahoo News. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  25. ^ "Tony Stark's Mother Was Supposed To 'Reappear' In An MCU Movie, And Now We Want To Know Which One". CinemaBlend. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  26. ^ "'Your Honor': Hope Davis Cast As Series Regular, Lilli Kay To Recur In Showtime Limited Series". Yahoo. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  27. ^ "Emmy nominee profile: Hope Davis ('Succession') brings new character Sandi Furness to enigmatic life". Goldderby. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  28. ^ "The Cast of 'Asteroid City' on Escaping Into the World of Wes Anderson (Exclusive)". Oscars.org. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  29. ^ Abele, Robert (August 10, 2003). "Less is really more; Actress Hope Davis prefers to make her mark in low-budget enterprises like 'The Secret Lives of Dentists' and 'American Splendor.'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  30. ^ interview by Tavis Smiley (September 26, 2005). "Hope Davis". PBS.
  31. ^ WEBER, BRUCE (August 20, 1995). "THEATER; The Fine Edge Between a Role And Real Life". The New York Times.
  32. ^ Kennedy, Dana. "THE NEW SEASON/FILM: UP AND COMING: Hope Davis; Lucky for Her, She Flunked the 'Nuprin' Audition", The New York Times, September 13, 1998. Accessed December 18, 2013. "Ms. Davis, who grew up in Tenafly, N.J., where she was the second of three daughters, has no explanation for her long, lean period other than to say, 'I just wasn't ready for success.'"
  33. ^ Hertz, Larry. "That's Entertainment". www.vassar.edu. Vassar, the Alumnae/i Quarterly. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  34. ^ HB Studio Alumni
  35. ^ "Hope Davis reveals daughter's name". People. People Magazine. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  36. ^ "Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)". ClassicStageCompany. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  37. ^ "Two Shakespearean Actors (Broadway, 1992)". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  38. ^ "Legit Measure for Measure". Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  39. ^ "Pterodactyls". Vineyard Theatre. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  40. ^ "Food, Glorious Food". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  41. ^ "Ivanov (Broadway, 1997)". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  42. ^ "Spinning into Butter". Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  43. ^ "Theater of the New Ear". Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  44. ^ "The 24 Hour Plays (Broadway, 2007)". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  45. ^ "The 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition (Broadway, 2009)". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  46. ^ "God of Carnage (Broadway, 2009)". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  47. ^ "Mark Strong and Hope Davis Cast in David Hare's The Red Barn at London's National". Playbill. Retrieved June 4, 2024.

External links[edit]