Ann Dowd

Ann Dowd, an American actress, has made cosmic impact in various films and TV series. Born on January 30, 1956, she is renowned for appearing in numerous films like 'Green Card' (1990), 'Lorenzo's Oil' (1992), 'Philadelphia' (1993), 'Garden State' (2004), 'The Manchurian Candidate' (2004), 'Marley & Me' (2008), 'Compliance' (2012), 'Side Effects' (2013), 'St. Vincent' (2014), 'Captain Fantastic' (2016), 'Hereditary' (2018), and 'Mass' (2021). Assumingly, her role in 'Compliance' awarded her the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress where she delivered an exquisite performance while she also earned nominations for a British Academy Film Award and a Critics' Choice Award for 'Mass'. Dowd was a series regular on the HBO series 'The Leftovers' (2014–2017), gaining her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She also plays Aunt Lydia Clements on the Hulu series 'The Handmaid's Tale' (2017–present), a role that has earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

The Massachusetts-born actress has always expressed a keen interest in acting from young ages but was dissuaded by her family at first due to their disapproval of her pursuing an acting career. However, after attending College of the Holy Cross and subsequently DePaul University in Chicago for MFA in Acting, she devoted herself entirely to acting, having performed at various regional theatres in Chicago before moving to NYC. Her first notable performance was in the 1997 film, 'Shiloh' and in 1998 she appeared in 'Apt Pupil'. She has also executed commendable performances in popular TV series like 'House', 'Louie', 'The X-Files', 'Third Watch', 'NYPD Blue', 'Judging Amy' and 'Freaks and Geeks'. She also starred as Edna Garrett in 2021's 'Live in Front of a Studio Audience'. Dowd has a rich theatre background, with three appearance on Broadway and winning several awards. Offstage, she and her husband, Lawrence "Larry" Arancio, coach acting and collaborate frequently.