| Connie Britton | |
|---|---|
Britton at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival |
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| Born | Constance Womack March 6, 1967 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Connie Britton (born Constance Womack: March 6, 1967) is an American actress. She is best known for the roles of Nikki Faber on Spin City and Tami Taylor on the Friday Night Lights television series. Her most notable films are Friday Night Lights and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Her character in the Friday Night Lights film is named Sharon Gaines, but the character in both is the wife of the lead coach character. Britton currently stars in the FX drama series American Horror Story as Vivien Harmon.
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Britton was born Constance Womack in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Linda and Allen Womack, who was a physicist.[1] When she was seven years old, she moved with her parents and sister Cynthia to Lynchburg, Virginia where she attended E.C. Glass High School. She majored in Asian Studies at Dartmouth College. After graduating in 1989, she moved to New York City, where she spent two years at the Neighborhood Playhouse studying with Sanford Meisner. Britton uses her married name as her stage name, though she is now divorced from her husband. In November 2011, she adopted a son, Eyob "Yoby" Britton, from Ethiopia.[2]
While studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Britton (then Womack) made her New York theatrical debut in Caroline Kava's The Early Girl at The Courtyard Playhouse. Britton played seasoned prostitute, Laurel, opposite then unknown television and radio personality Cooper Lawrence, who played Joan. Britton's performance, while well received, nearly got her ousted from the Neighborhood Playhouse program, which prohibited students from taking professional employment during their course of study. After graduating, Britton spent two more years working in off-Broadway theatre productions. She moved to Los Angeles after the success of The Brothers McMullen. In her free time, Britton, who resides in both New York and Los Angeles, enjoys hiking, yoga, and doing volunteer work.
Britton had a regular role in Spin City as Nikki Faber from 1996 to 2000.[3] Her character was written out of the show when Charlie Sheen replaced Michael J. Fox as the main character. She had a recurring role on 24 during its fifth season as Diane Huxley, the landlady and girlfriend of protagonist Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). She co-starred in the indie-thriller The Last Winter in 2006.
Britton received critical acclaim for her starring turn in the television drama Friday Night Lights. She had a role in the original Friday Night Lights movie, also as the head coach's wife.[4]
Britton also was on a few episodes of The West Wing. She appeared in the Episodes "Manchester Part I and Part II" Season 3, as part of Bruno Gianelli's team.
Most recently, she appeared in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, portraying Dr. Gwendoline "Gwen" Holbrook.[5]
She was also featured on This American Life's 429th episode, "Will They Know Me at Home?", in which she performed monologues from David Finkel's nonfiction book The Good Soldiers.[6]
Britton currently stars in the horror/drama American Horror Story on FX as Vivien Harmon, who recently relocated with her family to California after a series of tragic marital and family issues.[7] Unfortunately for The Harmons, the new house they purchase quickly reveals itself to be haunted.
Britton has stated after American Horror Story wraps that she will be taking a couple of months off to be with her new son, but that she will then begin to re-focus on developing the long talked about FX drama collaboration with David O'Russell.[8]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Brothers McMullen | Molly McMullen | |
| 1998 | No Looking Back | Kelly | |
| 2001 | One Eyed King | Helen Riley | |
| 2001 | The Next Big Thing | Kate Crowley | |
| 2003 | Lost at Home | Rachel Rouse | |
| 2004 | Looking for Kitty | Marcie Petracelli | |
| 2004 | Friday Night Lights | Sharon Gaines | |
| 2005 | Special Ed | Abi | |
| 2005 | The Life Coach | Connie | |
| 2006 | The Lather Effect | Valinda | |
| 2006 | The Last Winter | Abby Sellers | Nominated — Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast |
| 2009 | Women in Trouble | Doris | |
| 2010 | A Nightmare on Elm Street | Dr. Gwendoline Holbrook | |
| 2010 | Conception | Gloria | post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | Ellen | Heather | 3 episodes ("The Shower Scene" & "When the Vows Break (Parts 1 & 2)") |
| 1996 | Escape Clause | Leslie Bullard | TV Movie |
| 1996–2000 | Spin City | Nikki Faber | 90 episodes |
| 1998 | Cupid | Madeleine | 1 episode ("Pilot") |
| 2000–01 | The Fugitive | Maggie Kimble Hume | 3 episodes ("Pilot," "Sanctuary," "Flesh and Blood") |
| 2001 | Child Star: The Story of Shirley Temple | Gertrude Temple | TV Movie |
| 2001 | The Fighting Fitzgeralds | Sophie | |
| 2001 | The West Wing | Connie Tate | |
| 2003 | Lost at Home | Rachel Davis | |
| 2005 | Life as We Know It | 1 episode ("Papa Wheelie") | |
| 2006 | 24 | Diane Huxley | Recurring Season 5: 6 episodes |
| 2006–11 | Friday Night Lights | Tami Taylor | 76 Episodes Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series[9] (2010–11) Nominated — Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama (2007–08) |
| 2011 | American Horror Story | Vivien Harmon | 12 episodes |
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