Rachel Brosnahan

Rachel Brosnahan
Brosnahan on the set of Superman in 2024
Born (1990-07-12) July 12, 1990 (age 34)[1][2]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materNew York University
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2016)​
RelativesKate Spade (aunt)
Andy Spade (uncle)

Rachel Brosnahan (born July 12, 1990) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying an aspiring stand-up comedian in the Amazon Prime Video period comedy series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023), for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2018 and two consecutive Golden Globe Awards in 2018 and 2019.[3][4][5]

On television, she was Emmy-nominated for the political thriller series House of Cards (2013–2015) and acted in the drama series Manhattan (2014–2015). Brosnahan made her film debut in the horror film The Unborn (2009), and has acted in Beautiful Creatures (2013), Louder Than Bombs (2015), The Finest Hours (2016), Patriots Day (2016), Spies in Disguise (2019), The Courier (2020), and I'm Your Woman (2020).

On stage, she made her Broadway debut in the 2013 revival of the Clifford Odets play The Big Knife. She played Desdemona in the 2016 off Broadway production of Othello, and returned to Broadway in the 2023 revival of the Lorraine Hansberry play The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window.

Early life and education

Brosnahan was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Carol and Earl Brosnahan, who worked in children's publishing.[1][6][7] Her mother is British, and her father is American and of Irish descent.[8][9] From age four, Brosnahan was raised in Highland Park, Illinois.[6][10] She has a younger brother and sister.[11] She is a niece of fashion designer Kate Spade (née Brosnahan).[12]

Though she is well known for playing a Jewish character on television (Mrs. Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Brosnahan does not practice Judaism and has no Jewish ancestors. She says she was "happily immersed" in Jewish culture thanks to the community of Highland Park.[13]

She attended Wayne Thomas Elementary School and Northwood Junior High School.[11][6] She performed in musical theater during junior high and high school.[11][6] At Highland Park High School, she was on the wrestling team for two years and was a snowboarding instructor.[11][8] When she was 16, she took a class with Carole Dibo, director of Wilmette's Actors Training Center, who is now her manager.[6] Brosnahan graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2012.[14][15]

Career

Early work (2007–2012)

While still in high school, Brosnahan received her first movie role—that of Lisa in the Michael Bay-produced horror film The Unborn (2009). In college, she appeared in single episodes of television series such as Gossip Girl, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy,[11] and In Treatment. Brosnahan's early roles include performances in two short films directed by Ari Aster, Basically (2013), and Munchausen (2014). After college, she began landing recurring roles in series such as the crime thriller The Blacklist (2014) and the short-lived medical drama Black Box (2014).

She first appeared on stage in 2009 in Up at Steppenwolf Theatre[6] followed by her Broadway debut in The Big Knife with Roundabout Theatre Company in 2013.[16] In 2016, she played Desdemona in Othello at New York Theatre Workshop opposite David Oyelowo and Daniel Craig.[17]

Breakthrough and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2013–2020)

In 2013, she starred as Rachel Posner in the critically acclaimed Netflix political drama House of Cards with Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Although she was initially booked for only two episodes, she caught the eye of showrunner Beau Willimon,[18] and her character was significantly expanded. Her role brought her career prominence, and she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. In 2016, she appeared in Woody Allen's Amazon series Crisis in Six Scenes with Allen, Elaine May and Miley Cyrus.[19]

The cast seated together
Cast members and producers of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in 2018

Starting in 2017, she appeared as the title character in the Amazon period comedy series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She has said that her exposure to Jewish culture growing up helped prepare her for the role of Midge Maisel, a 1950s Jewish housewife who pursues a career in stand-up comedy when her marriage fails.[13] Her performance has earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series,[20][21] two Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Critics' Choice Television Awards, among other accolades.[22][23][24][25]

After her Emmy Award win, Brosnahan said that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel resonated with viewers because "the show is equal parts fantasy and reality. It has beautiful clothes, beautiful sets. I think in some ways it's aspirational too. It's about a woman who's reinventing herself after completing the dream she had laid out for herself. Everything falls apart; she finds herself anew. It's never too late to do that. And it's funny and, I think, filled with joy at its core, and that's something we need a lot more of in the world right now."[26]

In 2019, Brosnahan launched the production company Scrap Paper Pictures.[27]

Broadway and beyond (2020–present)

Brosnahan appeared in the drama film The Courier with Benedict Cumberbatch, released in January 2020.[28] In December 2020, Amazon released I'm Your Woman, in which she starred with Arinzé Kene and produced.[29] In 2022, she starred in the western Dead for a Dollar which premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. In 2023, she starred in the revival of Lorraine Hansberry's The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window opposite Oscar Isaac first at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and later produced at the James Earl Jones Theatre on Broadway directed by Anne Kauffman.[30][31] She received positive reviews for her performance as well as a Drama League Award nomination for Outstanding Distinguished Performer.

In June 2023, it was announced that Brosnahan was cast as Lois Lane in the DC Universe starting with the upcoming film, Superman, from director James Gunn.[32] She will also be starring in the American espionage thriller, The Amateur (2025 film).[33]

Personal life

It was reported in 2018 that Brosnahan had married actor Jason Ralph,[34] but she later revealed in January 2019 that they had been married "for years" before their relationship became public.[35] Both attended the 76th Golden Globe Awards ceremony in 2019, where she thanked him during her award acceptance speech.[36]

Brosnahan is the niece of handbag designer Kate Spade (born Katherine Noel Brosnahan), who was married to Andy Spade, the older brother of actor and comedian David Spade.[37]

Brosnahan has twice completed the "Live Below the Line" challenge.[38]

Filmography

Film

Year Work Role Notes
2009 The Unborn Lisa
The Truth About Average Guys Molly
2011 Coming Up Roses Alice
2012 Nor'easter Abby Green
Adrift Alex Short film
2013 Beautiful Creatures Genevieve Duchannes
Care Drea Short film
A New York Heartbeat Tamara
Munchausen Girl Short film
2014 Basically Shandy
I'm Obsessed with You Nell Fitzpatrick
The Smut Locker Jamie White Short film
2015 James White Woman (Ellen)
Louder Than Bombs Erin
2016 The Finest Hours Bea Hansen
Burn Country Sandra
Patriots Day Jessica Kensky
2017 Boomtown Jamie
2018 Fifteen Years Later Amy Short film
Change in the Air Wren
2019 Spies in Disguise Wendy Beckett Voice role
2020 The Courier Emily Donovan
I'm Your Woman Jean Also produced
2022 Dead for a Dollar Rachel Kidd
2025 The Amateur † TBA Post-production[39]
Superman † Lois Lane Post-production
TBA Lear Rex † Regan Post-production
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Year Work Role Notes
2010 Mercy Samantha Episode: "We're All Adults"
2010 Gossip Girl Girl Episode: "It's a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World"
2010 The Good Wife Caitlin Fenton Episode: "Poisoned Pill"
2010 In Treatment Eating Disorder Girl Episode: "Jesse: Week Six"
2011 CSI: Miami Melanie Garland Episode: "Countermeasures"
2013–2015 House of Cards Rachel Posner 19 episodes
2013 Grey's Anatomy Brian Weston Episode: "The Face of Change"
2013 Orange Is the New Black Little Allie Episode: "Bora Bora Bora"
2014 Olive Kitteridge Patty Howe Episode: "Incoming Tide"
2014 The Blacklist Jolene Parker / Lucy Brooks 6 episodes
2014 Black Box Delilah Buchanan 5 episodes
2014–2015 Manhattan Abby Isaacs 23 episodes
2015 The Dovekeepers Yael 2 episodes
2016 Crisis in Six Scenes Ellie 4 episodes
2017–2023 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Miriam "Midge" Maisel Main role: 43 episodes
2019 Saturday Night Live Herself (host) Episode 44.10: "Rachel Brosnahan/Greta Van Fleet"
2019–2020 Elena of Avalor Princess Chloe (voice) 3 episodes
2020 50 States of Fright Heather 3 episodes
2020 Saturday Night Seder Herself Television special
2021 Ziwe Herself Episode: "Allyship"

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2009 Up Maria Steppenwolf Theatre Company [40]
2013 The Big Knife Dixie Evans Roundabout Theatre Company [41]
2016 Othello Desdemona New York Theatre Workshop [42]
2023 The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window Iris Parodus Brustein Brooklyn Academy of Music [43]
James Earl Jones Theatre [44]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series House of Cards Nominated [45]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [46]
2018 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Won [47]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Won [48]
Television Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Comedy Won [49]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Won [50]
2019 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series Won [51]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Won [52]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won [53]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [54]
2020 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [55]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won [56]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [57]
2022 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [58]
2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [59]
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window Nominated [60]
2024 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Nominated [61]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [62]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [63]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [64]

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