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Embeth Davidtz

Embeth Davidtz

Actor, also director, producer and writer · Born August 11, 1965 (61) · Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Embeth Jean Davidtz (born August 11, 1965) is an American-born South African actress and director. She has appeared in movies such as Schindler's List, Matilda, Bridget Jones's Diary, and The Amazing Spider-Man, and in the television series In Treatment, Californication, and Mad Men. In 2024 Davidtz made her directorial debut with Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, an adaptation of the best-selling memoir of the same name by Alexandra Fuller about growing up on a farm in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. The film had its Canadian premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Davidtz was born on August 11, 1965, in Lafayette, Indiana, to South African parents John and Jean, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. The family later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then to South Africa when Davidtz was nine years old Davidtz has Dutch, English, and French ancestry. She had to learn Afrikaans before attending school classes in South Africa, where her father took up a teaching post at Potchefstroom University. Davidtz graduated from The Glen High School in Pretoria in 1983 and studied at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. In 1992, Davidtz played the part of Sheila in Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness alongside Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. The third movie in the Evil Dead franchise would eventually become a big cult classic worldwide. In 1993, Davidtz played the role of Helen Hirsch in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List. In 1995, Davidtz had a central role in the fact-based film Murder in the First, and the Merchant Ivory Productions Feast of July.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 11, 1965 (61)
From
Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Works as
Actor, also director, producer and writer
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 49 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 18% in 30 days

What are Embeth Davidtz's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Survival
20%
Self
15%
Bonds
15%
Power
12%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 9 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 15 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 15
Hero
4 of 15
Mentor
2 of 15
Herald
2 of 15
Shapeshifter
1 of 15
Threshold guardian
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Dread
12
Melancholic
13
Contemplative
11
Warm
6
Other
20

How their films linger

Unsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Embeth Davidtz's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Embeth Davidtz's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

49 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight(2024)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Nicola Fuller

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Retribution(2023)

    as Heather Turner

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Tales of the Walking Dead(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Amanda

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Not Okay(2022)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Old(2021)

    as Adult Maddox

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Love, Victor(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Campbell

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Morning Show(2019)

    Show 5 episodes · as Paige Jacobs

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Natasha Lytess

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2(2014)

    as Mary Parker

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Paranoia(2013)

    as Judith Bolton

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Ray Donovan(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sonia Kovitzky

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Europa Report(2013)

    as Dr. Samantha Unger

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Spider-Man(2012)

    as Mary Parker

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(2011)

    as Annika Blomkvist Giannini

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • 3 Backyards(2010)

    as The Actress

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Winged Creatures(2008)

    as Lydia Jaspersen

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • In Treatment(2008)

    Show 8 episodes · as Amy

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Californication(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · as Felicia Koons

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 8 episodes · as Rebecca Pryce

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Fracture(2007)

    as Jennifer Crawford

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Junebug(2005)

    as Madeleine

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Matilda's Movie Magic: The Making of 'Matilda' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Thanks · as Self

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Nancy Shepherd · as Nancy Shepherd (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Emperor's Club(2002)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Shackleton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rosalind Chetwynd

  • Thir13en Ghosts(2001)

    as Kalina

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Maddie

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Citizen Baines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 9 episodes · as Ellen Baines Croland

  • The Hole(2001)

    as Dr. Philippa Horwood

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Bridget Jones's Diary(2001)

    as Natasha

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Bicentennial Man(1999)

    as Little Miss / Portia

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mansfield Park(1999)

    as Mary Crawford

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Last Rites (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Dr. Lauren Riggs

  • Simon Magus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Leah

  • The Gingerbread Man(1998)

    as Mallory Doss

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Fallen(1998)

    as Gretta Milano

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Garden of Redemption (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Adriana

  • Matilda(1996)

    as Miss Honey

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Feast of July(1995)

    as Bella Ford

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Murder in the First(1995)

    as Mary McCasslin

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Schindler's List(1993)

    as Helen Hirsch

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Deadly Matrimony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dianne Masters

  • Army of Darkness(1992)

    as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Till Death Us Do Part(1992)

    as Katherine Palliko

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Night of the 19th (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Tessa van Dyk

  • Sweet Murder(1990)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • A Private Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Older Karen

  • Mutator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Jennifer

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Older Karen

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles from 1985 to 2025; peak year 2000.

Biggest box office

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

$759M worldwide

Highest rated

Schindler's List (1993)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19852025

Peak 2000 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 49: 47 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thDirecting1 of 49: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 49: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 49: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 49: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s15 · 14 acting · 1 crew2010s9 · acting2020s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 23 roles
9202

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Embeth Davidtz's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 70th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

3 Backyards (2010)

72nd percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Schindler's List (1993)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 53. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Embeth Davidtz's work okay for kids?

Across up to 19 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore17 titles23–83 · median 52 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity19 titles10–61 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity18 titles28–71 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles5–59 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense17 titles26–87 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Embeth Davidtz work with?

People who share at least 2 of Embeth Davidtz's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nicholas Kazan shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles