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Laura Linney

Laura Linney

Actor, also producer · Born February 5, 1964 (62) · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

4 Primetime Emmys · 2 Golden Globes · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 5 other major award bodies

Laura Leggett Linney (born February 5, 1964) is an American actress. She is the recipient of several awards, including two Golden Globe Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards, and has been nominated for three Academy Awards and five Tony Awards. Linney made her Broadway debut in 1990 before going on to receive Tony Award nominations for the 2002 revival of The Crucible, the original Broadway productions of Sight Unseen (2004), Time Stands Still (2010), My Name Is Lucy Barton (2020), and the 2017 revival of The Little Foxes. On television, she won her first Emmy Award for the television film Wild Iris (2001), and had subsequent wins for the sitcom Frasier (2003–04) and the miniseries John Adams (2008). From 2010 to 2013, she starred in the Showtime series The Big C, which won her a fourth Emmy in 2013, and from 2017 to 2022 she starred in the Netflix crime series Ozark. Linney is also an established film actress. She made her film debut with a minor role in Lorenzo's Oil (1992) and went on to receive Academy Award nominations for the dramas You Can Count on Me (2000), Kinsey (2004), and The Savages (2007). She's also known for her performances in Primal Fear (1996), The Truman Show (1998), Mystic River and Love Actually (both 2003), The Squid and the Whale (2005), The Nanny Diaries (2007), Hyde Park on Hudson (2012), Mr. Holmes (2015), Sully and Nocturnal Animals (both 2016).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 5, 1964 (62)
From
Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
64 on MovieCove · 84 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 4% in 30 days

What are Laura Linney's films like?

Across their 57 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Comedy15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
24%
Self
23%
Bonds
23%
Survival
12%
Ideas
7%
Society
6%
Power
5%
Family bonds19 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose10 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 50 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 13 · Dark 20

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 35 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 13 · Charged 22 · Intense 15

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

Steady 27 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 29 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 5

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 30 · Even-paced 17 · 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 18 · Engaged 20 · Full focus 12

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

Easy watch 12 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 18

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 28 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 10

Roles they play

41 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 12 of 41 analyzed roles.

Ally
12 of 41
Hero
9 of 41
Shadow
7 of 41
Mentor
5 of 41
Shapeshifter
4 of 41
Threshold guardian
3 of 41
Herald
1 of 41
Show the 41 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Melancholic
28
Contemplative
28
Warm
15
Bittersweet
21
Other
44

How their films linger

Bittersweet27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet36
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous10
  • Cyclical1

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 Laura Linney's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 48 of their 64 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Laura Linney'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

84 credits, 64 with a MovieCove page; 35 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Onwards and Sideways(2026)

    as Emma Dretzin

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Lanterns(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Lianna

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • American Classic(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer · as Kristen Forrest Bean

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The American Revolution(2025)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sarah Logan Fisher / Sarah Morris Mifflin / Eliza Wilkinson / Eliza Lucas Pickney (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Black Rabbit(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Wildcat(2023)

    as Regina O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Suncoast(2024)

    as Kristine

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Miracle Club(2023)

    as Chrissie Ahearn

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Determined to Persevere: The Valley Forge Encampment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator

  • The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Hannah Pitt

  • Falling(2020)

    as Sarah (45 Yrs)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Vote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Roads Not Taken(2020)

    as Rita

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Tales of the City(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Mary Ann Singleton

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Sink Sank Sunk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mitzi Mills

  • Ozark(2017)

    Show 44 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer · as Wendy Byrde

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Dinner(2017)

    as Claire Lohman

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Red Nose Day Actually (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Sarah (US version)

  • Nocturnal Animals(2016)

    as Anne Sutton

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Sully(2016)

    as Lorrie Sullenberger

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Genius(2016)

    as Louise Saunders

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows(2016)

    as Chief Vincent

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Holmes(2015)

    as Mrs. Munro

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Linney (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Fifth Estate(2013)

    as Sarah Shaw

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Morning(2010)

    as Doctor Goodman

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Hyde Park on Hudson(2012)

    as Daisy

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Details(2011)

    as Lila

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Arthur Christmas(2011)

    as North Pole Computer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Big C(2010)

    Show 40 episodes · Executive Producer · as Cathy Jamison

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Sympathy for Delicious(2010)

    as Nina Hogue

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The City of Your Final Destination(2009)

    as Caroline Gund

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Other Man(2008)

    as Lisa

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • John Adams(2008)

    Show 7 episodes · as Abigail Adams

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Savages(2007)

    as Wendy Savage

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Nanny Diaries(2007)

    as Mrs. X

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Hottest State(2006)

    as Jesse

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Breach(2007)

    as Kate Burroughs

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Man of the Year(2006)

    as Eleanor Green

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Driving Lessons(2006)

    as Laura Marshall

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Jindabyne(2006)

    as Claire

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Annie Oakley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Armenian Genocide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Maria Jacobsen (voice)

  • The Squid and the Whale(2005)

    as Joan Berkman

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose(2005)

    as Erin Bruner

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Mary Pickford (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor Gupta (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • P.S.(2004)

    as Louise Harrington

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Kinsey(2004)

    as Clara McMillen

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Mystic River(2003)

    as Annabeth Markum

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Love Actually(2003)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Life of David Gale(2003)

    as Constance Hallaway

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • RI:SE (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mothman Prophecies(2002)

    as Connie Mills

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Laramie Project(2002)

    as Sherry Johnson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Maze(2000)

    as Callie

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Zelda Fitzgerald

  • Further Tales of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mary Ann Singleton

  • Wild Iris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Iris Bravard

  • The House of Mirth(2000)

    as Bertha Dorset

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Running Mates(2000)

    as Lauren Hartman

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • You Can Count on Me(2000)

    as Sammy

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Love Letters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Melissa Gardner Cobb

  • Lush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Rachel Van Dyke

  • The Truman Show: Tru-Talk(1998)

    as Hannah Gill

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • More Tales of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mary Ann Singleton

  • The Truman Show(1998)

    as Meryl Burbank / Hannah Gill

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Absolute Power(1997)

    as Kate Whitney

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Marlene (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Primal Fear(1996)

    as Janet Venable

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Congo(1995)

    as Dr. Karen Ross

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • A Simple Twist of Fate(1994)

    as Nancy Lambert Newland

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Tales of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mary Ann Singleton

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 5 episodes · as Charlotte Connor · as Mindy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Searching for Bobby Fischer(1993)

    as School Teacher

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dave(1993)

    as Randi

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Blind Spot(1993)

    as Phoebe

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Class of '61 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Lily Magraw

  • Lorenzo's Oil(1992)

    as Young Teacher

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Bowen

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Assassins: A Film Concerning Rimbaud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Ann Singleton

  • The Joy of Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Ruth Comfort

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 85 titles, 84 of them dated from 1982 to 2026; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

The Truman Show (1998)

$264M worldwide

Highest rated

The Truman Show (1998)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Ozark (2017)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19822026

Peak 2006 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 33 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.

Show 6 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting84 of 85: 80 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndDirecting2 of 85: 1 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing4 of 85: 0 only producing, 4 with another role

85 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1980s4 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s31 · acting2010s18 · 18 acting · 3 crew2020s13 · 12 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 16% of 45 roles
9297071217

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.

Awards

4 Primetime Emmys, 2 Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild Award from 39 major nominations, 2001–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Drama Series
  2. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
  3. 2021
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Drama Series
  4. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
  5. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  6. 2018
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
  7. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
  8. 2012
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
Show 8 earlier years
  1. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
  2. 2009
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
  3. 2008
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
  4. 2006
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Female Lead
  5. 2005
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
  6. 2004
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  7. 2002
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
  8. 2001
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Female Lead

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Laura Linney's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 50; across their 50 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Midcredits score across 64 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up31
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 64 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Morning (2010)

83rd percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Truman Show (1998)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 47 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 54. 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 Laura Linney's work okay for kids?

Across up to 40 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore27 titles9–73 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity40 titles13–75 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity29 titles34–85 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs27 titles19–59 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense27 titles18–74 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Laura Linney work with?

People who share at least 2 of Laura Linney's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Liam Neeson shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles