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Jayne Atkinson

Jayne Atkinson

Actor · Born February 18, 1959 (67) · Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK

Jayne Atkinson (born February 18, 1959) is an English-born American film, theatre and television actress. She is perhaps best known for the role of Karen Hayes on 24 as well as her Tony Award-nominated roles in The Rainmaker and Enchanted April. She is also known for appearing in the CBS drama, Criminal Minds as BAU Section Chief Erin Strauss.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 18, 1959 (67)
From
Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 42 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

What are Jayne Atkinson's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Adventure 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
Self
26%
Morality
22%
Power
16%
Bonds
14%
Survival
10%
Society
8%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 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 5 · Serious 0 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3
Shadow
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
5
Contemplative
5
Hopeful
5
Dread
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Hopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous4

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 Jayne Atkinson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jayne Atkinson'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

42 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Death and Other Details(2024)

    Show 10 episodes · as Katherine Collier

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Baby Ruby(2022)

    as Doris

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Clarice(2021)

    Show 9 episodes · as Ruth Martin

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Bluff City Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Della Bedford

  • The Congressman(2016)

    as Casey Winship

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Clay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Zoo(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Amelia Sage

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Theresa Hurst

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • House of Cards(2013)

    Show 59 episodes · as Catherine Durant

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Following(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jacob's Mother

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Revenge for Jolly!(2012)

    as Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Perception(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Helen Paulson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Walking Dead(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Georgie

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Sharon Harris

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen Anderson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Nora Valentine

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Handsome Harry(2009)

    as Kelley's Wife

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Recount(2008)

    as Theresa LePore

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dean Reuther

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • 12 and Holding(2005)

    as Ashley Carges

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Syriana(2005)

    as Division Chief

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 24 episodes · as Erin Strauss

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Village(2004)

    as Tabitha Walker

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Joan of Arcadia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Fran Montgomery

  • Our Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mrs. Gibbs

  • 24(2001)

    Show 32 episodes · as Karen Hayes

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Marion Springer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Gibson

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home(1995)

    as Annie Greenwood

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Blank Check(1994)

    as Sandra Waters

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Willa Ambrose

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Free Willy(1993)

    as Annie Greenwood

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • In the Best Interest of the Children(1992)

    as Wanda Birney

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Absolute Strangers(1991)

    as Eleonor Barcroft

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Defense Attorney Hammond · as Dr. Claire Snyder · as Melanie Carver

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Parenthood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Capone Behind Bars(1989)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Beauty and the Beast(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Molly Nolan

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • A Year in the Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 22 episodes · as Lindley Gardner Eisenberg

  • A Year in the Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lindley Gardner Eisenberg

  • Between Two Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Robin Fuller

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 42 titles from 1985 to 2024; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

Free Willy (1993)

$154M worldwide

Highest rated

House of Cards (2013)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19852024

Peak 1994 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting42 of 42: 42 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

By decade

1980s6 · acting1990s10 · acting2000s12 · acting2010s11 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

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.

How do Jayne Atkinson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 14; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Handsome Harry (2009)

76th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

House of Cards (2013)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 57. 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 Jayne Atkinson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles20–63 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 45 · moderateMedian 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 Jayne Atkinson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jayne Atkinson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Corey Blechman shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers