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Cherry Jones

Cherry Jones

Actor · Born November 21, 1956 (69) · Paris, Tennessee, USA

Cherry Jones (born November 21, 1956) is an American actress. Having started her career in theatre as a founding member of the American Repertory Theatre in 1980, she then transitioned into film and television. Celebrated for her dynamic roles on stage and screen, she has received various accolades, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards, as well as nominations for an Olivier Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Jones made her Broadway debut in the 1987 play Stepping Out. She went on to receive two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play for The Heiress in 1995 and Doubt in 2005. Her other Tony-nominated roles were in Our Country's Good in 1991, A Moon for the Misbegotten in 2000, and The Glass Menagerie in 2014. Her most recent Broadway performance was in The Lifespan of a Fact in 2018. She is also known for her work on television with breakthrough roles as Barbara Layton in The West Wing and President Allison Taylor in 24 the latter of which won her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2009. She received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Transparent in 2015 and earned two Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her roles in the Hulu drama series The Handmaid's Tale in 2019 and the HBO drama series Succession in 2020. Her film appearances include The Horse Whisperer (1998), Erin Brockovich (2000), Signs (2002), The Village (2004), Amelia (2009), The Beaver (2011), A Rainy Day in New York (2019), and The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 21, 1956 (69)
From
Paris, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 67 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 30% in 30 days

What are Cherry Jones' films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Crime 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
Bonds
25%
Self
24%
Survival
16%
Morality
15%
Society
14%
Ideas
4%
Power
2%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 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 16 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 18 · Intense 6

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 3

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

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 10

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Mentor
4 of 10
Ally
3 of 10
Herald
2 of 10
Shadow
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Melancholic
18
Hopeful
12
Contemplative
10
Bittersweet
9
Other
23

How their films linger

Hopeful20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous3
  • Other1

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 Cherry Jones' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Cherry Jones' 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

67 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath(2025)

    as Ma Joad

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Loïe Fuller: Obsessed with Light(2023)

    as Loïe Fuller (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Extrapolations(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as President Elizabeth Burdick

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Velma(2023)

    Show 11 episodes · as Victoria (voice)

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Five Days at Memorial(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Susan Mulderick

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Sky Is Everywhere(2022)

    as Fiona

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Becoming Helen Keller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Helen Keller (voice)

  • Foundation(2021)

    Show 7 episodes · as Ambassador Quent

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Eyes of Tammy Faye(2021)

    as Rachel Grover

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Hacks(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Kelly Kilpatrick

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens(2020)

    as Nancy

  • Defending Jacob(2020)

    Show 8 episodes · as Joanna Klein

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Motherless Brooklyn(2019)

    as Gabby Horowitz

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Transparent: Musicale Finale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Leslie Mackinaw

  • Our Friend(2019)

    as Faith Pruett

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • A Rainy Day in New York(2019)

    as Mrs. Welles

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Wine Country(2019)

    as Lady Sunshine

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Chimerica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mel Kincaid

  • Boy Erased(2018)

    as Dr. Muldoon

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Succession(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Nan Pierce

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Party(2017)

    as Martha

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Handmaid's Tale(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Holly Maddox

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Whiskey Tango Foxtrot(2016)

    as Geri Taub

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • 11.22.63(2016)

    Show 7 episodes · as Marquerite Oswald

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • I Saw the Light(2015)

    as Lillie Williams

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Knight of Cups(2015)

    as Ruth

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Days and Nights(2014)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Transparent(2014)

    Show 12 episodes · as Leslie Mackinaw

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Awake(2012)

    Show 13 episodes · as Dr. Judith Evans

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • New Year's Eve(2011)

    as Mrs Rose Ahern

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Black Mirror(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Taylor

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Beaver(2011)

    as Vice President

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Portlandia(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Bridge Manager / New Mayor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Mother and Child(2009)

    as Sister Joanne

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Amelia(2009)

    as Eleanor Roosevelt

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Swimmers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Julia Tyler

  • Ocean's Twelve(2004)

    as Molly Star / Mrs. Caldwell

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Clubhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Village(2004)

    as Mrs. Clack

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Working Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Signs(2002)

    as Officer Paski

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood(2002)

    as Buggy

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Miss America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Narrator

  • 24(2001)

    Show 48 episodes · as Allison Taylor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • What Makes a Family(2001)

    as Sandy Cataldi

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Cora Unashamed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Lizbeth Studevant

  • The Perfect Storm(2000)

    as Edie Bailey

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Erin Brockovich(2000)

    as Pamela Duncan

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Lady in Question (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Mimi Barnes

  • Cradle Will Rock(1999)

    as Hallie Flanagan

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Layton

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Murder in a Small Town(1999)

    as Mimi Barnes

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Past(1998)

    as Annie Adams Fields (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Horse Whisperer(1998)

    as Liz Hammond

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Julian Po (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Lucy

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Janet (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Housesitter(1992)

    as Patty

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Town(1987)

    as Ginger McDonald

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Light of Day(1987)

    as Cindy Montgomery

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Alex: The Life of a Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Tina Crawford

  • Sganarelle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Dorimène / Lucinde

  • O’Malley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Secretary

  • Fonda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Steel Harp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Untitled The Secret of Secrets Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Heide Nagel

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles, 64 of them dated from 1983 to 2024; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Signs (2002)

$408M worldwide

Highest rated

Erin Brockovich (2000)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Boy Erased (2018)

Film career

19832024

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 2 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
Acting67 of 67: 67 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score71st

By decade

1980s6 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s21 · acting2020s13 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 26 roles
870212

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 Cherry Jones' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of the 32 of 33 with a score; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 50 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath (2025)

92nd percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Succession (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 49. 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 Cherry Jones' work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles9–57 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles11–51 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity16 titles31–74 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles13–64 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles26–69 · 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 Cherry Jones work with?

People who share at least 2 of Cherry Jones' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Thomas Newman shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers