Kate Nelligan
Born: 1950-03-16 in London, Ontario, Canada
Known For: Acting
Biography
Kate Nelligan, born Patricia Colleen Nelligan on March 16, 1950, in London, Ontario, Canada, is a retired stage, film, and television actress celebrated for her commanding performances and versatility. She trained at Glendon College in Toronto and London's Central School of Speech and Drama before launching her professional career in 1972 with the Bristol Old Vic, appearing in productions like Barefoot in the Park. Nelligan rose to prominence in the UK with the National Theatre in plays such as David Hare's Knuckle (1974) and Tales from the Vienna Woods (1977), alongside early television roles in The Onedin Line and her film debut in The Romantic Englishwoman (1975). In the early 1980s, she relocated to New York, where she garnered critical acclaim on Broadway, earning four Tony Award nominations for Plenty (1983), A Moon for the Misbegotten (1984), Serious Money (1988), and Spoils of War (1989). Her film career flourished with standout roles in Eye of the Needle (1981) opposite Donald Sutherland, Without a Trace (1983), and later Frankie and Johnny (1991), for which she won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress; she also received an Academy Award nomination for The Prince of Tides (1991). Other notable films include Wolf (1994), U.S. Marshals (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999).
Filmography
2008
- Eleventh Hour as Gepetto
2007
- Premonition as Joanne
2006
- In from the Night as Vera Miller
2005
- Revisiting Brideshead as Self (archive footage)
2003
- A Wrinkle in Time as Mrs. Which
2001
- Walter and Henry as Elizabeth
2000
- Blessed Stranger: After Flight 111 as Kate O'Rourke
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Sylvia Quinn
- The Cider House Rules as Olive Worthington
- Swing Vote as Justice Sara Marie Brandwynne
- Love Is Strange as Kathryn McClain
1998
- U.S. Marshals as Walsh
- Boy Meets Girl as Mrs. Jones
- Stolen Moments as Narrator (voice)
1997
- Rape: A Crime of War as Narrator
1996
- Up Close & Personal as Joanna Kennelly
- Captive Heart: The James Mink Story as Elizabeth Mink
- Calm at Sunset as Margaret Pfeiffer
1995
- How to Make an American Quilt as Constance Saunders
- A Mother's Prayer as Sheila Walker
- Margaret's Museum as Catherine MacNeil
1994
- Wolf as Charlotte Randall
- Into the Deep as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Million Dollar Babies as Helena Reid
- Spoils of War as Elise
- By Woman's Hand as Self - Narrator (voice)
1993
- Fatal Instinct as Lana Ravine
- Liar, Liar as Susan Miori
- Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story as Stephanie Chadford
1992
- Terror Stalks the Class Reunion as Kay
- Heritage Minutes: Emily Murphy as Emily Murphy
- The Diamond Fleece
1991
- Performance as Kate
- Frankie and Johnny as Cora
- The Prince of Tides as Lila Wingo Newbury
- Shadows and Fog as Eve
- Golden Fiddles as Anne Balfour
- Old Times
1990
- White Room as Jane
1989
- Love & Hate: The Story of Colin and Joanne Thatcher as JoAnn Thatcher
1987
- Kojak: The Price of Justice as Kitty
- Control as Sarah Howell
1985
- Eleni as Eleni
1983
- Without a Trace as Susan Selky
1982
- Victims as Ruth Hession
1981
- Eye of the Needle as Lucy
- Mr. Patman as Peabody
1980
- Therese Raquin as Thérèse
- Dreams of Leaving as Charlotte
1979
- Dracula as Lucy Seward
- Measure for Measure as Isabella
1978
- Licking Hitler as Anna Seaton
1977
- The Sunday Drama as Ann
- Bethune as Frances Bethune
- Do as I Say as Hilary
1976
- The Lady of the Camellias as Marguerite Gautier
1975
- The Count of Monte-Cristo as Mercédès
- The Romantic Englishwoman as Isabel
1974
- The Arcata Promise as Laura
1973
- The Four Beauties as Christie
1972
- The Edwardians as Alice Keppel
- Country Matters as Christie Davenport
1970
- Play for Today as Hilary
1951
- Hallmark Hall of Fame as Margaret Pfeiffer