Greta Gerwig
Born: 1983-08-04 in Sacramento, California, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Greta Gerwig is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director based in NY. She has collaborated with Noah Baumbach on several films, including Greenberg (2010), Frances Ha (2012), for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination, and Mistress America (2015). Gerwig made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017), which she also wrote, and has also had starring roles in the films Damsels in Distress (2011), Jackie (2016), and 20th Century Women (2016). Greta Celeste Gerwig was born in Sacramento, California, to Christine Gerwig (née Sauer), a nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, a financial consultant and computer programmer. She has German, Irish, and English ancestry. Gerwig was raised as a Unitarian Universalist, but also attended an all-girls Catholic school. She has described herself as "an intense child". With an early interest in dance, she intended to get a degree in musical theatre in New York. She graduated from Barnard College in NY, where she studied English and philosophy, instead. Originally intending to become a playwright, after meeting young film director Joe Swanberg, she became the star of a series of intellectual low budget movies made by first-time filmmakers, a trend dubbed "mumblecore". Gerwig was cast in a minor role in Swanberg's LOL (2006) in 2006, while still studying at Barnard. She then appeared in many of Swanberg's films, and personally co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced one entitled Nights and Weekends (2008). She has worked with good quality directors such as Ti West (The House of the Devil (2009)), Whit Stillman (Damsels in Distress (2011)), or Woody Allen (To Rome with Love (2012)) but success and (international) recognition did not come until Frances Ha (2012), directed by Noah Baumbach, a film she also co-wrote. Both tall and immature, awkward and graceful, blundering and candid, annoying and engaging, Greta has won all hearts in the title role of Frances Ha(liday). In 2017, she wrote and directed the highly acclaimed, semi-autobiographical teen movie Lady Bird (2017), set in 2002-2003, and starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Timothée Chalamet. In 2011, Gerwig received an award for Acting from the Athena Film Festival for her artistry as one of Hollywood's definitive screen actresses of her generation.
Filmography
2026
- Narnia ... (Director)
2025
- Jay Kelly as Lois Sukenick
- Snow White ... (Additional Writing)
- Pavements as Self (uncredited)
2024
- Carole & Grey as Greta Gerwig
- Janet Planet ... (Thanks)
2023
- Barbie ... (Executive Producer)
- Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
2022
- White Noise as Babette Gladney
- Cannes Festival as Self - Guest
2021
- The Ghost and Molly McGee as Self (voice)
- Variety Studio: Directors on Directors as Self
2019
- Little Women ... (Writer)
2018
- Isle of Dogs as Tracy Walker (voice)
2017
- Lady Bird ... (Writer)
- The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) as Victoria (voice)
2016
- Maggie's Plan as Maggie Hardin
- Wiener-Dog as Dawn Wiener
- 20th Century Women as Abbie
- Jackie as Nancy Tuckerman
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
- Jagoo as Olivia
- China, Il The Musical as Pony Merks
- Mistress America as Brooke Cardinas
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- Off Camera with Sam Jones as Self
- Eden as Julia
- The Humbling as Pegeen Mike Stapleford
2013
- Frances Ha as Frances Halladay
- Making a Scene | 11 Performances
2012
- The Mindy Project as Sarah Branum
- Damsels in Distress as Violet Wister
- Lola Versus as Lola
- Side by Side as Self
- To Rome with Love as Sally
2011
- Portlandia
- Arthur as Naomi Quinn
- No Strings Attached as Patrice
- China, IL as Pony Merks (voice)
- The Dish & the Spoon as Rose
2010
- Greenberg as Florence Marr
- Art House as Nora Ohr
- Northern Comfort as Cassandra
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- A NY Thing as Tamera
- The House of the Devil as Megan
- You Wont Miss Me as Bridget
- Family Tree
2008
- Baghead as Michelle
- Yeast as Gen
- Nights and Weekends as Mattie
- Quick Feet, Soft Hands as Lisa
2007
- Hannah Takes the Stairs as Hannah
2006
- LOL as Greta
- Thanks for the Add! as Girl
2005
- Made in Hollywood as Self
1997
- The View as Self
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1968
- 60 Minutes as Self
1953
- The Oscars as Self
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee