Brittney Leigh Lower (/laʊər/; born August 2, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the crime drama series Unforgettable (2011–2014), the romantic comedy series Man Seeking Woman (2015–2017), and the sci-fi series Severance (2022–present), the last of which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2025.

Early life and education

Brittney Leigh Lower was born in Bloomington, Illinois, the daughter of Mickey and Steve Lower. Lower lived in Heyworth, Illinois and graduated from Heyworth High School. Her mother was a home economics teacher at Clinton Junior High School in Clinton, Illinois. As of 2012[update] she was running a face painting business, known throughout Central Illinois as "the Zoo Lady", which Britt occasionally joined, and Britt later cited it as where she "first encountered circus performers and artists who live on the road and work on the road as a living [and] just became totally enamored by the tightrope walkers and jugglers". She has an older brother named Brugh.

After graduating as the valedictorian from Heyworth High School in 2004, she earned a BSc in Communication from Northwestern University in 2008. She also worked with the Upright Citizens Brigade and ImprovOlympic.

Career

Lower had a recurring role as technology expert Tanya Sitkowsky in the 2011 series Unforgettable. In 2015, she had her breakout role as Liz Greenberg in the FXX comedy series Man Seeking Woman. In 2016, she had a recurring role as Sarah Finn in the second season of the Hulu series Casual. She later appeared in the second season of American Horror Stories and portrayed the main character in the music video for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song "Wolf". She also starred in commercials for Verizon and was a guest on The George Lucas Talk Show.

Lower has starred as Helly R. in the Apple TV+ sci-fi psychological thriller series Severance since 2022. With an interest in the circus world stemming from her mother's face painting career, and her own research for the 2020 short film Circus Person, which she wrote and directed, Lower spent a month playing a character in Circus Flora's Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask show in St. Louis during the three-year hiatus between the first and second seasons of Severance.

Personal life

Lower married British hairstylist Kenna Kennor in 2024. They met when he styled her hair for the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony. The two live in Brooklyn, with his two children from a previous marriage.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008ImogenNatalieShort film
2010Benny to BennyMayShort film
SparkSuzeShort film
2012Revenge for Jolly!Mary Ann
The LetterKathleen
The WorstRyanShort film
RoomieSarahShort film
2013Beside Still WatersOlivia
Mutual FriendsTrish
One Trick DieterEllenShort film
2014Re: JessJessShort film
2015The ShellsAlex
Those PeopleUrsula
SistersMrs. Geernt
Don't Worry BabyAnna
2016How To Lose Weight in 4 Easy StepsRachaelShort film
SwellAnaShort film
DomainPhoenix / Kimberley Miller
The Shadow HoursDorothyShort film
2017Mr. RooseveltCeleste Jones
2018FaithPadmaShort film
The Shadow HoursDorothyShort film
StaycationJillShort film
A Civilized LifeJackShort film
2020Circus PersonAvaAlso director, writer, and executive producer
Holly Slept OverAudra
2022Show PonyKateShort film
2023Until the WeddingNaomi
2024Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial KillerSuzieAlso executive producer
Darkest MiriamMiriam Gordon
2026SenderJuliaAlso executive producer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Big LakeMeg7 episodes
2011–2014UnforgettableTanya Sitkowsky13 episodes
2012A Gifted ManNinaEpisode: "In Case of (Re)Birth"
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJess HardwickEpisode: "Strange Beauty"
2015–2017Man Seeking WomanLiz GreenbergMain role
2016Bad InternetRayneEpisode: "The Seven Billionth Wheel"
CasualSarah FinnRecurring role
2017WreckedMargot WallaceEpisode: "Ransom"
Pillow TalkEmma4 episodes
2017–2018GhostedClaire Jennifer3 episodes
2017–2019Future ManJeri Elizabeth Lang5 episodes
2018WASPDesireeEpisode: "Joshua Tree Was Amahzing"
2019High MaintenanceLee4 episodes
It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaLisaEpisode: "The Gang Gets Romantic"
2020–2024The George Lucas Talk ShowHerself2 episodes
2022American Horror StoriesFay MallowEpisode: "Facelift"
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertNo-One's MotherEpisode: "Kerry Washington/Joe Walsh"
2022–presentSeveranceHelena Eagan / Helly R.Main role
TBAI Will Find YouRachel MillsUpcoming series

Music videos

YearSongArtist
2022"Wolf"Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Video games

YearTitleRole
2020NBA 2K21Alex Williams (voice)

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2017FilmQuestBest Supporting Actress – FeatureDomainNominated
2020Nashville Film FestivalAudience AwardCircus PersonWon
2022Hollywood Critics Association AwardsBest Actress in a Streaming Series, DramaSeveranceWon
Saturn AwardsBest Actress in a Streaming SeriesNominated
Gotham AwardsOutstanding Performance in a New SeriesNominated
2023Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesNominated
2025Canadian Screen AwardsBest Performance in a Leading Role, DramaDarkest MiriamNominated
Astra AwardsBest Actress in a Drama SeriesSeveranceNominated
Critics' Choice Super AwardsBest Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV MovieWon
TCA AwardsIndividual Achievement in DramaNominated
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesWon
2026Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Actress in a Drama SeriesNominated
Golden Globe AwardsBest Actress – Television Series DramaNominated
Actor AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesNominated
Satellite AwardsBest Actress in a Drama or Genre SeriesPending
Saturn AwardsBest Actress on TelevisionNominated

Notes

External links