Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films Stay, The Family Stone, Sweet Land, Against the Current, The Twilight Saga, Young Adult, and Ouija: Origin of Evil, and the TV series Saved, Grey's Anatomy, The Ex-List, The Good Wife, True Detective, Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Early life and education

Reaser was born in the affluent Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills. Her parents are Karen Davidson (née Weidman) and John Reaser. She is the middle of three sisters. In 1995, her mother married billionaire businessman William Davidson.

Reaser attended both the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills and Avondale High School in Auburn Hills where she graduated in 1993. After high school, she attended Oakland University for one year, then attended the Juilliard School's Drama Division (1995–1999, Group 28), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1999.

Career

Reaser prepared for her role on Saved by spending time in an emergency room, observing the behavior of medical staff. In October 2004, Interview magazine hailed her as one of the "14 To Be" emerging creative women. Her work in the film Sweet Land earned the "Jury Award" at the Newport Beach Film Festival and a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award "Best Female Lead" award.[citation needed] Reaser earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring guest appearance throughout 2007 and 2008 on the television series Grey's Anatomy.[citation needed]

Reaser is best known for her portrayal of Esme Cullen in the film Twilight, and its follow-ups The Twilight Saga: New Moon in 2009, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in 2010, and parts one (2011) and two (2012) of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.

Reaser appeared on the CBS' legal drama, The Good Wife in October 2010.

Reaser appeared in Season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu.

Filmography

Film

Reaser at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con
YearTitleRoleNotes
2001The BelieverMiriam
Thirteen Conversations About One ThingYoung Woman In Class
2002Emmett's MarkAlison Holmes
2004Mind the GapMalissa Zubach
2005StayAthena
Sweet LandYoung Inge
The Family StoneSusannah Stone Trousdale
2006The Wedding WeekendJulep
Puccini for BeginnersAllegra
2007Purple VioletsBernadette
2008TwilightEsme Cullen
2009Against the CurrentLiz Clark
The Twilight Saga: New MoonEsme Cullen
2010The Twilight Saga: EclipseEsme Cullen
2011The Art of Getting ByCharlotte Howe
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1Esme Cullen
Young AdultBeth Slade
2012Liberal ArtsAna
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2Esme Cullen
2015One & TwoElizabeth
Hello, My Name Is DorisDr. Edwards
2016Ouija: Origin of EvilAlice Zander
2018Nightmare CinemaHelen"This Way to Egress" segment
2020EmbattledSusan Boykins
2023Dark HarvestDonna Shepard
2024The UninvitedRose
2026Act OneJulie

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998Sports Theater with Shaquille O'NealMollyEpisode: "Scrubs"
2000The SopranosStaceEpisode: "D-Girl"
2002Law & Order: Criminal IntentSerena WhitfieldEpisode: "The Insider"
2004HackElaine JonesEpisode: "Extreme Commerce"
The JuryRachel ByrnesEpisode: "Pilot"
2006Law & Order: Criminal IntentJillian SlaughterEpisode: "Proud Flesh"
SavedAlice Alden, M.D.13 episodes
StandoffAnya ReedEpisode: "Heroine"
2007–2008Grey's AnatomyAva / Rebecca Pope18 episodes
2008Wainy DaysAnnieEpisode: "The Waindow"
The Ex ListBella Bloom13 episodes
2010–2012The Good WifeTammy Linnata7 episodes
2013Bonnie and Clyde: Dead and AliveP.J. Lane2 episodes
2014True DetectiveLaurie PerkinsEpisode: "The Secret Fate of All Life"
2015Mad MenDiana Baur2 episodes
2016–2019EasyAndi5 episodes
2017Manhunt: UnabomberEllie Fitzgerald8 episodes
Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez MurdersPam Bozanich7 episodes
2018The Haunting of Hill HouseAdult Shirley Crain8 episodes
2019The Handmaid's TaleMrs. Winslow3 episodes
202050 States of FrightSara2 episodes
2021Impeachment: American Crime StoryKathleen Willey2 episodes

Theater

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Sweet Bird of YouthHeavenlyLa Jolla Playhouse
2000The Hologram TheoryMimiBlue Lights Theatre Company
2001BlackbirdFroggyBush Theatre
CloserAlicePortland Center Stage
2002Stone Cold Dead SeriousShaylee Ledbetter / ShariceAmerican Repertory Theater
2003The Winter's TalePerditaClassic Stage Company
2005Top GirlsPatient Griselda / Nell / JeanineWilliamstown Theatre Festival
2012How I Learned to DriveLi'l BitSecond Stage Theatre
2014ConvictionNo NameBay Street Theater
2015The Money ShotKarenLucille Lortel Theater
PermissionCyndy

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryTitle of workResult
2006Newport Beach Film FestivalJury Award – Best Actress (Feature Film)Sweet LandWon
2007Independent Spirit AwardBest Female LeadNominated
2007Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesGrey's AnatomyNominated
2008Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesNominated
2009Prism AwardBest Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode StorylineNominated

External links