Connie Britton
Encyclopedia
Connie Britton is an American
actress. She is best known for the roles of Nikki Faber on Spin City
and on Friday Night Lights
as Tami Taylor
. Her most notable films are Friday Night Lights and A Nightmare on Elm Street
. Despite the fact that the Friday Night Lights television series is based on the film, she portrays different characters in each of them. Her character in the show is named Tami Taylor while in the film her character is named Sharon Gaines. Britton currently stars in FX drama series American Horror Story
as Vivien Harmon.
. When she was seven years old, she moved with her parents and sister Cynthia to Lynchburg, Virginia
where she attended E.C. Glass High School. She majored in Asian Studies
at Dartmouth College
. After graduating in 1989, she moved to New York City
, where she spent two years at the Neighborhood Playhouse
studying with Sanford Meisner
. Britton uses her married name as her stage name, though she is now divorced from her husband. In November 2011, she adopted a son, Eyob "Yoby" Britton, from Ethiopa.
theatre productions. She moved to Los Angeles
after the success of The Brothers McMullen
. In her free time, Britton, who resides in both New York and Los Angeles, enjoys hiking
, yoga
, and doing volunteer work.
Britton had a regular role in Spin City
as Nikki Faber from 1996 to 2000. Her character was written out of the show when Charlie Sheen
replaced Michael J. Fox
as the main character. She had a recurring role on 24 during its fifth season as Diane Huxley, the landlady and girlfriend of protagonist Jack Bauer
(Kiefer Sutherland
). She co-starred in the indie-thriller The Last Winter
in 2006.
Britton starred in the television drama Friday Night Lights
. She starred in the original Friday Night Lights, the movie, also as the head coach's wife.
Britton also was on a few episodes of The West Wing. She appeared in the Episodes "Manchester Part I and Part II" Season 3, as part of Bruno Gianelli's team.
Most recently, she appeared in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street
, portraying Dr. Gwendoline "Gwen" Holbrook.
She was also featured on This American Life
s 429th episode, "Will They Know Me at Home?", in which she performed monologues from David Finkel
's nonfiction book The Good Soldiers
.
Britton currently stars in the horror/drama American Horror Story
on FX as Vivien Harmon, who recently relocated with her family to California after a series of tragic marital and family issues. Unfortunately for The Harmons, the new house they purchase quickly reveals itself to be haunted.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress. She is best known for the roles of Nikki Faber on Spin City
Spin City
Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
and on Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
as Tami Taylor
Tami Taylor
Tami Taylor is a fictional character on the NBC/DirecTV drama Friday Night Lights; played by Connie Britton. She is the wife of the show's main character, high school football coach Eric Taylor.-Character history:...
. Her most notable films are Friday Night Lights and A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 film)
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 2010 American slasher film directed by Samuel Bayer, and written by Wesley Strick and Eric Heisserer. The film stars Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker and Kellan Lutz...
. Despite the fact that the Friday Night Lights television series is based on the film, she portrays different characters in each of them. Her character in the show is named Tami Taylor while in the film her character is named Sharon Gaines. Britton currently stars in FX drama series American Horror Story
American Horror Story
American Horror Story is a horror-drama television series created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The series centers on the Harmon family: Ben, Vivien and their daughter Violet, who move from Boston to Los Angeles after Vivien has a miscarriage and Ben has an affair...
as Vivien Harmon.
Personal life
Britton was born Constance Womack in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Linda and Allen Womack, who was a physicistPhysicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
. When she was seven years old, she moved with her parents and sister Cynthia to Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
where she attended E.C. Glass High School. She majored in Asian Studies
Asian studies
Asian studies, a term used usually in the United States for Oriental studies and is concerned with the Asian peoples, their cultures, languages, history and politics...
at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. After graduating in 1989, she moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she spent two years at the Neighborhood Playhouse
Neighborhood Playhouse
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...
studying with Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner , also known as Sandy, was an American actor and acting teacher who developed a form of Method acting that is now known as the Meisner technique....
. Britton uses her married name as her stage name, though she is now divorced from her husband. In November 2011, she adopted a son, Eyob "Yoby" Britton, from Ethiopa.
Career
While studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Britton (then Womack) made her New York theatrical debut in Caroline Kava's The Early Girl at The Courtyard Playhouse. Britton played seasoned prostitute, Laurel, opposite then unknown television and radio personality Cooper Lawrence, who played Joan. Britton's performance, while well received, nearly got her ousted from the Neighborhood Playhouse program, which prohibited students from taking professional employment during their course of study. After graduating, Britton spent two more years working in off-BroadwayOff-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
theatre productions. She moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
after the success of The Brothers McMullen
The Brothers McMullen
The Brothers McMullen is a 1995 American comedy-drama film directed, written, produced by, and starring Edward Burns. It deals with the lives of the three Irish Catholic McMullen brothers from Long Island, New York, over three months, as they grapple with basic ideas and values — love, sex,...
. In her free time, Britton, who resides in both New York and Los Angeles, enjoys hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, and doing volunteer work.
Britton had a regular role in Spin City
Spin City
Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
as Nikki Faber from 1996 to 2000. Her character was written out of the show when Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
replaced Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
as the main character. She had a recurring role on 24 during its fifth season as Diane Huxley, the landlady and girlfriend of protagonist Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...
(Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland is an English-born Canadian actor, producer and director, best known for his portrayal of Jack Bauer on the Fox thriller drama series 24 for which he has won an Emmy Award , a Golden Globe award , two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Satellite...
). She co-starred in the indie-thriller The Last Winter
The Last Winter
The Last Winter is a 2006 thriller film, directed by Larry Fessenden. The Last Winter premiered in The Contemporary World Cinema Programme at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2006...
in 2006.
Britton starred in the television drama Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
. She starred in the original Friday Night Lights, the movie, also as the head coach's wife.
Britton also was on a few episodes of The West Wing. She appeared in the Episodes "Manchester Part I and Part II" Season 3, as part of Bruno Gianelli's team.
Most recently, she appeared in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 film)
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 2010 American slasher film directed by Samuel Bayer, and written by Wesley Strick and Eric Heisserer. The film stars Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker and Kellan Lutz...
, portraying Dr. Gwendoline "Gwen" Holbrook.
She was also featured on This American Life
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
s 429th episode, "Will They Know Me at Home?", in which she performed monologues from David Finkel
David Finkel
David Louis Finkel is an American journalist. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 2006 as a staff writer at the Washington Post. He is currently assigned to the national staff as an enterprise reporter. He has also worked for the Post's foreign staff division...
's nonfiction book The Good Soldiers
The Good Soldiers
The Good Soldiers is a 2009 book about the 2007 troop surge in Iraq written by David Finkel, chronicling the deployment of 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Kauzlarich....
.
Britton currently stars in the horror/drama American Horror Story
American Horror Story
American Horror Story is a horror-drama television series created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The series centers on the Harmon family: Ben, Vivien and their daughter Violet, who move from Boston to Los Angeles after Vivien has a miscarriage and Ben has an affair...
on FX as Vivien Harmon, who recently relocated with her family to California after a series of tragic marital and family issues. Unfortunately for The Harmons, the new house they purchase quickly reveals itself to be haunted.
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Molly McMullen | ||
| 1998 | No Looking Back No Looking Back No Looking Back is a 1998 American drama-genre film directed, written, produced, and starring Edward Burns. The film centers on the relationship of Charlie and Claudia . The film had a limited theatrical release and grossed less than $250,000 domestically.-Plot:Claudia is a waitress in a seaside... |
Kelly | |
| 2001 | One Eyed King One Eyed King One Eyed King is an ensemble crime drama detailing the trials and tribulations of several characters living together in the same Hell's Kitchen neighborhood... |
Helen Riley | |
| 2001 | Kate Crowley | ||
| 2003 | Lost at Home Lost at Home Lost at Home is the name of a short-lived sitcom aired on ABC from April 1 to April 22, 2003. The show starred Mitch Rouse, Connie Britton, Gregory Hines, Stark Sands, Leah Pipes, Gavin Fink and Aaron Hill. This show was cancelled after only four episodes, due to the death of Gregory Hines from... |
Rachel Rouse | |
| 2004 | Looking for Kitty Looking for Kitty Looking for Kitty is a 2006 American film written and directed by Edward Burns, in which he plays a private detective in New York City, hired by David Krumholtz to help track down his run-away wife. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on May 6, 2004... |
Marcie Petracelli | |
| 2004 | Friday Night Lights | Sharon Gaines | |
| 2005 | Special Ed | Abi | |
| 2005 | Connie | ||
| 2006 | Valinda | ||
| 2006 | Abby Sellers | Nominated — Gotham Award Gotham Awards 2007 -Best Ensemble Cast: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris, Ethan Hawke, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian F. O'Byrne, Amy Ryan, Michael Shannon, Marisa Tomei... for Best Ensemble Cast |
|
| 2009 | Women in Trouble Women in Trouble Women in Trouble is a 2009 American comedy film, written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, and starring a cast consisting of Carla Gugino, Adrianne Palicki, Marley Shelton, Connie Britton and Emmanuelle Chriqui.-Plot:... |
Doris | |
| 2010 | Dr. Gwendoline Holbrook | ||
| 2010 | Conception | Gloria | post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | Ellen Ellen (TV series) Ellen is a U.S. television sitcom that ran on the ABC network from March 29, 1994 to July 22, 1998, producing 109 episodes.The theme song, "So Called Friend" is by Scottish band Texas... |
Heather | 3 episodes ("The Shower Scene" & "When the Vows Break (Parts 1 & 2)") |
| 1996 | Escape Clause | Leslie Bullard | TV Movie |
| 1996–2000 | Spin City Spin City Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike... |
Nikki Faber | 90 episodes |
| 1998 | Cupid | Madeleine | 1 episode ("Pilot") |
| 2000–01 | Maggie Kimble Hume | 3 episodes ("Pilot," "Sanctuary," "Flesh and Blood") | |
| 2001 | Child Star: The Story of Shirley Temple | Gertrude Temple | TV Movie |
| 2001 | Sophie | ||
| 2001 | Connie Tate | ||
| 2003 | Lost at Home | Rachel Davis | |
| 2005 | Life as We Know It | 1 episode ("Papa Wheelie") | |
| 2006 | 24 24 (TV series) 24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration... |
Diane Huxley | Recurring Season 5: 6 episodes |
| 2006–11 | Friday Night Lights Friday Night Lights (TV series) Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team... |
Tami Taylor Tami Taylor Tami Taylor is a fictional character on the NBC/DirecTV drama Friday Night Lights; played by Connie Britton. She is the wife of the show's main character, high school football coach Eric Taylor.-Character history:... |
76 Episodes Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2010–11) Nominated — Television Critics Association Television Critics Association The Television Critics Association is a group of approximately 200 United States and Canadian journalists and columnists who cover television programming... Award for Individual Achievement in Drama (2007–08) |
| 2011 | American Horror Story American Horror Story American Horror Story is a horror-drama television series created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The series centers on the Harmon family: Ben, Vivien and their daughter Violet, who move from Boston to Los Angeles after Vivien has a miscarriage and Ben has an affair... |
Vivien Harmon Vivien Harmon Vivien Harmon, portrayed by Connie Britton, is a fictional character on FX Network's TV series American Horror Story. She is a housewife and a former cellist. Very concerned with using organic products, Vivien does not even allow her family to drink from plastic containers... |