Elizabeth Reaser
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Ann Reaser is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films Stay
, The Family Stone
, and The Twilight Saga
and the TV series Saved
, Grey's Anatomy
and The Ex-List
.
, an affluent Detroit
suburb, the daughter of Karen Davidson and John Reaser. Elizabeth was the middle of three sisters. Her stepfather was billionaire businessman William Davidson
; her mother Karen became the owner of the Detroit Pistons
upon his death. Reaser is a graduate of the Juilliard School
. She also attended Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills.
she hung out in an emergency room, researching the behavior of medical staff. In October 2004, Interview
magazine hailed her as one of the "14 To Be" emerging creative women.
She earned the "Jury Award" at the Newport Beach Film Festival
in 2006 for her work in the film Sweet Land
, and in 2007 was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award as "Best Female Lead" for the same part. Reaser also earned a Primetime Emmy Award
nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring guest appearance throughout 2007 on the television series Grey's Anatomy
as an unidentified pregnant woman suffering from amnesia.
Reaser played the role of Esme Cullen in the movie Twilight
, based on the best-selling novel of the same name
by Stephenie Meyer
. In 2009, Reaser reprised her role as Esme Cullen in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and will reprise in The Twilght Saga: Breaking Dawn.
Reaser appeared on CBS' legal drama, The Good Wife in October 2010.
Stay (2005 film)
Stay is a 2005 American psychological thriller film directed by Marc Forster and written by David Benioff. It stars Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, Bob Hoskins and Naomi Watts, with production by Regency and distribution by 20th Century Fox...
, The Family Stone
The Family Stone
The Family Stone is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Thomas Bezucha. Produced by Michael London and distributed by 20th Century Fox, it stars an ensemble cast, including Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Rachel...
, and The Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga (film series)
The Twilight Saga is a series of supernatural romance fantasy films from Summit Entertainment based on the four Twilight series novels by the American author Stephenie Meyer. The films star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. The series has grossed over $2 billion in worldwide...
and the TV series Saved
Saved (TV series)
Saved is a medical drama television series, which was broadcast on Turner Network Television in 2006. The series was created by David Manson....
, Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
and The Ex-List
The Ex-List
The Ex List is an American dramedy television series based on the Israeli series The Mythological X created and written by Sigal Avin. The Americanized version, developed by Diane Ruggiero and produced by Fox Television Studios, premiered on CBS on October 3, 2008. Avin and Ruggiero acted as...
.
Early life
Reaser was born in Bloomfield, MichiganBloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan
Bloomfield Charter Township, known officially as The Charter Township of Bloomfield, is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 41,070....
, an affluent Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
suburb, the daughter of Karen Davidson and John Reaser. Elizabeth was the middle of three sisters. Her stepfather was billionaire businessman William Davidson
William Davidson
William Morse "Bill" Davidson, J. D. was an American businessman who was President, Chairman and CEO of Guardian Industries, one of the world's largest manufacturers of architectural and automotive glass...
; her mother Karen became the owner of the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
upon his death. Reaser is a graduate of the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
. She also attended Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills.
Career
She once appeared in a London stage production for only two audience members, and in preparation for her role on SavedSaved (TV series)
Saved is a medical drama television series, which was broadcast on Turner Network Television in 2006. The series was created by David Manson....
she hung out in an emergency room, researching the behavior of medical staff. In October 2004, Interview
Interview (magazine)
Interview is an American magazine which has the nickname The Crystal Ball Of Pop. It was founded in late 1969 by artist Andy Warhol. The magazine features intimate conversations between some of the world's biggest celebrities, artists, musicians, and creative thinkers...
magazine hailed her as one of the "14 To Be" emerging creative women.
She earned the "Jury Award" at the Newport Beach Film Festival
Newport Beach Film Festival
The Newport Beach Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Newport Beach, California, that showcases more than 350 films to more than 30,000 attendees annually....
in 2006 for her work in the film Sweet Land
Sweet Land
Sweet Land is a 2005 American independent period drama film written and directed by Ali Selim. It is an adaptation of the 1989 short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat" by Will Weaver...
, and in 2007 was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award as "Best Female Lead" for the same part. Reaser also earned a Primetime Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring guest appearance throughout 2007 on the television series Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
as an unidentified pregnant woman suffering from amnesia.
Reaser played the role of Esme Cullen in the movie Twilight
Twilight (2008 film)
Twilight is a 2008 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel of the same name. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series...
, based on the best-selling novel of the same name
Twilight (novel)
Twilight is a young-adult vampire-romance novel by author Stephenie Meyer. It is the first book of the Twilight series, and introduces seventeen-year-old Isabella "Bella" Swan, who moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire,...
by Stephenie Meyer
Stephenie Meyer
Stephenie Meyer is an American author known for her vampire romance series Twilight. The Twilight novels have gained worldwide recognition and sold over 100 million copies globally, with translations into 37 different languages...
. In 2009, Reaser reprised her role as Esme Cullen in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and will reprise in The Twilght Saga: Breaking Dawn.
Reaser appeared on CBS' legal drama, The Good Wife in October 2010.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | Molly | TV series, episode: "Scrubs" |
| 2000 | Stace | TV series, episode: "D-Girl" | |
| 2001 | Miriam | ||
| 2001 | Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Thirteen Conversations About One Thing is a 2001 American drama film directed by Jill Sprecher. The screenplay by Sprecher and her sister Karen focuses on five seemingly disparate individuals in search of happiness whose paths intersect in ways that unexpectedly impact their lives.-Plot:The film is... |
Young Woman in Class | |
| 2002 | Emmett's Mark Emmett's Mark Emmett's Mark is a 2002 American thriller film directed by Keith Snyder and starring Scott Wolf, Khandi Alexander, Talia Balsam, Sarah Clarke, John Doman, with Tim Roth and Gabriel Byrne. Also featuring Ira Hawkins, Benjamin John Parrillo, Elizabeth Reaser, Carolyn McCormick, Adam LeFevre, and Greg... |
Alison Holmes | |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama... |
Serena Whitfield | TV series, episode: "The Insider The Insider (Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode) "The Insider" is a first season episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Plot summary:In this episode, Detectives Goren and Eames investigate the murder of a wealthy man, found stabbed to death in a yacht marina. They interview the victim's daughter, a teenaged party girl... " |
| 2004 | Hack | Elaine Jones | TV series, episode: "Extreme Commerce" |
| 2004 | Mind the Gap Mind The Gap (2004 film) Mind The Gap is a multi-story 2004 film written & directed by Eric Schaeffer.The film moves back and forth between five separate stories that touch on each other by the end of the film.... |
Malissa Zubach | |
| 2004 | Rachel Byrnes | TV series, episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2005 | Stay | Athena | |
| 2005 | Sweet Land Sweet Land Sweet Land is a 2005 American independent period drama film written and directed by Ali Selim. It is an adaptation of the 1989 short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat" by Will Weaver... |
Young Inge | |
| 2005 | Susannah Stone Trousdale | ||
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama... |
Jillian Slaughter | TV series, episode: "Proud Flesh Proud Flesh (Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode) "Proud Flesh" is a fifth season episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Plot Summary:In this episode, Detectives Goren and Eames are called in to investigate when the eldest son of a powerful radio magnate is found murdered and covered in plastic latex... " |
| 2006 | Shut Up and Sing | Julep | |
| 2006 | Puccini for Beginners Puccini for Beginners Puccini for Beginners is a 2006 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Maria Maggenti. The film debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival... |
Allegra | |
| 2006 | Saved Saved (TV series) Saved is a medical drama television series, which was broadcast on Turner Network Television in 2006. The series was created by David Manson.... |
Alice Alden, M.D. | TV series, 13 episodes |
| 2006 | Standoff Standoff (TV series) Standoff is an American drama series that premiered on the Fox network on September 5, 2006. Created by Craig Silverstein, the series focused on an FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit whose members negotiated hostage situations and shared relationships. The show was produced by 20th Century Fox Television... |
Anya Reed | TV series, episode: "Heroine" |
| 2007 | Purple Violets Purple Violets Purple Violets is a relationship comedy written and directed by Edward Burns. It is an independent film, set in lower Manhattan, about four friends from college ready for change. It features Burns, Selma Blair, Patrick Wilson, and Debra Messing.... |
Bernadette | |
| 2007–2008 | Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... |
Jane Doe / Ava / Rebecca Pope | TV series, 17 episodes |
| 2008 | Wainy Days Wainy Days Wainy Days is an internet video series starring David Wain that is hosted on the website, My Damn Channel. It is currently running in its fourth season. The web series follows a fictionalized version of Wain through his everyday life as he tries to form relationships with numerous women and... |
Katharina / Annie | TV series, episode: "The Waindow" |
| 2008 | Bella Bloom | TV series, 12 episodes | |
| 2008 | Twilight Twilight (2008 film) Twilight is a 2008 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel of the same name. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series... |
Esme Cullen | |
| 2009 | Against the Current | Liz Clarke | |
| 2009 | Esme Cullen | ||
| 2010 | Esme Cullen | ||
| 2010 | Tammy Linnata | TV series, 3 episodes | |
| 2011 | Young Adult | Leading Role | |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Charlotte Howe | |
| 2011 | Esme Cullen | ||
| 2012 | Esme Cullen | Post-Production |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Sweet Bird of Youth Sweet Bird of Youth Sweet Bird of Youth is a 1959 play by Tennessee Williams which tells the story of a gigolo and drifter, Chance Wayne, who returns to his home town as the accompaniment of a faded movie star, Princess Kosmonopolis , whom he hopes to use to help him break into the movies... |
Heavenly | La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. -Background:... |
| 2000 | Mimi | Blue Lights Theatre Company | |
| 2001 | Blackbird Blackbird (play) Blackbird is a one-act, ninety-minute play written in 2005 by Scottish playwright David Harrower. It was inspired in part by the crimes of sex offender Toby Studebaker and depicts a young woman meeting a middle-aged man fifteen years after having a sexual relationship, when she was twelve.-... |
Froggy | Bush Theatre (London) Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up... |
| 2001 | Closer Closer (play) Closer is the third play written by English playwright Patrick Marber. The play was premiered at the Royal National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre in London in 1997, and made its North American debut at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway on 25 January 1999.... |
Alice | Portland Center Stage Portland Center Stage Portland Center Stage is a theater company based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Theater productions are presented at the Gerding Theater at the Armory in Portland's Pearl District. PCS was founded in 1988 as the northern sibling of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon... |
| 2002 | Stone Cold Dead Serious | Shaylee Ledbetter / Sharice | American Repertory Theatre American Repertory Theatre The American Repertory Theater is a professional not-for-profit theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1980 by Robert Brustein, the A.R.T. is known for its commitment to new American plays and music–theater explorations; to neglected works of the past; and to established classical texts... |
| 2003 | Perdita Perdita (The Winter's Tale) Perdita is one of the heroines of William Shakespeare's play, The Winter's Tale. She is the daughter of Leontes, King of Sicilia, and his wife Hermione.... |
Classic Stage Company Classic Stage Company Classic Stage Company, or CSC, is a classical Off-Broadway theater dedicated to reimagining the classical repertory for a contemporary American audience, presenting plays from the past that speak directly to today's issues. Founded in 1967, Classic Stage Company is one of Off-Broadway's... |
|
| 2005 | Top Girls Top Girls Top Girls is a 1982 play by Caryl Churchill. It is about a woman named Marlene, a career-driven woman who is employed at the 'Top Girls' employment agency. The play examines issues of gender discrimination present in the Thatcherite society that it is set in... |
Patient Griselda / Nell / Jeanine | Williamstown Theatre Festival Williamstown Theatre Festival The Williamstown Theatre Festival is a regional summer stock theatre on the campus of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, founded in 1954 by Williams College news director, Ralph Renzi, and drama program chairman, David C. Bryant. The theatre was conceived as a way to use the Adams... |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Newport Beach Film Festival Newport Beach Film Festival The Newport Beach Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Newport Beach, California, that showcases more than 350 films to more than 30,000 attendees annually.... |
Jury Award–Best Actress (Feature Film) | Sweet Land Sweet Land Sweet Land is a 2005 American independent period drama film written and directed by Ali Selim. It is an adaptation of the 1989 short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat" by Will Weaver... |
|
| 2007 | Independent Spirit Award | Best female Lead | Sweet Land | |
| 2007 | Primetime Emmy | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Grey’s Anatomy | |
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Grey’s Anatomy | |
| 2009 | Prism Award Entertainment Industries Council The Entertainment Industries Council is a United States non-profit organization founded in 1983 that promotes the depiction of accurate health and social issues in film, television, music, and comic books... |
Best Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline | Grey’s Anatomy |