---
name: "Anna Gunn"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/anna-gunn"
fi1m_id: "anna-gunn"
imdb_id: "nm0348152"
tmdb_id: 134531
wikidata_id: "Q271050"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 August 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-07T12:10:15.331177+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Anna Gunn

## Identity

Anna Gunn

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/anna-gunn
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** anna-gunn
- **IMDb ID:** nm0348152
- **TMDB ID:** 134531
- **Wikidata ID:** Q271050
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Gunn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q271050, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0348152/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/134531

Actor. Born 11 August 1968 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 August 1968, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- **Active:** 1998–present
- **Also known as:** Anne Gunn, 안나 건
- **Frequently works with:** [Tim Hunter](https://film.one/person/tim-hunter.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 2 Emmys (2 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 73 (1), 2000s 91 (2), 2020s 58 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 72 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Crime 2, Action 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1, Western 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $251m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Gunn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q271050, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0348152/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/134531

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Breaking Bad*](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md) (91)
- **HBO Max:** [*Deadwood*](https://film.one/tv/deadwood.md) (91)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Anna Gunn

> Anna Gunn plays the person who has already noticed. On *Breaking Bad* that made Skyler White the one plain voice in a house full of excuses, and many viewers turned on her for it; we think they were watching the wrong White.

Anna Gunn has a way of standing still while everyone else is explaining. In *Breaking Bad* (2008) the men talk in paragraphs; Skyler White asks where the money came from and waits for the answer. Our review called it "a welcome plainness amid so much busy self-justification", and that is the whole method. She gives the ordinary question the weight the series' cleverness keeps trying to take from it. Bryan Cranston's Walter can outtalk anyone. He cannot outwait her.

It took a while for anyone to notice what that was worth. She spent the early 1990s in guest parts on *Seinfeld* and *NYPD Blue*, and most of the years from 1997 to 2002 recurring on *The Practice*. Then David Milch, who had worked with her on *NYPD Blue*, wrote Martha Bullock in *Deadwood* (2004) with her in mind. Our review of *Deadwood* does not mention her, and we think that is fair rather than careless: the series hands its best sentences to men who enjoy the sound of them, and Martha is written to be talked past. Gunn does not push for more room than the part has. That is a discipline, and it is also why our review did not stop for her.

*Breaking Bad* is where the stillness becomes the point. Skyler is the one character who reacts to Walter's lies the way a person would, first with suspicion and then with fear, and the series sets her reactions against his excuses week after week. We will admit that somewhere in the middle of the run we had begun to dread her scenes, and then caught ourselves, because the dread was Gunn's doing: she had made the plain question unbearable to hear in a house where everyone else was having such a good time lying. A great many viewers did not catch themselves and went after the character instead, loudly enough that Gunn wrote about it, calling Skyler "a kind of Rorschach test for society". We would put it more plainly. She was playing the only person on screen who was not enjoying herself, and she made us believe it.

Since then she has been given the front of the frame more often: *Gracepoint* (2014), *Equity* (2016), in which she leads a Wall Street thriller as Naomi Bishop, and Clint Eastwood's *Sully* (2016) opposite Tom Hanks. We have not reviewed them and will not pass judgement from a distance. She went back to Martha Bullock for the feature-length conclusion to *Deadwood* in 2019. What we can say is that television has served her better than film, because television gives a woman five years to be right about something and a film gives her ninety minutes to be interesting. Start with *Breaking Bad*. When Walter and Skyler are in the same room, watch her.

## Biography

Anna Gunn is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Skyler White in the series *Breaking Bad* (2008–2013) and Martha Bullock in *Deadwood* (2004–2006). She also had a recurring role as Assistant District Attorney Jean Ward in *The Practice* (1997–2002).

Gunn was born on 11 August 1968 in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She studied theatre at Northwestern University and spent a semester at the British American Drama Academy. Her other credits include appearances in *Seinfeld*, *Enemy of the State* (1998), *Six Feet Under*, *Red State* (2011) and *Sully* (2016). She won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on *Breaking Bad*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Sugar* (2024), Fi1m 58, as Margit Sorensen — [page](https://film.one/tv/sugar.md)
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), Fi1m 91, as Skyler White — [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *Deadwood* (2004), Fi1m 91, as Martha Bullock — [page](https://film.one/tv/deadwood.md)
- *Enemy of the State* (1998), Fi1m 73, as Emily Reynolds — [page](https://film.one/film/enemy-of-the-state.md)

## Complete filmography (56)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Sugar* (2024), series, as Margit Sorensen — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/tv/sugar.md)
- *The Apology* (2022), as Darlene Hagen
- *Land of Dreams* (2022), as Nancy / Betty
- *Physical* (2021), series, as Marika
- *Most Dangerous Game* (2020), series, as Chairwoman (uncredited)
- *Prodigal Son* (2019), series, as Sheriff Fern Cooley
- *Being Frank* (2019), as Laura
- *Deadwood: The Movie* (2019), as Martha Bullock
- *Sully* (2016), as Elizabeth Davis
- *Equity* (2016), as Naomi Bishop
- *Gracepoint* (2014), series, as Ellie Miller
- *Sassy Pants* (2012), as June Pruitt
- *Little Red Wagon* (2012), as Laurie Bonner
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), series, as Sheila Hamilton — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *Secrets of Eden* (2012), as Catherine Benicasa
- *Red State* (2011), as Travis' Mother
- *Portlandia* (2011), series, as Glynis Brooks
- *Lie to Me* (2009), series, as Jenkins
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), series, as Skyler White — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Attorney Susan Bixby — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *NYPD 2069* (2004), as Natalie Franco
- *Deadwood* (2004), series, as Martha Bullock — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/deadwood.md)
- *The D.A.* (2004), series, Actor
- *Twelve Mile Road* (2003), as Leah
- *The Lyon's Den* (2003), series, Actor
- *Miss Match* (2003), series, as Maureen Weston
- *L.A. Confidential* (2003), as Renata
- *The O'Keefes* (2003), series, as Phyllis
- *Miracles* (2003), series, as Rebecca Webb
- *The Guardian* (2001), series, as Meghan Barstow
- *Six Feet Under* (2001), series, as Madeline — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)
- *Nobody's Baby* (2001), as Stormy
- *Lost Souls* (2000), as Sally Prescott
- *Bull* (2000), series, Actor
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Emily Noble
- *Enemy of the State* (1998), as Emily Reynolds — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/enemy-of-the-state.md)
- *Sleepwalkers* (1997), series, as Angie Gilpin
- *Santa Fe* (1997), as Jane
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Jean Ward
- *Men Behaving Badly* (1996), series, as Michelle
- *The Big Easy* (1996), series, as Evie
- *The Lazarus Man* (1996), series, as Journal, The
- *Without Evidence* (1995), as Liz Godlove
- *Murder One* (1995), series, as Melissa Griotte — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/murder-one.md)
- *The Drew Carey Show* (1995), series, as Kelly walker
- *If Someone Had Known* (1995), as Officer Linda Reed
- *Junior* (1994), as Casitas Madres Receptionist
- *ER* (1994), series, as Ekabo's Lawyer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Megan Stanard
- *Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire* (1994), as Agt. Alex King
- *French Intensive* (1994), as Rachel
- *Indecency* (1992), as Celeste
- *Down the Shore* (1992), series, as Arden
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Marielle Di Napoli — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Amy — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Quantum Leap* (1989), series, as Liz

## Gallery

- ![Anna Gunn](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-5ad7b2cee820.jpg) Anna Gunn — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Anna_Gunn_by_Gage_Skidmore_3.jpg/1280px-Anna_Gunn_by_Gage_Skidmore_3.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![From left: Claire Danes, Connie Britton, Anna Gunn, Mayim Bialik, Alyssa Milano, Emily Mortimer, and Alison Pill. (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-9fb1a84eae4b.jpg) From left: Claire Danes, Connie Britton, Anna Gunn, Mayim Bialik, Alyssa Milano, Emily Mortimer, and Alison Pill. (2013) — jdeeringdavis from San Francisco, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/2013_Golden_Globe_Awards_%288379846874%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, RJ Mitte and Dean Norris speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad", at the San Diego Conve](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-b2794d3635f7.jpg) Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, RJ Mitte and Dean Norris speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad", at the San Diego Conve — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Aaron_Paul%2C_Anna_Gunn%2C_Bob_Odenkirk%2C_RJ_Mitte_%26_Dean_Norris_%289365333110%29.jpg/1280px-Aaron_Paul%2C_Anna_Gunn%2C_Bob_Odenkirk%2C_RJ_Mitte_%26_Dean_Norris_%289365333110%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, RJ Mitte and Dean Norris speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad 10th Anniversary Reuni](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-3ef0fb555d28.jpg) Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, RJ Mitte and Dean Norris speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad 10th Anniversary Reuni — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Aaron_Paul%2C_Bryan_Cranston%2C_Anna_Gunn%2C_RJ_Mitte_%26_Dean_Norris_%2842699855465%29.jpg/1280px-Aaron_Paul%2C_Bryan_Cranston%2C_Anna_Gunn%2C_RJ_Mitte_%26_Dean_Norris_%2842699855465%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Gunn](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-b5d596dd8310.jpg) Anna Gunn — Image via TMDB
- ![Anna Gunn](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-7ba0b7bec4e8.jpg) Anna Gunn — Image via TMDB
- ![Anna Gunn](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-6a078922be1e.jpg) Anna Gunn — Image via TMDB
- ![Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad 10th Anniversary Reunion", at the San Diego C](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-35354c207093.jpg) Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad 10th Anniversary Reunion", at the San Diego C — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Aaron_Paul%2C_Bryan_Cranston_%26_Anna_Gunn_%2842699859015%29.jpg/1280px-Aaron_Paul%2C_Bryan_Cranston_%26_Anna_Gunn_%2842699859015%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Gunn and RJ Mitte speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad 10th Anniversary Reunion", at the San Diego Convention Center i](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-fed10f92c136.jpg) Anna Gunn and RJ Mitte speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Breaking Bad 10th Anniversary Reunion", at the San Diego Convention Center i — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Anna_Gunn_%26_RJ_Mitte_%2842699916505%29.jpg/1280px-Anna_Gunn_%26_RJ_Mitte_%2842699916505%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Gunn](https://film.one/media/person/61022/gallery-ff0cfaec5fd0.jpg) Anna Gunn — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won

- 2014: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Breaking Bad*
- 2013: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Breaking Bad*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/anna-gunn