--- name: "Holly Hunter" canonical: "https://film.one/person/holly-hunter" fi1m_id: "holly-hunter" imdb_id: "nm0000456" tmdb_id: 18686 wikidata_id: "Q105660" roles: ["Actor"] born: "20 March 1958" reviewed_on_fi1m: 12 average_fi1m_score: 77 average_as: "actor" average_over: 12 updated: "2026-10-04T23:01:33.401063+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." --- # Holly Hunter ## Identity Holly Hunter - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/holly-hunter - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** holly-hunter - **IMDb ID:** nm0000456 - **TMDB ID:** 18686 - **Wikidata ID:** Q105660 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Hunter, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105660, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000456/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18686 Actor. Born 20 March 1958 in Conyers, Georgia, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 20 March 1958, Conyers, Georgia, USA - **Active:** 1987–present - **Also known as:** 홀리 헌터, Holly Patricia Hunter, هالی هانتر - **Frequently works with:** [John Goodman](https://film.one/person/john-goodman.md), [Brad Bird](https://film.one/person/brad-bird.md), [Craig T. Nelson](https://film.one/person/craig-t-nelson.md), [Ethan Coen](https://film.one/person/ethan-coen.md), [Jane Campion](https://film.one/person/jane-campion.md), [Joel Coen](https://film.one/person/joel-coen.md), [John Walker](https://film.one/person/john-walker.md), [Sarah Vowell](https://film.one/person/sarah-vowell.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 3 nominated) - **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 12 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 77 (3), 1990s 79 (3), 2000s 85 (2), 2010s 69 (3), 2020s 76 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 70 across 12 titles - **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 8 of 12 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 5, Adventure 4, Action 3, Comedy 3, Crime 3, Romance 3 - **Screen time:** 20 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $3,305m across 10 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Hunter, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105660, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000456/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18686 ## Coming up - *Incredibles 3* (2028-06-14), as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice) ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*The Incredibles*](https://film.one/film/the-incredibles.md) (88), [*Top of the Lake*](https://film.one/tv/top-of-the-lake.md) (82), [*Incredibles 2*](https://film.one/film/incredibles-2.md) (80) - **HBO Max:** [*The Firm*](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) (71), [*Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice*](https://film.one/film/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice.md) (44) - **Apple TV:** [*Star Trek: Starfleet Academy*](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-starfleet-academy.md) (76) - **Netflix:** [*Always*](https://film.one/film/always.md) (62) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Holly Hunter > Holly Hunter is good at playing women who expect to be listened to. We value her quick wit and small, expressive gestures; in *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy*, she makes being the responsible adult look enjoyable. As Nahla Ake in *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (2026), Holly Hunter can handle a cadet testing the rules without treating it as a threat to her authority. Her chancellor is free-spirited, but we never doubt that she can run the place. We warmed to her because she makes the young characters’ awkwardness seem like something an experienced adult could help with. It is an assured performance in a part that could easily have been reduced to telling everyone else to behave. Her breakthrough came with two films in 1987: *Raising Arizona*, made with Joel and Ethan Coen, and *Broadcast News*. As the latter’s driven news producer Jane Craig, Hunter makes quick wit and high energy feel necessary to getting the work done. Jane Campion’s *The Piano* (1993) gives her a different task as Ada McGrath, a mute pianist, putting greater demands on the gestures and body language that are central to her acting. Her distinctive Southern accent is only one of the tools available to her. Later work includes Helen Parr, or Elastigirl, in *The Incredibles* (2004), and Beth Gardner in the contemporary family drama *The Big Sick* (2017). The animated role makes vocal nuance central again, a useful contrast with Ada. Across these different kinds of work, we value the small physical decisions and the scrappiness more than the mere variety of the credits. Hunter can make a woman forceful without making the acting feel laboured. *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* lets that forcefulness coexist with a welcome capacity for amusement, though Hunter cannot repair everything around her. The familiar school-drama plotting remains familiar, and the young ensemble needs more equal attention. Her assurance also makes it easier to notice when another part of the programme is less certain of itself. What she gets right is the scale of the cadets’ troubles: they matter, but they need not overwhelm every adult in the vicinity. Try it for Hunter if hopeful science fiction appeals, provided familiar adolescent troubles will not spoil the evening. ## Biography Holly Hunter is an American actress. She was born on 20 March 1958 in Conyers, Georgia, and graduated with a drama degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. After early stage work in New York, she appeared in the 1981 film The Burning and moved to Los Angeles. She gained attention for roles in Raising Arizona (1987) and Broadcast News (1987). In 1993 she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Piano. Other credits include The Firm (1993), Thirteen (2003), voice work as Helen Parr / Elastigirl in The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018), and appearances in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Big Sick (2017) and the series Succession (2018). She has also received two Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2026 she portrayed Nahla Ake, chancellor of Starfleet Academy and captain of the USS Athena, in the series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, denofgeek.com, nytimes.com, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (12) - *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (2026), Fi1m 76, as Nahla Ake — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-starfleet-academy.md) - *Incredibles 2* (2018), Fi1m 80, as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/incredibles-2.md) - *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice* (2016), Fi1m 44, as Senator Finch — [page](https://film.one/film/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice.md) - *Top of the Lake* (2013), Fi1m 82, as GJ — [page](https://film.one/tv/top-of-the-lake.md) - *The Incredibles* (2004), Fi1m 88, as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-incredibles.md) - *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Penny — [page](https://film.one/film/o-brother-where-art-thou.md) - *Crash* (1996), Fi1m 78, as Helen Remington — [page](https://film.one/film/crash.md) - *The Firm* (1993), Fi1m 71, as Tammy Hemphill — [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) - *The Piano* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Ada McGrath — [page](https://film.one/film/the-piano.md) - *Always* (1989), Fi1m 62, as Dorinda Durston — [page](https://film.one/film/always.md) - *Broadcast News* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Jane Craig — [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md) - *Raising Arizona* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Ed — [page](https://film.one/film/raising-arizona.md) ## Complete filmography (73) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Incredibles 3* (2028), as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice) - *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (2026), series, as Nahla Ake — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-starfleet-academy.md) - *Incredicoaster | Disneyland Resort* (2025), as Elastigirl (voice) - *Hurricanna* (2025), Actor - *The Electric State* (2025), as Madeline Vance - *LEGO Pixar: BrickToons* (2024), series, as Helen Parr (voice) - *Mulligan* (2023), series, as (voice) - *Pixar Popcorn* (2021), series, as Helen Parr (voice) - *Mr. Mayor* (2021), series, as Arpi - *The Comey Rule* (2020), series, as Sally Yates - *Bless the Harts* (2019), series, as Marjune (voice) - *Incredibles 2* (2018), as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/incredibles-2.md) - *Succession* (2018), series, as Rhea Jarrell — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md) - *Here and Now* (2018), series, as Audrey Bayer-Boatwright - *Big Mouth* (2017), series, Actor - *The Big Sick* (2017), as Beth Gardner - *Song to Song* (2017), as Miranda - *Breakable You* (2017), as Eleanor Weller - *Strange Weather* (2016), as Darcy Baylor - *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice* (2016), as Senator Finch — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice.md) - *Manglehorn* (2015), as Dawn - *Bonnie & Clyde* (2013), series, as Emma Parker - *Paradise* (2013), as Melanie Mannerheim - *Top of the Lake* (2013), series, as GJ — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/top-of-the-lake.md) - *Won't Back Down* (2012), as Evelyn Riske - *Jackie* (2012), as Jackie - *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage) - *Portraits in Dramatic Time* (2011), Actor - *Saving Grace* (2007), series, as Grace Hanadarko - *Sangre* (2006), as Cafe waitress - *The Big White* (2005), as Margaret Barnell - *Nine Lives* (2005), as Sonia - *The Incredibles* (2004), as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-incredibles.md) - *Little Black Book* (2004), as Barb - *Peep and the Big Wide World* (2004), series, as Robin (voice) - *Thirteen* (2003), as Melanie · Executive Producer - *Levity* (2003), as Adele Easley - *Moonlight Mile* (2002), as Mona Camp - *When Billie Beat Bobby* (2001), as Billie Jean King · Co-Executive Producer - *Lost Souls* (2000), Thanks - *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000), as Penny — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/o-brother-where-art-thou.md) - *Jesus' Son* (2000), as Mira - *Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her* (2000), as Rebecca Waynon (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca") - *Harlan County War* (2000), as Ruby Kincaid - *Timecode* (2000), as Renee Fishbine - *Woman Wanted* (1999), as Emma Riley - *Living Out Loud* (1998), as Judith Moore - *A Life Less Ordinary* (1997), as O'Reilly - *Crash* (1996), as Helen Remington — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/crash.md) - *Home for the Holidays* (1995), as Claudia Larson - *Copycat* (1995), as M.J. Monahan - *Eco-Challenge* (1995), series, Actor - *The Firm* (1993), as Tammy Hemphill — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) - *The Piano* (1993), as Ada McGrath — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-piano.md) - *The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom* (1993), as Wanda Holloway - *Crazy in Love* (1992), as Georgie Symonds - *Once Around* (1991), as Renata Bella - *Always* (1989), as Dorinda Durston — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/always.md) - *Animal Behavior* (1989), as Coral Grable - *Rabbit Ears - The Three Billy Goats Gruff/The Three Little Pigs* (1989), as Narrator (voice) - *Roe vs. Wade* (1989), as Ellen Russell / Jane Doe - *Miss Firecracker* (1989), as Carnelle Scott - *American Experience* (1988), series, as Mary Lincoln (voice) - *Broadcast News* (1987), as Jane Craig — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/broadcast-news.md) - *End of the Line* (1987), as Charlotte - *A Gathering of Old Men* (1987), as Candy Marshall - *Raising Arizona* (1987), as Ed — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/raising-arizona.md) - *Blood Simple* (1985), as Helene Trend (voice) (uncredited) - *With Intent to Kill* (1984), as Wynn Nolen - *Swing Shift* (1984), as Jeannie Sherman - *An Uncommon Love* (1983), as Karen - *Svengali* (1983), as Leslie - *The Burning* (1981), as Sophie ## Gallery - ![Holly Hunter as Ada McGrath in The Piano (1993)](https://film.one/media/title/3508/still-b2c49f6ff5b0.jpg) Holly Hunter as Ada McGrath in *The Piano* (1993) — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter as Ed in Raising Arizona (1987)](https://film.one/media/title/848/still-035a1613cba0.jpg) Holly Hunter as Ed in *Raising Arizona* (1987) — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter as Helen Remington in Crash (1996)](https://film.one/media/title/4482/still-d223054e2070.jpg) Holly Hunter as Helen Remington in *Crash* (1996) — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter](https://film.one/media/person/22867/gallery-b0f8b35edb14.jpg) Holly Hunter — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Holly_Hunter_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Holly_Hunter_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Holly Hunter](https://film.one/media/person/22867/gallery-2e94582f3dde.jpg) Holly Hunter — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter](https://film.one/media/person/22867/gallery-5b564ccd916e.jpg) Holly Hunter — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter](https://film.one/media/person/22867/gallery-e6f4d70ec83a.jpg) Holly Hunter — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter](https://film.one/media/person/22867/gallery-58dc3bb9aacb.jpg) Holly Hunter — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter](https://film.one/media/person/22867/gallery-d64356fb488a.jpg) Holly Hunter — Image via TMDB - ![Holly Hunter](https://film.one/media/person/22867/gallery-24745dabde56.jpg) Holly Hunter — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won, 3 nominated - 2004: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Thirteen* - 1994: Best Actress (won), for *The Piano* - 1994: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Firm* - 1988: Best Actress (nominated), for *Broadcast News* ### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won, 2 nominated - 2004: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *Thirteen* - 1994: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *The Piano* - 1994: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *The Firm* ### Golden Globes — 1 won, 3 nominated - 2007: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *Saving Grace* - 2003: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (nominated), for *Thirteen* - 1993: Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *The Piano* - 1987: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Broadcast News* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won, 5 nominated - 2009: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Saving Grace* - 2008: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Saving Grace* - 2001: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her* - 2001: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *When Billie Beat Bobby* - 2000: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Harlan County War* - 1993: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom* - 1989: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Roe vs. Wade* ### SAG Awards — 0 won, 5 nominated - 2014: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie (nominated), for *Top of the Lake* - 2010: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Saving Grace* - 2009: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Saving Grace* - 2008: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Saving Grace* - 2004: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *Thirteen* ### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won - 1993: Best Actress (won), for *The Piano* ### Other awards — 12 won, 12 nominated - Lucy Award 2009: Lucy Award (won) - Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama 2008: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *Saving Grace* - MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo 2005: MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo (nominated), for *The Incredibles* - Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress 2004: Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Thirteen* - International Cinephile Society Award for Best Supporting Actress 2004: International Cinephile Society Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Thirteen* - Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress 2004: Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Thirteen* - Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress 2004: Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Thirteen* - Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress 2004: Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Thirteen* - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress 2003: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Thirteen* - Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress 2003: Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Thirteen* - Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film 2001: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film (nominated), for *Harlan County War* - Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress 1999: Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Living Out Loud* - Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1999: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Living Out Loud* - David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress 1994: David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress (nominated), for *The Piano* - AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 1993: AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *The Piano* - London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year 1993: London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year (won), for *The Piano* - Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress 1993: Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress (won), for *The Piano* - National Board of Review Award for Best Actress 1993: National Board of Review Award for Best Actress (won), for *The Piano* - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress 1993: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress (won), for *The Piano* - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress 1993: New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress (won), for *The Piano* - Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress 1987: Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress (won), for *Broadcast News* - National Board of Review Award for Best Actress 1987: National Board of Review Award for Best Actress (won), for *Broadcast News* - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress 1987: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Broadcast News* - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress 1987: New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress (won), for *Broadcast News* *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/holly-hunter