---
name: "Lizzy Caplan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/lizzy-caplan"
fi1m_id: "lizzy-caplan"
imdb_id: "nm0135221"
tmdb_id: 51988
wikidata_id: "Q236578"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 June 1982"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-07T18:00:26.111167+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."
---

# Lizzy Caplan

## Identity

Lizzy Caplan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lizzy-caplan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** lizzy-caplan
- **IMDb ID:** nm0135221
- **TMDB ID:** 51988
- **Wikidata ID:** Q236578
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzy_Caplan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q236578, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0135221/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/51988

Actor. Born 30 June 1982 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 June 1982, Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Active:** 2001–present
- **Also known as:** Elizabeth Caplan, Elizabeth Anne Caplan
- **Frequently works with:** [Jesse Eisenberg](https://film.one/person/jesse-eisenberg.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 74 (2), 2010s 73 (5), 2020s 66 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 70 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 3, Thriller 3, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $429m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzy_Caplan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q236578, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0135221/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/51988

## Coming up

- *Drag* (2027-01-29), as Executive Producer

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Party Down*](https://film.one/tv/party-down.md) (82), [*Now You See Me: Now You Don't*](https://film.one/film/now-you-see-me-now-you-dont.md) (57)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*127 Hours*](https://film.one/film/127-hours.md) (81)
- **Disney+:** [*Fleishman Is in Trouble*](https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble.md) (74)

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

## Fi1m on Lizzy Caplan

> Lizzy Caplan plays clever women who have worked out the joke before anyone else has. Given the centre of a scene, as in *Masters of Sex*, she is the reason to stay; left at the edge of one, she is wasted.

Virginia Johnson tells William Masters that women sometimes pretend, and he stares at her as if she has reported a new element. That is the whole of *Masters of Sex* in one exchange, and it belongs to Lizzy Caplan. She does not play it as a revelation or a victory. She says it the way you would tell a colleague the photocopier is out of paper, and lets Michael Sheen do the staring. We laughed out loud when we first saw it, and then noticed the programme had just made its argument without raising its voice.

She had been doing a version of that for years before anyone gave her a scene to herself. Sara on *Freaks and Geeks* (1999–2000), Janis Ian in *Mean Girls* (2004), Casey Klein in *Party Down* (2009–2010, and again in 2023): the dark-haired friend at the side of the frame who sees through everything and gets the best lines for it. It was a good part and she was good in it, and it kept her in more or less the same part for the better part of a decade, with supporting work in bigger machines like *Cloverfield* (2008) and *127 Hours* (2010) in between. Then Michelle Ashford's *Masters of Sex* (2013) put her opposite Sheen for four seasons, and the sarcasm turned out to have been intelligence all along.

What she does that other actors do not is play knowing without playing smug. Her Johnson walks into the hospital understanding more about the subject than the men studying it and is not offended by that; she stopped being offended some time ago and has work to do. Sheen is the right partner, a man who cannot stop being astonished, and that first season, two clever people in a basement counting heartbeats, is the best thing we have seen her in. On the comic side, Adam Scott is the one who gets the timing out of her, and their scenes together on *Party Down* are where it shows most clearly.

The weakness is less hers than the casting. Put her in a crowd and she goes quiet, because what she does is small and needs a scene pointed at it. *Now You See Me 2* (2016) added her to the Horsemen as Lula, and Ruben Fleischer's *Now You See Me: Now You Don't* (2025) brings her back to stand among eight magicians and react while the script finds work for other people. She has said she is "only drawn to the messes", and the later television, *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022), *Fatal Attraction* (2023), *Zero Day* (2025), has gone looking for them.

See the first season of *Masters of Sex* and the *Party Down* run, and leave the magicians to the magicians. She is at her best when someone else in the scene is slow to understand something, and the director has the patience to let her wait.

## Biography

Lizzy Caplan is an American actress. She made her acting debut in the television series *Freaks and Geeks* (1999–2000) and gained early notice with her role as Janis Ian in the film *Mean Girls* (2004).

Caplan is known for playing Virginia E. Johnson in the series *Masters of Sex* (2013–2016) and Libby Epstein in *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022), both of which earned her Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Her film roles include *Cloverfield* (2008), *127 Hours* (2010), *The Interview* (2014), *Now You See Me 2* (2016) and *Now You See Me: Now You Don't* (2025) as Lula May, and *Allied* (2016). She has also had series-regular roles in *Party Down* (2009–2010; 2023) and other television productions.

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

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Now You See Me: Now You Don't* (2025), Fi1m 57, as Lula — [page](https://film.one/film/now-you-see-me-now-you-dont.md)
- *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022), Fi1m 74, as Libby Epstein — [page](https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble.md)
- *The Disaster Artist* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Lizzy Caplan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-disaster-artist.md)
- *Allied* (2016), Fi1m 57, as Bridget Vatan — [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md)
- *Masters of Sex* (2013), Fi1m 74, as Virginia Johnson — [page](https://film.one/tv/masters-of-sex.md)
- *New Girl* (2011), Fi1m 80, as Julia Cleary — [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *127 Hours* (2010), Fi1m 81, as Sonja Ralston — [page](https://film.one/film/127-hours.md)
- *Party Down* (2009), Fi1m 82, as Casey Klein — [page](https://film.one/tv/party-down.md)
- *Smallville* (2001), Fi1m 66, as Tina Greer — [page](https://film.one/tv/smallville.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

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

- *Drag* (2027), as Executive Producer
- *Now You See Me: Now You Don't* (2025), as Lula — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/now-you-see-me-now-you-dont.md)
- *Zero Day* (2025), series, as Alexandra Mullen
- *Cobweb* (2023), as Carol
- *Fatal Attraction* (2023), series, as Alex Forrest
- *The People We Hate at the Wedding* (2022), as Marissa
- *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022), series, as Libby Epstein — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble.md)
- *Inside Job* (2021), series, as Reagan Ridley (voice)
- *Truth Be Told* (2019), series, as Lanie Buhrman / Josie Buhrman
- *The Toll Road* (2019), as Emily
- *Das Boot* (2018), series, as Carla Monroe
- *Castle Rock* (2018), series, as Annie Wilkes
- *Extinction* (2018), as Alice
- *Ill Behaviour* (2017), series, as Nadia
- *The Disaster Artist* (2017), as Lizzy Caplan — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-disaster-artist.md)
- *Allied* (2016), as Bridget Vatan — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md)
- *Now You See Me 2* (2016), as Lula
- *Angie Tribeca* (2016), series, as Deirdre — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/angie-tribeca.md)
- *The Night Before* (2015), as Diana
- *The Interview* (2014), as Agent Lacey
- *Beef* (2014), as Audrey
- *Masters of Sex* (2013), series, as Virginia Johnson — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/masters-of-sex.md)
- *The Sidekick* (2013), as Bailey
- *Save the Date* (2012), as Sarah
- *3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom* (2012), as Lassie
- *Marvel One-Shot: Item 47* (2012), as Claire Wise
- *Bachelorette* (2012), as Gena Myers
- *Queens of Country* (2012), as Jolene Gillis
- *High Road* (2012), as Sheila
- *New Girl* (2011), series, as Julia Cleary — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Mr. Sunshine* (2011), series, as Vivian Cornelli
- *Home for Actresses* (2011), as Lizzy
- *127 Hours* (2010), as Sonja Ralston — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/127-hours.md)
- *The Last Rites of Ransom Pride* (2010), as Juliette Flowers
- *Hot Tub Time Machine* (2010), as April
- *Successful Alcoholics* (2010), as Lindsay · Producer
- *The League* (2009), series, as Rebecca Ruxin
- *The Cleveland Show* (2009), series, Actor
- *Party Down* (2009), series, as Casey Klein — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/party-down.md)
- *Crossing Over* (2009), as Marla
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Casey Klein, Harmony
- *My Best Friend's Girl* (2008), as Ami
- *True Blood* (2008), series, as Amy — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *Cloverfield* (2008), as Marlena
- *Crashing* (2007), as Jacqueline
- *Love Is the Drug* (2006), as Sara Weller
- *The Class* (2006), series, as Kat Warbler
- *Related* (2005), series, as Marjee Sorelli
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Debbie (voice)
- *Mean Girls* (2004), as Janis Ian
- *Tru Calling* (2003), series, as Avery Bishop
- *The Pitts* (2003), series, as Faith Pitt
- *Hardcore Action News* (2003), as Lizzy Lyons
- *Everybody's Doing It* (2002), as Angela
- *Orange County* (2002), as Party Girl
- *Smallville* (2001), series, as Tina Greer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/smallville.md)
- *Undeclared* (2001), series, as Beautiful Girl
- *From Where I Sit* (2000), as Lily
- *Freaks and Geeks* (1999), series, as Sara — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/freaks-and-geeks.md)
- *Once and Again* (1999), series, Actor
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Woman Arguing With Quagmire (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Virginia Johnson (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *The Boys from Brazil*, series, as Hannah Liebermann
- *Far Cry*, series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Lizzy Caplan](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-b8ce8b923c8f.jpg) Lizzy Caplan — Montclair Film, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Lizzy_Caplan_Montclair_2025.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo by: Kareem Wilder (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-45f0cccf63ac.jpg) Photo by: Kareem Wilder (2025) — Montclair Film, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Caplan%2C_Fleischer%2C_Sessa_2025.jpg/1280px-Caplan%2C_Fleischer%2C_Sessa_2025.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The cast of the TV show "Masters of Sex" at PaleyFest 2014. From left: Michelle Ashford (executive producer), Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan, Sarah Timberman (exec](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-950ab8ac8e9a.jpg) The cast of the TV show "Masters of Sex" at PaleyFest 2014. From left: Michelle Ashford (executive producer), Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan, Sarah Timberman (exec — iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Cast_of_Masters_of_Sex_at_PaleyFest_2014.jpg/1280px-Cast_of_Masters_of_Sex_at_PaleyFest_2014.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lizzy Caplan at Comic-Con International, 14 July 2012, at a panel for the movie Save the Date](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-a357fe477178.jpg) Lizzy Caplan at Comic-Con International, 14 July 2012, at a panel for the movie Save the Date — Floatjon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Lizzie_Caplan_CC2012.JPG/1280px-Lizzie_Caplan_CC2012.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lizzy Caplan](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-2c017d0bcf28.jpg) Lizzy Caplan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lizzy Caplan](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-b3ff2f5ea7b5.jpg) Lizzy Caplan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lizzy Caplan](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-b8dec643d5ce.jpg) Lizzy Caplan — Image via TMDB
- ![Photo by: Kareem Wilder (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-d57090357a85.jpg) Photo by: Kareem Wilder (2025) — Montclair Film, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Lizzy_Caplan_%2854936067206%29.jpg/1280px-Lizzy_Caplan_%2854936067206%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Photo by: Kareem Wilder (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-9876d82234d6.jpg) Photo by: Kareem Wilder (2025) — Montclair Film, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Lizzy_Caplan_%2854936067581%29.jpg/1280px-Lizzy_Caplan_%2854936067581%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lizzy Caplan](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-dd4466498bff.jpg) Lizzy Caplan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lizzy Caplan](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-cfe80cfa6e07.jpg) Lizzy Caplan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lizzy Caplan](https://film.one/media/person/7695/gallery-f792c94b66b5.jpg) Lizzy Caplan — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2014: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Masters of Sex*

*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/lizzy-caplan