---
name: "Mare Winningham"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mare-winningham"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 May 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-17T11:44:50.942026+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."
---

# Mare Winningham

Actor. Born 16 May 1959 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 May 1959, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- **Active:** 2011–present
- **Also known as:** Mary Megan Winningham
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 82 (1), 2020s 68 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Winningham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q235189, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001858/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/51544

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Philomena*](https://film.one/film/philomena.md) (82)

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

## Biography

Mare Winningham, also credited as Mary Megan Winningham, is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She was born on 16 May 1959 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Winningham has appeared in numerous films and television series. Her film credits include *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985), *Georgia* (1995), *Brothers* (2009), *Mirror Mirror* (2012), *Philomena* (2013) as Mary Hess, *Geostorm* (2017), *Dark Waters* (2019) and *News of the World* (2020). Television roles include appearances in *Grey's Anatomy*, *American Horror Story*, *Under the Dome*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* and *Hawaii Five-0*.

She has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, for *Amber Waves* (1980) and *George Wallace* (1997), and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for *Georgia* (1995). She has also received nominations for Golden Globe and Tony Awards.

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

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Dopesick* (2021), Fi1m 68, as Diane Mallum — [page](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md)
- *Philomena* (2013), Fi1m 82, as Mary Hess — [page](https://film.one/film/philomena.md)

## Complete filmography (102)

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

- *Your Friends & Neighbors* (2025), series, as Elaine Naft — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/your-friends-and-neighbors.md)
- *Girl From the North Country* (2024), as Elizabeth Laine
- *Death Wish* (2024), as Mom (voice)
- *Rob Peace* (2024), as Professor Durham
- *All My Puny Sorrows* (2022), as Lottie Von Riesen
- *Dopesick* (2021), series, as Diane Mallum — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md)
- *News of the World* (2020), as Doris Boudlin
- *The Outsider* (2020), series, as Jeannie Anderson
- *Dark Waters* (2019), as Darlene Kiger
- *The Seagull* (2018), as Polina Andryevna
- *O.G.* (2018), as Janice
- *Geostorm* (2017), as Dr. Jennings
- *The Affair* (2014), series, as Cherry Lockhart
- *Philomena* (2013), as Mary Hess — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/philomena.md)
- *Under the Dome* (2013), series, as Agatha Seagrave
- *Hatfields & McCoys* (2012), series, as Sally McCoy
- *Mirror Mirror* (2012), as Baker Margaret
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, as Alicia Spencer, Hazel Evers, Sally Keffler, Rita Gayheart
- *Mildred Pierce* (2011), series, as Ida Corwin
- *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), series, as Terry Beckett
- *Brothers* (2009), as Elsie Cahill
- *Swing Vote* (2008), as Larissa Johnson
- *War Eagle, Arkansas* (2007), as Belle, Enoch's Mother
- *Torchwood* (2006), series, as Ellis Hartley Monroe — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/torchwood.md)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Susan Grey — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *The Magic of Ordinary Days* (2005), as Martha
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Patrice Kelly — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Clubhouse* (2004), series, as Lynne Young
- *CSI: NY* (2004), series, as Katherine Donovan
- *The Adventures of Ociee Nash* (2004), as Aunt Mamie Nash
- *Dandelion* (2004), as Layla Mullich
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Celeste Cooper (2010)
- *The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire* (2003), series, Acting
- *The Maldonado Miracle* (2003), as Maisie
- *Tru Confessions* (2002), as Ginny
- *24* (2001), series, as Elaine Al-Zacar
- *Night Visions* (2001), series, as Kate Morris (segment "Still Life")
- *Snap Decision* (2001), as Jennifer Bradley
- *Six Feet Under* (2001), series, as Eileen Piper — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)
- *Sharing the Secret* (2000), as Dr. Nina Moss
- *Sally Hemings: An American Scandal* (2000), as Martha 'Patsy' Jefferson Randolph
- *Sally Hemings: An American Scandal* (2000), series, as Martha 'Patsy' Jefferson Randolph
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Sandra Blaine
- *Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke* (1999), series, as Chandi Heffner
- *Little Girl Fly Away* (1998), as Cath
- *Everything That Rises* (1998), as Kyle Clay
- *George Wallace* (1997), as Lurleen Wallace
- *George Wallace* (1997), series, as Lurleen Wallace
- *Under Pressure* (1997), as Catherine Braverton
- *The Deliverance of Elaine* (1996), as Elaine Hodges
- *The Boys Next Door* (1996), as Sheila
- *Letter to My Killer* (1995), Acting
- *Georgia* (1995), as Georgia Flood
- *The War* (1994), as Lois Simmons
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Dr. Maggie de Santo
- *ER* (1994), series, as Amanda Lee — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Wyatt Earp* (1994), as Mattie Blaylock
- *Teresa's Tattoo* (1994), as Singer
- *Betrayed by Love* (1994), as Dana
- *Sexual Healing* (1993), as Marta
- *Better Off Dead.* (1993), as Kit Kellner
- *Mad About You* (1992), series, as Sarah McCain
- *Intruders* (1992), series, as Mary Wilkes
- *Those Secrets* (1992), as Faye
- *Hard Promises* (1992), as Dawn
- *She Stood Alone* (1991), as Prudence Crandall
- *Fatal Exposure* (1991), as Jamie Hurd
- *Crossing to Freedom* (1990), as Nicole Rougeron
- *Love and Lies* (1990), as Kim Paris
- *Turner & Hooch* (1989), as Emily Carson
- *Miracle Mile* (1989), as Julie Peters
- *God Bless the Child* (1988), as Theresa Johnson
- *Eye on the Sparrow* (1987), as Ethel Lee
- *Shy People* (1987), as Candy
- *Made in Heaven* (1987), as Brenda Carlucci
- *Nobody's Fool* (1986), as Pat
- *Who Is Julia?* (1986), as Mary Frances Bodine
- *A Winner Never Quits* (1986), as Annie
- *Love Is Never Silent* (1985), as Margaret Ryder
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as Norma Lewis (segment "Button, Button")
- *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985), as Wendy Beamish
- *One Too Many* (1985), as Beth
- *Single Bars, Single Women* (1984), as Bootsie
- *Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues* (1984), as Helen Keller
- *The Thorn Birds* (1983), series, as Justine O'Neill
- *Missing Children: A Mother's Story* (1982), as Kate Bradshaw
- *A Few Days at Weasel Creek* (1981), as Locksley Claitor
- *Threshold* (1981), as Carol Severance
- *Freedom* (1981), as Libby Bellow
- *One Trick Pony* (1980), as Modeena Dandridge
- *The Women's Room* (1980), as Chris
- *Off the Minnesota Strip* (1980), as Micki Johansen
- *Amber Waves* (1980), as Marlene Burkhardt
- *The Death of Ocean View Park* (1979), as Jenny Flowers
- *The Young Pioneers* (1978), series, as Nettie Peters
- *Special Olympics* (1978), as Janice Gallitzin
- *Big Hawaii* (1977), series, Acting
- *Family* (1976), series, as Merilee
- *Starsky & Hutch* (1975), series, as Joey Carston
- *Police Woman* (1974), series, Acting
- *ABC Afterschool Special* (1972), series, as Beth
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Margaret Ryder, Sheila, Martha

## Gallery

- ![Mare Winningham at the Opening Night of "Proof" on Broadway - April 16, 2026](https://film.one/media/person/518602/gallery-77fe5e2b5404.jpg) Mare Winningham at the Opening Night of "Proof" on Broadway - April 16, 2026 — PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/MareWinningham-byPhilipRomano.jpg/1280px-MareWinningham-byPhilipRomano.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mare Winningham](https://film.one/media/person/518602/gallery-c187bc9d758b.jpg) Mare Winningham — Image via TMDB
- ![Mare Winningham](https://film.one/media/person/518602/gallery-d159bec40540.jpg) Mare Winningham — Image via TMDB
- ![Mare Winningham](https://film.one/media/person/518602/gallery-bb665e4115a6.jpg) Mare Winningham — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1996: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Georgia*

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

- 1998: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *George Wallace*
- 1980: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Amber Waves*

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 2014: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)

*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/mare-winningham