---
name: "Mary-Louise Parker"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mary-louise-parker"
fi1m_id: "mary-louise-parker"
imdb_id: "nm0000571"
tmdb_id: 18248
wikidata_id: "Q229957"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 August 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-05T19:49:00.210774+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."
---

# Mary-Louise Parker

## Identity

Mary-Louise Parker

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/mary-louise-parker
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** mary-louise-parker
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000571
- **TMDB ID:** 18248
- **Wikidata ID:** Q229957
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary-Louise_Parker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229957, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000571/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18248

Actor. Born 2 August 1964 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 August 1964, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, USA
- **Active:** 1991–present
- **Also known as:** Mary Louise Parker
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (5), 2000s 77 (4), 2020s 33 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 65 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Crime 4, Comedy 3, Thriller 2, History 1, Horror 1
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $563m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary-Louise_Parker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229957, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000571/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18248

## Coming up

- *The Auction* (2027-08-01), as Paula Kletter

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford*](https://film.one/film/the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford.md) (84)
- **HBO Max:** [*Angels in America*](https://film.one/tv/angels-in-america.md) (83)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Bullets Over Broadway*](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md) (80)
- **Paramount+:** [*Weeds*](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md) (76)
- **Peacock:** [*Red Dragon*](https://film.one/film/red-dragon.md) (64)

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

## Fi1m on Mary-Louise Parker

> Mary-Louise Parker is good at giving put-upon women a will of their own and an ironic sense of humour. We value the independence she brings to such parts, even when the writing would rather keep them suffering.

In *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), Parker's Ruth Jamison has enough presence beside Mary Stuart Masterson's Idgie Threadgoode to make their attachment feel mutual. Masterson makes Idgie's independence convincing; Parker makes us care about what Ruth wants as well. We were moved by their scenes together because both women seemed to have something at stake. That matters in a film so inclined to reassure us about friendship. We need to believe in Ruth before we can accept the film's sentiment, and Parker earns that belief.

Jon Avnet is less persuasive when he keeps that attachment within the reassuring language of friendship. Parker and Masterson give it a depth the film is reluctant to acknowledge, and its caution starts to feel evasive. This is where Parker becomes more interesting than her place in a comforting story might suggest. We want the film to be as open about Ruth's feelings as it is admiring of Idgie's independence.

The early casting did not always give her that freedom. As Ellen in Woody Allen's *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), she belongs to a run of roles as put-upon or discarded women. We recommend that brisk, funny backstage comedy, though it is Dianne Wiest and Chazz Palminteri who give it its bite. The repeated casting risks making suffering look like the whole of Parker's talent, and Ruth gives us reason to resist that reading.

The later work makes that narrow view harder to maintain. On stage, *Proof* (2001) drew on her strength in emotionally layered drama; on television, Harper Pitt in *Angels in America* (2003) gave her a character in anguish. Then *Weeds* (2005–2012) put her in the lead as Nancy Botwin, a suburban widow turned cannabis dealer. It is a welcome change of emphasis: she is the one making the questionable decisions. Start with *Fried Green Tomatoes*, with the caveat that its director is more cautious about Ruth than her performance warrants.

## Biography

Mary-Louise Parker is an American actress. She was born on 2 August 1964 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

She appeared in the films *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991) as Ruth Jamison and *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994) as Ellen. Her other film roles include *The Client* (1994), *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford* (2007), *RED* (2010) and *RED 2* (2013). On television she has played roles in *Angels in America* (2003) and *Weeds* (2005–2012).

Parker has received two Tony Awards, for *Proof* (2001) and *The Sound Inside* (2020), a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.

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

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Young Washington* (2026), Fi1m 33, as Mary Washington — [page](https://film.one/film/young-washington.md)
- *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Zee James — [page](https://film.one/film/the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford.md)
- *Weeds* (2005), Fi1m 76, as Nancy Botwin — [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)
- *Angels in America* (2003), Fi1m 83, as Harper Pitt — [page](https://film.one/tv/angels-in-america.md)
- *Red Dragon* (2002), Fi1m 64, as Molly Graham — [page](https://film.one/film/red-dragon.md)
- *The West Wing* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Amy Gardner — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996), Fi1m 68, as Henrietta Stackpole — [page](https://film.one/film/the-portrait-of-a-lady.md)
- *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), Fi1m 80, as Ellen — [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md)
- *The Client* (1994), Fi1m 72, as Dianne Sway — [page](https://film.one/film/the-client.md)
- *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), Fi1m 75, as Ruth Jamison — [page](https://film.one/film/fried-green-tomatoes.md)

## Complete filmography (76)

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

- *The Auction* (2027), as Paula Kletter
- *Young Washington* (2026), as Mary Washington — Fi1m 33, [page](https://film.one/film/young-washington.md)
- *Happy Hours* (2026), Actor
- *The Gray House* (2026), series, as Eliza Van Lew
- *El Dorado* (2025), as Phillipa Rios
- *The Institute* (2025), series, as Ms. Sigsby
- *Omni Loop* (2024), as Zoya Lowe
- *Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp* (2024), as Angie
- *Elsbeth* (2024), series, as Freya Frostad
- *Seneca* (2023), as Agrippina
- *The Same Storm* (2022), as Roxy
- *Adieu Aurora* (2022), as Wilma Munro
- *Colin in Black and White* (2021), series, as Teresa Kaepernick
- *Faraway Eyes* (2021), Thanks
- *The Baltimore Waltz* (2021), as Anna
- *Hemingway* (2021), series, as Marcelline Hemingway (voice), Mary Hemingway (voice)
- *Red Sparrow* (2018), as Stephanie Boucher
- *Golden Exits* (2018), as Gwendolyn
- *Mr. Mercedes* (2017), series, as Janey Patterson
- *When We Rise* (2017), series, as Roma Guy
- *Rachel Carson* (2017), as Rachel Carson (voice)
- *Chronically Metropolitan* (2016), as Annabel
- *Billions* (2016), series, as George Minchak
- *Behaving Badly* (2014), as Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola
- *Jamesy Boy* (2014), as Tracy
- *Christmas in Conway* (2013), as Suzy
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Naomi Hyland — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *RED 2* (2013), as Sarah Ross
- *R.I.P.D.* (2013), as Proctor
- *RED* (2010), as Sarah Ross
- *Howl* (2010), as Gail Potter
- *Solitary Man* (2009), as Jordon Karsch
- *The Spiderwick Chronicles* (2008), as Helen Grace
- *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford* (2007), as Zee James — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford.md)
- *The Robber Bride* (2007), as Zenia Arden
- *Romance & Cigarettes* (2005), as Constance
- *Weeds* (2005), series, as Nancy Botwin — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)
- *Vinegar Hill* (2005), as Ellen Grier
- *Miracle Run* (2004), as Corrine Morgan-Thomas
- *Saved!* (2004), as Lillian
- *The Best Thief in the World* (2004), as Sue Zaidman
- *Angels in America* (2003), series, as Harper Pitt — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/angels-in-america.md)
- *Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story* (2002), as Bonnie Hanssen
- *Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story* (2002), series, as Bonnie Hanssen
- *Pipe Dream* (2002), as Toni Edelman
- *Red Dragon* (2002), as Molly Graham — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/red-dragon.md)
- *The Quality Of Mercy* (2002), as Sarah Richardson
- *Cupid & Cate* (2000), as Cate DeAngelo
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Amy Gardner — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *The Five Senses* (1999), as Rona
- *The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn* (1999), as Dr. Valerie Crane
- *Goodbye Lover* (1999), as Peggy Blane
- *Let the Devil Wear Black* (1999), as Julia Hirsch
- *Saint Maybe* (1998), as Lucy Dean Bedloe
- *Legalese* (1998), as Rica Martin
- *The Maker* (1997), as Officer Emily Peck
- *Murder in Mind* (1997), as Caroline Walker
- *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996), as Henrietta Stackpole — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-portrait-of-a-lady.md)
- *Sugartime* (1995), as Phyllis McGuire
- *Reckless* (1995), as Pooty
- *Boys on the Side* (1995), as Robin
- *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), as Ellen — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md)
- *The Client* (1994), as Dianne Sway — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-client.md)
- *A Place for Annie* (1994), as Linda
- *Naked in New York* (1993), as Joanne White
- *Mr. Wonderful* (1993), as Rita
- *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), as Ruth Jamison — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/fried-green-tomatoes.md)
- *Grand Canyon* (1991), as Dee
- *Longtime Companion* (1989), as Lisa
- *Signs of Life* (1989), as Charlotte
- *Too Young The Hero* (1988), as Pearl Spencer
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Charlotte, Lisa
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Linda, Lucy Dean Bedloe, Cate
- *Kissinger Takes Paris*, Actor
- *The Best Is Yet To Come*, Actor
- *Face*, as Tanya

## Gallery

- ![Mary-Louise Parker](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-6796069fcd4f.jpg) Mary-Louise Parker — The Tony Awards, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Mary_Louise_Parker_2021_%28crop%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![kristin.eonline.com - HBO Post-Emmys Party, Pacific Design Center, Sept. 21, 2008](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-f58d7ef14ed8.jpg) kristin.eonline.com - HBO Post-Emmys Party, Pacific Design Center, Sept. 21, 2008 — watchwithkristin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Mary-Louise_Parker.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![American actress Mary-Louise Parker at the L.A. Confidential/Belvedere/Water Club/Sapporo Emmy Party (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-34c207c33ab9.jpg) American actress Mary-Louise Parker at the L.A. Confidential/Belvedere/Water Club/Sapporo Emmy Party (2008) — watchwithkristin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Mary-Louise_Parker_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Mary-Louise_Parker_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Mary-Louise Parker on the Red panel at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-53222aa255a6.jpg) Actress Mary-Louise Parker on the Red panel at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Mary-Louise_Parker_%284840552384%29.jpg/1280px-Mary-Louise_Parker_%284840552384%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mary-Louise Parker](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-4c8caef85ab1.jpg) Mary-Louise Parker — Image via TMDB
- ![Mary-Louise Parker](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-22016e734221.jpg) Mary-Louise Parker — Image via TMDB
- ![Mary-Louise Parker](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-8294314b4f1d.jpg) Mary-Louise Parker — Image via TMDB
- ![Actress Mary-Louise Parker on the Red panel at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-d7fb5ebd550f.jpg) Actress Mary-Louise Parker on the Red panel at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Mary-Louise_Parker_%284840575112%29.jpg/1280px-Mary-Louise_Parker_%284840575112%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Wash D.C. 1999](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-d67651697c42.jpg) Wash D.C. 1999 — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel  Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Mary-Louise_Parker_1999.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mary-Louise Parker](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-20259c53917f.jpg) Mary-Louise Parker — Image via TMDB
- ![Mary-Louise Parker](https://film.one/media/person/79720/gallery-2ec201600315.jpg) Mary-Louise Parker — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2004: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Angels in America*

### SAG Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2008: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (nominated), for *Weeds*

### Other awards — 4 won, 2 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2005: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress 2001: Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2001: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (won), for *Proof*
- Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress 1997: Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress (won)
- Theatre World Award 1990: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1990: Tony Award for Best 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/mary-louise-parker