---
name: "Maura Tierney"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/maura-tierney"
fi1m_id: "maura-tierney"
imdb_id: "nm0005491"
tmdb_id: 16307
wikidata_id: "Q233027"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 February 1965"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-03T00:19:03.413613+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."
---

# Maura Tierney

## Identity

Maura Tierney

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/maura-tierney
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** maura-tierney
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005491
- **TMDB ID:** 16307
- **Wikidata ID:** Q233027
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maura_Tierney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233027, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005491/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16307

Actor. Born 3 February 1965 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 February 1965, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- **Active:** 1990–present
- **Also known as:** Maura Lynn Tierney 
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (5), 2000s 77 (1), 2010s 68 (1), 2020s 68 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 71 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Comedy 3, Crime 2, Thriller 2, Action 1, Animation 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $849m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maura_Tierney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233027, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005491/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16307

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*ER*](https://film.one/tv/er.md) (88), [*Twisters*](https://film.one/film/twisters.md) (64)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Iron Claw*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-claw.md) (71)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Beautiful Boy*](https://film.one/film/beautiful-boy.md) (68)
- **Netflix:** [*Liar Liar*](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md) (68)

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

## Fi1m on Maura Tierney

> Maura Tierney is particularly good at playing women who keep their feelings to themselves. We value the patience and dry intelligence she brings to ensembles; our reservation is how often a supporting role leaves her with too little to do.

In *The Iron Claw* (2023), Doris Von Erich gets up from the breakfast table when the men start talking. Maura Tierney says almost nothing, while Holt McCallany’s Fritz ranks his sons and tells them their positions can change. We were unsettled by her departure because she gives us no reassurance about what Doris understands or will tolerate. Sean Durkin leaves that question open, and Tierney resists making the silence easier to read.

The dry side of her work found a regular home in *NewsRadio* (1995–1999), where she played Lisa Miller. *ER* (1994) gave her a longer dramatic commitment as Abby Lockhart: she joined in 1999 and stayed through 2009, playing a nurse who became a doctor. She has recalled doing 16 pages of *ER* in one take, which fits her preference for long scenes and ensemble work. We rate the programme highly because the hospital work feels difficult and the people doing it remain fallible. Its crowded storytelling can be tiring, but that is a worthwhile price for spending time with this ensemble.

*The Affair* (2014–2019), in which she played Helen Solloway, continued the substantial television work. Her film roles often offer less room, especially when she is cast as a mother or someone else’s support. In *Twisters* (2024), she plays Cathy, another supporting part. Its storms are frightening, but a familiar script keeps stopping for the characters to be sad.

Durkin makes good use of her restraint in *The Iron Claw*, allowing Doris to remain hard to read. Yet we wanted more time with her, and the film’s habit of hurrying through grief limits what such careful acting can do. Lily James’s Pam speaks her mind and brings a welcome lightness; Tierney has to keep us interested in someone who withdraws. She does, without supplying a tidy explanation for the woman’s behaviour. For Tierney with time to develop a character, choose her stretch of *ER*.

## Biography

Maura Tierney is an American actress. Born on 3 February 1965 in Boston, Massachusetts, she trained at New York University and the Circle in the Square Theatre School.

She is known for her television roles as Lisa Miller in the sitcom *NewsRadio* (1995–1999) and as Abby Lockhart in the medical drama *ER* (1999–2009). Tierney received a Golden Globe Award for her performance as Helen Solloway in *The Affair* (2014–2019).

Her film credits include *Primal Fear* (1996), *Liar Liar* (1997), *Insomnia* (2002), *Beautiful Boy* (2018), *The Report* (2019), *The Iron Claw* (2023) and *Twisters* (2024).

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

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Twisters* (2024), Fi1m 64, as Cathy — [page](https://film.one/film/twisters.md)
- *The Iron Claw* (2023), Fi1m 71, as Doris Von Erich — [page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-claw.md)
- *Beautiful Boy* (2018), Fi1m 68, as Karen Barbour — [page](https://film.one/film/beautiful-boy.md)
- *The Office* (2005), Fi1m 77, as Mrs. California — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *King of the Hill* (1997), Fi1m 82, as Tanya (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Liar Liar* (1997), Fi1m 68, as Audrey Reede — [page](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md)
- *Primal Fear* (1996), Fi1m 71, as Naomi — [page](https://film.one/film/primal-fear.md)
- *ER* (1994), Fi1m 88, as Abby Lockhart — [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Law & Order* (1990), Fi1m 72, as Jessica Brady — [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)

## Complete filmography (56)

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

- *Twisters* (2024), as Cathy — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/twisters.md)
- *The Iron Claw* (2023), as Doris Von Erich — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-claw.md)
- *American Rust* (2021), series, as Grace Poe
- *Your Honor* (2020), series, as Fiona McKee
- *The Report* (2019), as Bernadette
- *Beautiful Boy* (2018), as Karen Barbour — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/beautiful-boy.md)
- *Anything* (2018), as Laurette Sachman
- *Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams* (2017), series, as Irene Lee
- *I Know Jake Gyllenhaal Is Going to Fuck My Girlfriend* (2016), Executive Producer
- *The Affair* (2014), series, as Helen Solloway
- *Ruth & Erica* (2012), series, as Erica
- *Nature Calls* (2012), as Janine
- *The Whole Truth* (2010), series, as Kathryn Peale
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Maddie Hayward — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Finding Amanda* (2008), as Lorraine Mendon
- *Baby Mama* (2008), as Caroline
- *Semi-Pro* (2008), as Lynn
- *Diggers* (2007), as Gina
- *The Go-Getter* (2007), as Pets
- *The Office* (2005), series, as Mrs. California — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Rescue Me* (2004), series, as Kelly McPhee — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/rescue-me.md)
- *Welcome to Mooseport* (2004), as Sally Mannis
- *Melvin Goes to Dinner* (2003), as Leslie
- *Rooftop Kisses* (2002), as Denise
- *Insomnia* (2002), as Rachel Clement
- *Scotland, PA* (2001), as Pat McBeth · Producer
- *Mexico City* (2000), as Pam on Phone (voice)
- *Sammy* (2000), series, as Kathy Kelly (voice)
- *Secret Agent Man* (2000), series, Director
- *Oxygen* (1999), as Det. Madeline Foster
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Jessica Brady
- *The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot* (1999), series, Actor
- *Instinct* (1999), as Lynn Powell
- *Forces of Nature* (1999), as Bridget
- *The Thin Pink Line* (1998), as Suzanne
- *Primary Colors* (1998), as Daisy Green
- *Liar Liar* (1997), as Audrey Reede — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md)
- *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Tanya (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *Primal Fear* (1996), as Naomi — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/primal-fear.md)
- *Mercy* (1995), as Simonet
- *NewsRadio* (1995), series, as Lisa Miller
- *ER* (1994), series, as Abby Lockhart — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *704 Hauser* (1994), series, as Cherlyn Markowitz
- *Out of Darkness* (1994), as Meg
- *The Temp* (1993), as Sharon Derns
- *Fly By Night* (1992), as Denise
- *White Sands* (1992), as Noreen
- *The Linguini Incident* (1991), as Cecelia
- *Dead Women in Lingerie* (1991), as Molly Field
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Patricia Blaine, Jessica Brady — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Flying Blind* (1990), as Donna
- *Booker* (1989), series, as Donna Cofax
- *The Van Dyke Show* (1988), series, as Jillian Ryan
- *Crossing the Mob* (1988), as Michelle
- *Student Exchange* (1987), as Kathy Maltby
- *Family Ties* (1982), series, as Darlene

## Gallery

- !["On December 6th, we’re going to shut down business-as-usual for the financial institutions that profit off of the climate crisis and immigrant detention. Meet  (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-797cf9248e40.jpg) "On December 6th, we’re going to shut down business-as-usual for the financial institutions that profit off of the climate crisis and immigrant detention. Meet  (2019) — Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/2019.12.06_Fire_Drill_Fridays%2C_Washington%2C_DC_USA_340_60057_%2849180058642%29.jpg/1280px-2019.12.06_Fire_Drill_Fridays%2C_Washington%2C_DC_USA_340_60057_%2849180058642%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Maura Tierney](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-b4020380e8af.jpg) Maura Tierney — Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/2019.12.06_Fire_Drill_Fridays%2C_Washington%2C_DC_USA_340_60058_%2849179852746%29.jpg/1280px-2019.12.06_Fire_Drill_Fridays%2C_Washington%2C_DC_USA_340_60058_%2849179852746%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![American film and television actress Maura Tierney (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-2a73cf254c79.jpg) American film and television actress Maura Tierney (2015) — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Maura_Tierney.jpg/1280px-Maura_Tierney.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Maura Tierney (cropped) (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-e0ee6580e88c.jpg) Maura Tierney (cropped) (2015) — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Maura_Tierney_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Maura_Tierney_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Maura Tierney](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-225a108d3b92.jpg) Maura Tierney — Image via TMDB
- ![Maura Tierney](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-5ab3ac219a02.jpg) Maura Tierney — Image via TMDB
- ![Maura Tierney](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-267940bbc880.jpg) Maura Tierney — Image via TMDB
- ![American actress Maura Tierney](https://film.one/media/person/11221/gallery-d2b6f100b484.jpg) American actress Maura Tierney — Adri PalmieriBWR Public Relations, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Maura_Tierney_2.jpg/1280px-Maura_Tierney_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/maura-tierney