Jennifer westfeldt biography

Jennifer Westfeldt

American actress (born )

Jennifer Westfeldt

Westfeldt in

Born () February 2, (age&#;54)

Guilford, Connecticut, U.S.

Alma&#;materYale University
Occupation(s)Actress, screenwriter
Years&#;active–present
Partner(s)Jon Hamm
(–)

Jennifer Westfeldt (born February 2, )[1][2] is an American actress, screenwriter, and producer.

She is best known for co-writing, co-producing, and starring in the indie film Kissing Jessica Stein,[3] for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay. She is also known for writing, producing, starring in, and making her directorial debut in the indie film, Friends with Kids ().[4]

Westfeldt's television work includes recurring roles on Notes from the Underbelly (–), Grey's Anatomy (), 24 (), and Younger (–) as well as guest starred on shows such as Girls, and This Is Us.

Westfeldt made her Broadway debut in in the revival of Wonderful Town[5] earning a nomination for the Tony Award for Leading Featured Actress in a Musical.

Early life and education

Westfeldt is the daughter of Constance Perelson, a therapist, and Patrick M.

Westfeldt Jr., an electrical engineer.[6][7][8] Her stepfather is Michael Perelson, also a therapist. Her older sister is journalist Amy Westfeldt.[9] Westfeldt grew up in Guilford, Connecticut, where she attended Guilford High School.

She then attended Yale University, where she received a B.A. in Theater Studies. While at Yale, she starred in numerous plays and musicals and sang in the a cappella group Redhot & Navy. Her family is a part of the Swedish nobility, with the original name Wästfelt (see Wästfelt/Westfeldt).

Jennifer Westfeldt was born on February 2,on this world. As ofshe is 52 years old and was born under the sign of Aquarius. Her mother is a therapist, while her father is an engineer. Similarly, she has a correspondent sister named Amy Westfeldt.

Career

– Early roles and breakthrough

Upon graduating from Yale University with a B.A. in Theater Studies, Westfeldt started her career as a New York-based theater actress, starring in dozens of regional and Off-Broadway productions, including the long-running Off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks.[10] In , she was cast as a series regular on the 20th Century Fox/ABC sitcom Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, alongside Ryan Reynolds, Traylor Howard and Richard Ruccolo.[11] In Westfeldt co-wrote and co-starred with Heather Juergensen in an Off-Broadway play based on a series of sketches called Lipschtick: The Story of Two Women Seeking The Perfect Shade, which caught the attention of major Hollywood studios.[12] The play was optioned by Radar Pictures to be made into a production, but after two years of studio development, Westfeldt and Juergensen bought back the rights to the script and decided to make the film independently.[citation needed]

Kissing Jessica Stein debuted at the LA International Film Festival in , where it won the Audience Award for Best Film, and a Special Jury Award for Writing and Acting for Westfeldt and Juergensen.[13] The motion picture was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in March Westfeldt received the Golden Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role as Jessica, and an Indie Spirit Nomination for Best First Screenplay.

The film won the Audience Favorites Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Miami Film Festival, Best Feature at the Louisville Jewish Film Festival, and the GLAAD Media Award, and it was included on more than a dozen foremost ten lists in [14] Variety wrote, "A fresh take on sex and the single teen, this buoyant, well-crafted romantic comedy blends pitch-perfect performances with deliciously smart writing."[15] In Newsweek David Ansen said the film "knows what it wants, what its limits are, and delivers its delights accordingly."[16] In , The Advocate listed the movie as an essential film for Queer viewers that "encourages exploration and self-awareness." In , Kvellar penner Mara Reinstein looked back on the impact that this "authentic" and "nuanced" movie had, writing, "I can't overstate how much Kissing Jessica Stein pioneered the gay rom-com."[17]

Westfeldt made her Broadway debut in the fall of in the critical and commercial hit Wonderful Town, starring reverse two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy and directed by three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall.

Westfeldt received a Tony nomination,[18] a Theater World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut,[19] and a Drama League Award for her role as Eileen Sherwood.[20] Of her Broadway debut, John Simon of Modern York magazine wrote: "Jennifer Westfeldt leaps onto the Broadway stage in full-fledged acting and singing splendor as the adorable Eileen."[21] Ben Brantley of the Fresh York Times wrote, "Jennifer Westfeldt makes a charming Broadway debut as Eileen, Ruth's boy-magnet of a sister." "Ms.

Westfeldt's delightfully un-self-conscious interpretation suggests a virginal answer to the Vargas pinup girls," he added.[22]

– Acting function and directorial debut

Westfeldt's next main attraction, Ira & Abby, marked her first solo screenwriting effort.

The film debuted at the Los Angeles Film Festival in , where it won the Audience Award for Best Feature.[23] It was acquired by Magnolia Pictures and released in the plummet of to strong reviews.[24][25][26] Westfeldt won Best Actress at the HBO U.S.

Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen in for her performance as Abby, where Ira & Abby also took house the Jury Prize for Finest Feature.[27] The film won Audience Award for Best Feature at the Boston Jewish Film Festival.[citation needed]

After one season on Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, 20th Century Fox Studios cast Westfeldt as the lead of another series, the short-lived Holding the Baby on Fox.

She went on to star in multiple pilots, including the WB's The Gene Pool opposite Chris Eigeman; The Untitled Paul Reiser Pilot on F/X; and Steve Levitan's Dante on NBC, opposite Morris Chestnut and Kevin Hart.[28] In , Westfeldt, along with her journalist sister Amy, sold a one-hour newsroom drama pitch to Touchstone/ABC; Westfeldt was attached to star.

Called The Independent, the series was loosely inspired by her sister's experiences as a career reporter at the Associated Press.[citation needed] In , she was cast as the female lead in ABC's Notes from the Underbelly, which ran for two seasons.

Andrew Johnston wrote in TimeOut: "Jennifer Westfeldt is a total babe, with physical-comedy skills that, if properly honed, could approach Lucille Ball territory. In other words, she was basically born for TV. [Westfeldt] gets to show her serious side, too, and if the series gives her enough exposure to initiate competing with Hope Davis and Laura Linney for blond-WASP roles, Underbelly will have more than justified its existence."[29] In , with Alan Ball attached as executive producer, she sold a TV dramedy to HBO with her attached to star about the bird's nest custody contract in divorce cases.[citation needed]

In , Westfeldt wrote, produced, starred in, and made her directorial debut in Friends with Kids, which was a breakout hit at the Toronto International Film Festival.[30] Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions obtained the rights to the clip, and it was released in Westfeldt starred opposite Adam Scott, with a cast including Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Chris O'Dowd, Ed Burns, Megan Fox and Jon Hamm.

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called Friends with Kids "an indelibly funny and touching comedy with a actual sting in its tail," and deemed Westfeldt "an actress of rare wit and grace, and now a filmmaker with a keen eye for nuance. In front of the camera and behind it, she's the inhabit current that pulls us in and makes us care.

Westfeldt is the pulse of Friends With Kids, presenting us with life in all of its vibrant, messy sprawl."[31] The clip was included on New York Magazine's Top Ten Movies of list,[32] as well as NPR's Top 12 of [33]

–present

Her varied TV credits include memorable arcs on Younger, Queen America (opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones), Grey's Anatomy, 24, Judging Amy, and Hack; and guest-starring turns on NBC's slap drama This Is Us, HBO's Girls, and Childrens Hospital, among others.[citation needed] She provided the voice of Kit Luntayne in the Martha Speaks episodes "Cora!

Cora! Cora!" and "Cora Encore!" on PBS.[citation needed]

Westfeldt's other stage work includes the world premieres of Scott Z. Burns' The Library at The Public Theater opposite Chloe Grace-Moretz, directed by Steven Soderbergh;[34]Nell Benjamin’s The Explorers Club at Manhattan Theater Club, directed by Marc Bruni;[35]Nicky Silver's Too Much Sun at The Vineyard Theater opposite Linda Lavin, directed by Mark Brokaw;[36]Cusi Cram's A Lifetime Burning at Central Stages, directed by Pam MacKinnon;[37] Joe Gilford’s Finks opposite Josh Radnor at The Powerhouse Theater/NYSAF, directed by Charlie Stratton;[38] Stephen Belber's The Power of Duff opposite Greg Kinnear at The Powerhouse Theater/NYSAF, directed by Peter Dubois;[39] and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros' Big Sky at The Geffen reverse Jon Tenney, directed by John Rando.[40] In she received glowing reviews from the New York Times for her performance as Mama in Liba Vaynberg' s play The Gett.[41]

Other film roles include the short Lemon antonym Noah Bean, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and, in , a supporting role in director Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? contrary Melissa McCarthy, which later ended up on the cutting room floor.[42] In , Westfeldt produced the documentary Circus Kid, based on Lorenzo Pisoni's life growing up in a circus family, which was bought and distributed by Sundance Now.[43] In she wrote several episodes of the Showtime series The First Lady.[44]

Westfeldt sold to Amazon The Plan of You, an adapted screenplay based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee starring Anne Hathaway.[45] The film completed shooting in December and was released in May With a self-reported 50 million viewers in the first two weeks it was Amazon MGM’s No.

1 romantic-comedy debut of all time, according to the studio.[46] She is currently productive on a film adaptation[47] of Amy Poeppel's novel The Pleasant Spot.

Personal life

Westfeldt was in a long-term relationship with actor Jon Hamm from to [48] She divides her time between Modern York City and Los Angeles.[citation needed]

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Year Title Role Venue
– Wonderful TownEileen Sherwood Broadway musical
FinksNatalie Meltzer The Powerhouse Theater/NYSAF
A Lifetime BurningEmma Primary Stages
Three SistersMasha LA Theaterworks
The Dominance of DuffSue The Powerhouse Theater
The Explorers ClubPhyllida Spot-Hume Manhattan Theater Club[52]
Too Much SunKitty The Vineyard Theater[53]
The LibraryElizabeth Gabriel The Public Theater[54]
Big SkyJen The Geffen
The Money ShotKaren LA Theaterworks
The GettMama Rattlestick Theater

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^"Jennifer Westfeldt".

    Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved September 7,

  2. ^"Jennifer Westfeldt: Biography". Retrieved October 21,
  3. ^"Kissing Jessica Stein". IMDb.
  4. ^Hill, Logan (September 13, ).

    "Jennifer Westfeldt on Her Toronto Clap , Friends With Kids". Vulture. Retrieved April 12,

  5. ^Kaufman, Joanne (December 9, ). "It's a Superb Town For Jennifer Westfeldt". The Wall Street Journal.

    ISSN&#; Retrieved April 12,

  6. ^"meyers westfeldt". Google news. July 15, Retrieved April 25,
  7. ^"jennifer-westfeldt connie". Google news. March 7, Retrieved April 25,
  8. ^Rosen, Steven (September 13, ).

    "Film: Opposites attract—and seek therapy—in 'Ira & Abby'". Jewish Journal. Retrieved March 12,

  9. ^"Amy Westfeldt". NewsGuard. Retrieved April 15,
  10. ^"Jennifer Westfeldt on Her Burning Stage Role and Mad Romance".

    . Retrieved April 30,

  11. ^Fortenberry, John (July 22, ), Two Guys, a Girl and a Landlord (Comedy, Romance), Traylor Howard, Ryan Reynolds, Richard Ruccolo, Jennifer Westfeldt, In Front Productions, 20th Century Fox Television, retrieved April 30,
  12. ^"Forget the Usual Labels".

    Los Angeles Times. March 10, Retrieved April 30,

  13. ^"<i> Kissing Jessica Stein </i> takes IFP/West Los Angeles Film Festival award ()". . May 1, Retrieved April 30,
  14. ^"Kissing Jessica Stein", IMDb, retrieved April 30,
  15. ^Loewenstein, Lael (May 2, ).

    "Kissing Jessica Stein". Variety. Retrieved April 30,

  16. ^Newsweek Staff (March 17, ). "Jessica Delivers". Newsweek. Retrieved June 5,
  17. ^"'Kissing Jessica Stein' Is the Pioneering Jewish Lesbian Rom-Com That Will Lift Your Spirits".

    Kveller. November 25, Retrieved April 30,

  18. ^" Tony Award Nominations Announced | TheaterMania". . May 10, Retrieved May 1,
  19. ^"Theatre World Awards - Theatre Planet Awards".

    . Archived from the original on May 25, Retrieved May 1,

  20. ^Simonson, Robert (May 14, ). "Wife, Wicked, Assassins, Henry IV and Jackman Triumph Drama League Awards".

    Jennifer Westfeldt is a talented American actress, director, screenwriter, and producer who has established herself in the film industry. Her work in the independent films Kissing Jessica Stein and Friends with Kids, which she co-wrote, produced, and starred in, has earned her widespread acclaim. With Kissing Jessica Stein, which was a commercial hit, Jennifer established herself as a prolific writer and thespian after making her cinematic debut in with See Jane Operate. Jennifer has dabbled in screenwriting and acting in addition to directing the critically acclaimed production Friends with Kids, which was named one of New York Magazine's Top Ten Films of

    Playbill. Retrieved May 1,

  21. ^"Wonderful Town starring Donna Murphy - Caroline, of Change - The Beard of Avon - Unused York Theater Review - Nymag". New York Magazine. November 26, Retrieved May 1,
  22. ^Brantley, Ben (November 24, ).

    "THEATER REVIEW; Sis, Today The Village, Tomorrow The World". The New York Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved May 1,

  23. ^" Los Angeles Film Festival Announces Winners". Creative Planet Network.

    February 15, Retrieved April 30,

  24. ^"Jennifer Westfeldt writes her retain story line in Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. March 8, Retrieved April 30,
  25. ^Catsoulis, Jeannette (September 14, ).

    "Out of His Navel and Into a Life". The New York Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved April 30,

  26. ^Morgenstern, Joe (September 14, ).

    Jennifer is an American actress and filmmaker, who is perhaps best established for writing and starring in the indie hits, Kissing Jessica Stein () and Friends with Kids ().

    "Mortensen Thrills In Rich, Complex 'Eastern Promises'". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN&#; Retrieved April 30,

  27. ^"US Comedy Arts Festival ()". IMDb. Retrieved April 30,
  28. ^"Jennifer Westfeldt".

    IMDb.

    Jennifer Westfeldt born February 2, [ 1 ] [ 2 ] is an American actress, screenwriter, and producer. She is leading known for co-writing, co-producing, and starring in the indie clip Kissing Jessica Stein[ 3 ] for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay. She is also known for writing, producing, starring in, and making her directorial debut in the indie film, Friends with Kids Westfeldt's television work includes recurring roles on Notes from the Underbelly —Grey's Anatomy24and Younger — as well as guest starred on shows such as Girlsand This Is Us.

    Retrieved May 1,

  29. ^"Notes from the Underbelly". Time Out Worldwide. April 12, Retrieved May 1,
  30. ^Hill, Logan (September 13, ). "Jennifer Westfeldt on Her Toronto Hit, Friends With Kids".

    Vulture. Retrieved April 30,

  31. ^Travers, Peter (March 8, ). "Friends With Kids". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 30,
  32. ^Edelstein, David (December 2, ).

    "David Edelstein's Top Ten Movies of ". Vulture. Retrieved April 12,

  33. ^"David Edelstein's Top 12 Movies of ". NPR. Retrieved April 12,
  34. ^Stasio, Marilyn (April 16, ). "Off Broadway Review: 'The Library' Directed by Steven Soderbergh".

    Variety. Retrieved May 1,

  35. ^Soloski, Alexis (June 13, ). "Gleefully Banging on Closed Doors". The Recent York Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved May 1,
  36. ^"TOO MUCH SUN | By Nicky Silver | Directed by Mark Brokaw".

    Vineyard Theatre. June 24, Retrieved May 1,

  37. ^"Q&A With 'A Lifetime Burning' Actress Jennifer Westfeldt -- Recent York Magazine - Nymag". New York Magazine. July 23, Retrieved May 1,
  38. ^"Archive from Monday, July 14, - Finks, a sweeping tale of love and friendship, trials and tragedy, 7//3 - News - Info - Vassar College".

    . Retrieved May 1,

  39. ^Hetrick, Adam (July 18, ).

    Her mom is Jewish. Further, she holds an American nationality and has a place with white ethnicity. Jennifer went to Guilford Secondary School for her secondary school. Further, she went to Yale University and began her profession in singing just like a piece of Boardway.

    "The Power of Duff, Starring Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Westfeldt, Debuts at Powerhouse Theater July 18". Playbill. Retrieved May 1,

  40. ^"'Big Sky': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter.

    June 17, Retrieved May 1,

  41. ^Collins-Hughes, Laura (November 28, ). "'The Gett' Review: Jewish History and a Woman's Future". The New York Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved April 16,
  42. ^"'Can You Ever Forgive Me?': Jennifer Westfeldt argues with Melissa McCarthy in deleted scene (Exclusive)".

    . January 18, Retrieved April 30,

  43. ^"The Film". Circus Kid. Retrieved April 30,
  44. ^"The First Lady - Season 1 Episode 1, that white house | SHOWTIME". . Retrieved June 5,
  45. ^Fleming, Mike Jr.

    (June 21, ). "Amazon, Welle Entertainment Convert 'The Idea Of You' For Anne Hathaway". Deadline. Retrieved July 9,

  46. ^Shanfeld, Ethan (May 14, ). "'The Idea of You' Nabs Nearly 50 Million Viewers in Two Weeks, Marking No.

    1 Rom-Com Debut for Amazon MGM". Variety. Retrieved January 6,

  47. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 15, ).

    Toggle share options: Jennifer Westfeldt (born February 2, ) [1] [2] is an American actress, screenwriter, and producer. She is best known for co-writing, co-producing, and starring in the indie film Kissing Jessica Stein, [3] for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay.

    "Jennifer Westfeldt Adapting & Co-Starring In 'The Sweet Spot' At Amazon MGM Studios". Deadline. Retrieved January 6,

  48. ^Jordan, Julie (September 7, ). "Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt Split After 18 Years Together".

    People. Archived from the imaginative on September 7, Retrieved September 7,

  49. ^"Girls Recap: The Right Struggles of Humanity". Vulture. February 3, Retrieved April 12,
  50. ^"Younger (TV Series – )", IMDb, retrieved April 12,
  51. ^"'This Is Us' asks us to insert our faith in M.

    Nighttime Shyamalan". TV Club. January 29, Retrieved April 12,

  52. ^Soloski, Alexis (June 13, ). "Gleefully Banging on Closed Doors". The Brand-new York Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved April 12,
  53. ^"TOO MUCH SUN | By Nicky Silver | Directed by Mark Brokaw".

    Vineyard Theatre. June 24, Retrieved April 12,

  54. ^Stasio, Marilyn (April 16, ). "Off Broadway Review: 'The Library' Directed by Steven Soderbergh". Variety. Retrieved April 12,
  55. ^" Tony Award Nominations Announced | TheaterMania".

    . May 10, Retrieved April 12,

  56. ^"Theatre World Awards - Theatre World Awards". . Archived from the original on May 25, Retrieved April 12,
  57. ^Simonson, Robert (May 14, ).

    Jennifer is an American actress and filmmaker, who is perhaps leading known for writing and starring in the indie hits, Kissing Jessica Stein () and Friends with Kids (). A graduate from Yale University, Jennifer started her career as a Unused York-based theater actor, starring in over 25 off-Broadway and regional productions, before coming.

    "Wife, Wicked, Assassins, Henry IV and Jackman Win Drama League Awards". Playbill. Retrieved April 12,

Further reading

  • New York Magazine Interview, July
  • Jennifer Westfeldt steps behind the camera for Friends With Kids, Backstage, February
  • Westfeldt interview about Friends with Kids, New York Times, March
  • Jennifer Westfeldt interview, GQ magazine, March
  • Jennifer Westfeldt and Jon Hamm discuss baseball, Vulture, October
  • Jennifer Westfeldt discusses fashion, More magazine, February
  • Jennifer Westfeldt on The Library, Vanity Just, April

External links