Alison Wright (born 12 July 1976) is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as Martha Hanson on the FX period spy drama series ''

The Americans ''The Americans'' is an American period spy drama television series created by Joe Weisberg that aired on the FX television network for six seasons from January 30, 2013, to May 30, 2018. Weisberg and Joel Fields also serve as showrunners a ...

'' (2013–2017), for which she received critical acclaim and earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2017. Wright's other notable roles were as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series ''

Sneaky Pete ''Sneaky Pete'' is an American Crime film, crime drama series created by David Shore and Bryan Cranston. The series follows Marius Josipović (Giovanni Ribisi), a released convict who adopts the identity of his cellmate, Pete Murphy, to avoid hi ...

'' (2015–2019), as Pauline Jameson in the FX docudrama series '' Feud'' (2017), and as Ruth Wardell in the

TNT Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...

dystopian thriller series ''

Snowpiercer ''Snowpiercer'' () is a 2013 post-apocalyptic science fiction action film based on the French climate fiction graphic novel ''Le Transperceneige'' by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette. The film was directed by Bong Joon-ho a ...

'' (2020–present). She also appeared in various films, including ''

The Nanny Diaries ''The Nanny Diaries'' is a 2002 novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, both of whom are former nannies. The book satirizes upper-class Manhattan society as seen through the eyes of their children's caregivers. Writing The writers were studen ...

'' (2007), '' The Accountant'' (2016), and '' Ask for Jane'' (2018).

Early life

Wright was born on 12 July 1976, in Sunderland,

Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear () is a metropolitan county in North East England, situated around the mouths of the rivers Tyne and Wear. It was created in 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972, along with five metropolitan boroughs of Gateshead, Newc ...

, where she was raised by her adoptive parents. She began dancing and acting at a young age. Wright studied at the prestigious

Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (originally the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute) is an acting school founded in 1969 by actor, director, and acting teacher Lee Strasberg. The Institute is located in Union Square on East 15th Street, ...

and

The Barrow Group The Barrow Group is a non-profit performing arts group located in New York City focused on empowering actors, writers, and directors through simple, clear, spontaneous storytelling. The company prioritizes accessibility, diversity, and excellence, ...

in New York City. She worked as a waitress while auditioning for roles.

Career

Wright made her acting debut in the comedy-drama film ''

'', which was released in 2007. This was followed by appearances in various short films. She made her stage debut as Molly Bhatt in the comedy play '' Rafta, Rafta...'' (2008), followed by a role in the play '' Marie and Bruce'' (2011), both at the Acorn Theatre. In 2013, Wright made her television debut in the FX period spy drama series ''

''. Her performance as Martha Hanson, a lonely

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

secretary who is manipulated into spying for the Russians, earned high critical praise. She was promoted to a series regular for the second season, which premiered in January 2014. In 2017, Wright received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her guest appearance in ''The Americans'' fifth season. The series ended after six seasons in 2018. From 2015 to 2019, Wright starred as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series ''

'', for which she garnered positive reviews. In 2016, Wright starred as Justine in the action thriller film '' The Accountant'' and as

Virginia Thomas Virginia "Ginni" Thomas ( Lamp; born February 23, 1957) is an American attorney and conservative activist. In 1987, she married Clarence Thomas, who became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1991. Her conservativ ...

in the HBO political thriller film '' Confirmation''. In 2017, she starred as Pauline Jameson, the assistant to Robert Aldrich, in the FX docudrama series '' Feud: Bette and Joan''. The series chronicles the rivalry between Hollywood actresses

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

and

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway theatre, Broadway. Crawford was si ...

during and after the production of '' What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?''. She also made her

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

debut as Jessie in the play ''

Sweat Perspiration, also known as sweating, is the production of fluids secreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Two types of sweat glands can be found in humans: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The eccrine sweat glands are distrib ...

'', which opened at Studio 54. In 2018, she had a starring role as Ada in the historical drama film '' Ask for Jane'' and as Emilia in a stage production of the

Shakespearean tragedy Shakespearean tragedy is the designation given to most tragedies written by playwright William Shakespeare. Many of his history plays share the qualifiers of a Shakespearean tragedy, but because they are based on real figures throughout the his ...

play '' Othello'' at

Delacorte Theater The Delacorte Theater is a 1,800-seat open-air theater in Central Park, in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is home to the Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park productions. Over five million people have attended more than 15 ...

. In 2019, she had a recurring role in the second season of psychological horror anthology series '' Castle Rock''. Wright starred as Valerie, a "kind-hearted local who explores the town’s evil history". In 2020, Wright began a starring role in the

post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller series ''

'' (2020–present), which is based on the 2013 film of the same name by Bong Joon-ho. She starred as Ruth Wardell in the series, a hospitality worker aboard the train who helps look after First Class passengers. Also that year, she made a guest appearance as Ms. Roswell, the gatekeeper to Ace Studios, in the

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...

period drama miniseries '' Hollywood''.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Alison 1976 births Living people People from Sunderland Actresses from Tyne and Wear Actors from County Durham Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute alumni 21st-century English actresses English film actresses English television actresses