Biography
Her profile in film and on television was somewhat lower, though she worked steadily in bit and supporting parts for directors ranging from Steven Soderbergh with "Out of Sight" (1998) and "Solaris" (2002) and Oliver Stone with "World Trade Center (2006), as well as in countless television series. Her turn as the morally ambiguous mother of a sexually abused student in "Doubt" (2008) gained near universal acclaim from critics, as did her turn …
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Career Milestones
2012 | Played a determined teacher alongside Maggie Gyllenhaal in inner city school drama "Won't Back Down" |
2011 | Cast opposite Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock in the 9/11 drama "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," Stephen Daldry's feature adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's novel |
2011 | Earned critical raves for playing a maid in the early-1960s in the film adaptation of the bestseller "The Help" |
2010 | Co-starred with Julia Roberts in "Eat Pray Love," based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir; Roberts portrayed the author who, after a painful divorce, goes on a life-changing journey through Italy, India, and Indonesia |
2010 | Played a supporting role opposite Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in the action/comedy "Knight and Day" |
2010 | Joined Denzel Washington for the Broadway revival of August Wilson's "Fences" |
2009 | Cast as a pathologist in the thriller "State of Play" |
2009 | Appeared as a minister in Tyler Perry's "Medea Goes to Jail" |
2008 | Cast as Mrs. Miller in John Patrick Shanley's film adaptation of his play "Doubt" |
2007 | Cast in the short-lived ABC series "Traveler" as Agent Jan Marlow |
2006 | Played Fantasia's mother in the Lifetime TV-movie "Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story" |
2005 | Played the grandma in "Get Rich or Die Tryin,'" directed by Jim Sheridan and starring 50 Cent |
2004 | Cast in the short-lived CBS show "Century City" as lawyer Hannah Crane |
2004 | Starred in the off-Broadway production of "Intimate Apparel" |
2003 | Landed a recurring role on the NBC drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" |
2002 | Featured in the Todd Haynes directed "Far from Heaven," starring Julianne Moore |
2002 | Third collaboration with director Soderbergh, "Solaris" |
2002 | Cast in Denzel Washington's directorial debut "Antwone Fisher" |
2001 | Appeared in the ABC telecast of Oprah Winfrey's "Amy & Isabelle," an adaptation of Elizabeth Strout's acclaimed debut novel |
2001 | Portrayed Tonya in the Broadway production of August Wilson's "King Hedley II" |
2000 | Re-teamed with director Soderbergh to play a social worker in "Traffic" |
2000 | Played Nurse Lynnette Peeler in the short-lived CBS drama "City of Angels" |
1998 | Featured in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight" |
1998 | Cast as Cary Elwes' secretary in the HBO film "The Pentagon Wars" |
1996 | Made Broadway debut in August Wilson's "Seven Guitars"; earned a Tony nomination |
1996 | First TV role, a small part on an episode of "NYPD Blue" (ABC) |
1996 | Played a nurse in her film debut "The Substance of Fire" |
Awards
2011 | Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in The Help |
2011 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in The Help |
2011 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Help |
2011 | BAFTA Award for Leading Actress in The Help |
2011 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Help |
2011 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in The Help |
2010 | Tony Award for Actress (Play) |
2009 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Doubt |
2009 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Doubt |
2008 | Academy Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in Doubt |
2008 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Doubt |
2008 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress in Doubt |
2008 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in Doubt |
2008 | National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actress in Doubt |
2003 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female in Antwone Fisher |
2001 | Tony Award for Actress (Featured Role--Play) |