Greta Gerwig
Encyclopedia
Greta Celeste Gerwig is an American actress and filmmaker. Gerwig first came to prominence through her association with the mumblecore
film movement. She has collaborated with director Joe Swanberg
on several projects, including the film Nights and Weekends
, which the two co-wrote, co-directed and in which they co-starred.
Gerwig made her mainstream debut in 2011, co-starring alongside Russel Brand in Arthur
, directed by Jason Winer
.
, Gerwig is the daughter of Christine, a nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, a financial consultant and computer programmer. She has German ancestry. Gerwig graduated from Barnard College
, where she studied English and philosophy. Originally intending to become a playwright, Gerwig was cast in a minor role in Joe Swanberg's LOL
in 2006 while still studying at Barnard, and from there began a partnership with the director and an association with other mumblecore
filmmakers. Commenting on her work in Greenberg and other films, New York Times
critic A. O. Scott
described her as "ambassador of a cinematic style that often seems opposed to the very idea of style" and said that "Ms. Gerwig, most likely without intending to be anything of the kind, may well be the definitive screen actress of her generation . . . She seems to be embarked on a project, however piecemeal and modestly scaled, of redefining just what it is we talk about when we talk about acting." She made her first TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2010.
Gerwig lends voice work to China, IL
.
Mumblecore
Mumblecore is an American independent film movement that arose at the turn of the 21st century. Filmmakers associated with the movement include Andrew Bujalski, Lynn Shelton, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Aaron Katz, Joe Swanberg, and Barry Jenkins....
film movement. She has collaborated with director Joe Swanberg
Joe Swanberg
Joe Swanberg is an American independent filmmaker. He is a member of the "Mumblecore" movement. His films include Kissing on the Mouth , LOL , Hannah Takes the Stairs , Nights and Weekends and Alexander the Last...
on several projects, including the film Nights and Weekends
Nights and Weekends
Nights and Weekends is a 2008 American mumblecore film directed by and starring Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig. The film recounts a long-distance relationship between two people, one of whom lives in Chicago, the other in New York City...
, which the two co-wrote, co-directed and in which they co-starred.
Gerwig made her mainstream debut in 2011, co-starring alongside Russel Brand in Arthur
Arthur (2011 film)
Arthur is a 2011 comedy film written by Peter Baynham and directed by Jason Winer. It is a remake of the 1981 film written and directed by Steve Gordon...
, directed by Jason Winer
Jason Winer
Jason Winer is an American director, producer, writer, actor and comedian. He is best known for being one of the directors on the award-winning series Modern Family on ABC.Winer was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland...
.
Life and career
A native of Sacramento, CaliforniaSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, Gerwig is the daughter of Christine, a nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, a financial consultant and computer programmer. She has German ancestry. Gerwig graduated from Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
, where she studied English and philosophy. Originally intending to become a playwright, Gerwig was cast in a minor role in Joe Swanberg's LOL
LOL (film)
LOL is a 2006 independent mumblecore film by Joe Swanberg that examines the impact of technology on social relations.The movie follows three recent college graduates in Chicago: Tim, Chris and Alex. Tim watches the screen of his laptop as he makes out with his girlfriend. Chris conducts...
in 2006 while still studying at Barnard, and from there began a partnership with the director and an association with other mumblecore
Mumblecore
Mumblecore is an American independent film movement that arose at the turn of the 21st century. Filmmakers associated with the movement include Andrew Bujalski, Lynn Shelton, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Aaron Katz, Joe Swanberg, and Barry Jenkins....
filmmakers. Commenting on her work in Greenberg and other films, New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
critic A. O. Scott
A. O. Scott
Anthony Oliver Scott, known as A. O. Scott , is an American journalist and critic. He is a chief film critic for The New York Times, along with Manohla Dargis.-Background and education:...
described her as "ambassador of a cinematic style that often seems opposed to the very idea of style" and said that "Ms. Gerwig, most likely without intending to be anything of the kind, may well be the definitive screen actress of her generation . . . She seems to be embarked on a project, however piecemeal and modestly scaled, of redefining just what it is we talk about when we talk about acting." She made her first TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2010.
Gerwig lends voice work to China, IL
China, IL
China, IL is an animated television series for Cartoon Network's late night programming block, Adult Swim. The series is created by Brad Neely, and features Neely's existing characters from the China, IL webseries/special. Characters include Frank and Steve Smith, aka "The Professor Brothers," and...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | LOL LOL (film) LOL is a 2006 independent mumblecore film by Joe Swanberg that examines the impact of technology on social relations.The movie follows three recent college graduates in Chicago: Tim, Chris and Alex. Tim watches the screen of his laptop as he makes out with his girlfriend. Chris conducts... |
Greta | |
| 2007 | Hannah Takes the Stairs Hannah Takes the Stairs Hannah Takes the Stairs is a 2007 independent mumblecore film by Joe Swanberg.-Synopsis:The movie tells the story of Hannah, a recent college graduate living in Chicago who works as an intern at a production office, as she begins to develop crushes on Matt and Paul, two scriptwriters she works with... |
Hannah | Also co-writer |
| 2008 | Baghead Baghead Baghead is a 2008 comedy/horror film directed by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass. Its limited release began on 25 July 2008.-Plot:Four actors go to a cabin in the woods to write, direct, and act in a film that will jump-start their careers... |
Michelle | |
| Yeast | Gen | ||
| Nights and Weekends Nights and Weekends Nights and Weekends is a 2008 American mumblecore film directed by and starring Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig. The film recounts a long-distance relationship between two people, one of whom lives in Chicago, the other in New York City... |
Mattie | Also co-writer & co-director | |
| Quick Feet, Soft Hands | Lisa | short | |
| I Thought You Finally Completely Lost It | Greta | ||
| 2009 | You Wont Miss Me | ||
| The House of the Devil The House of the Devil The House of the Devil is a 2009 horror film written, directed, and edited by Ti West, starring Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, and Mary Woronov. It combines elements of both the slasher film and haunted house subgenres while using the "satanic panic" of the 1980s as a central plot element... |
Megan | ||
| Family Tree | Short | ||
| 2010 | Greenberg | Florence Marr | Nominated - Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Detroit Film Critics Society The Detroit Film Critics Society is a film critic organization in Detroit, Michigan, United States.-2007 Awards:The nominees for the Detroit Film Critics Society Awards 2007 were announced on 15 December and the winners were announced on 21 December 2007.-Best Actor:**George Clooney - Michael... Nominated - Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Breakthrough Performance Detroit Film Critics Society The Detroit Film Critics Society is a film critic organization in Detroit, Michigan, United States.-2007 Awards:The nominees for the Detroit Film Critics Society Awards 2007 were announced on 15 December and the winners were announced on 21 December 2007.-Best Actor:**George Clooney - Michael... Nominated - Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Breakthrough Actor/Actress Gotham Independent Film Awards 2010 The 20th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards were presented on November 29, 2010.-Best Feature:Winter's Bone*Black Swan*Blue Valentine*The Kids Are All Right*Let Me In-Best Ensemble Performance:Winter's Bone... Nominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Female Lead is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:... |
| Art House | Nora Ohr | ||
| Northern Comfort Northern Comfort Northern Comfort is a 2010 American improvisational film starring Rod Webber and Greta Gerwig. Shot primarily in three days for a paltry three thousand dollars, the film is the second of Webber's films based on a manifesto which has been likened to DIY Dogme films which use limited equipment and... |
Cassandra | ||
| The Dish & the Spoon | Rose | ||
| 2011 | No Strings Attached | Patrice | |
| Whit Stillman's Damsels in Distress | Violet | ||
| Arthur Arthur (2011 film) Arthur is a 2011 comedy film written by Peter Baynham and directed by Jason Winer. It is a remake of the 1981 film written and directed by Steve Gordon... |
Naomi Quinn | ||
| 2012 | Nero Fiddled | filming |