Amy Ryan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amy Ryan
Ryan at the premiere of Wolfs in 2024
Born	Amy Beth Dziewiontkowski (1968-05-03) May 3, 1968 (age 57) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Eric Slovin ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	1
Awards	Full list

Amy Ryan (born Amy Beth Dziewiontkowski on May 3, 1968) is an American actress known for her work in movies, television, and theater. She chose her mother's maiden name, Ryan, as her professional stage name.

Ryan has received many awards for her acting. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the 2007 movie Gone Baby Gone. She has also been nominated for three Tony Awards, which are awards for excellence in live Broadway theater.

On television, she is well-known for playing Holly Flax in the comedy series The Office and Beadie Russell in the crime drama The Wire. More recently, she starred in the popular mystery-comedy show Only Murders in the Building.

Early Life

Ryan was born in the Flushing neighborhood of New York City. Her mother, Pamela, was a nurse, and her father, John, owned a trucking business. She has Polish, Irish, and English ancestry.

When she was a kid in the 1970s, she and her sister delivered the Daily News newspaper on their bikes. She attended a performing arts camp and later graduated from New York's High School of Performing Arts at age 17. Right after high school, she was hired for a national tour of the play Biloxi Blues and began her acting career.

Acting Career

Stage and Early Roles

Amy Ryan began her career acting in plays. She first appeared in an Off-Broadway show (a professional play in a smaller New York theater) in 1987. She made her Broadway debut in 1993 in a play called The Sisters Rosensweig.

She received her first Tony Award nomination in 2000 for the play Uncle Vanya. She earned a second nomination in 2005 for playing Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. In 2024, she was nominated for a third Tony Award for her leading role in Doubt: A Parable.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Ryan also appeared in many television shows. She had roles in popular series like ER, Law & Order, and became a main character in the crime drama The Wire from 2003 to 2008, playing Officer Beadie Russell.

Movie Breakthrough

Ryan in 2007

While Ryan had appeared in movies before, her role in the 2007 film Gone Baby Gone brought her worldwide attention. Her performance earned her a nomination for an Academy Award (or Oscar) for Best Supporting Actress. This role also won her awards from many film critic groups.

After this success, she appeared in major films like Changeling (2008), directed by Clint Eastwood, and Bridge of Spies (2015), starring Tom Hanks. She was also part of the cast of Birdman (2014), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Famous Television Roles and Recent Work

From 2008 to 2011, Ryan became a fan favorite for her role as Holly Flax on the NBC comedy series The Office. She played the quirky love interest for Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell.

In 2021, Ryan took on a main role in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. She acted alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. She has also appeared in other recent shows like Sugar (2024).

Her recent film work includes Beautiful Boy (2018), where she once again worked with Steve Carell, the mystery film Lost Girls (2020), and the comedy-horror film Beau Is Afraid (2023).

Personal Life

Ryan married writer and comedian Eric Slovin in 2011. They have one daughter, who was born in 2009.

Major Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Amy Ryan para niños