Margo Martindale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Margo Martindale
Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival, May 2016
Born	(1951-07-18) July 18, 1951 (age 74) Jacksonville, Texas, U.S.
Education	Lon Morris College University of Michigan (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Bill Boals ​ (m. 1986)​
Children	1
Relatives	Billy Martindale (brother)

Margo Martindale (born July 18, 1951) is a famous American actress. You might know her from movies, TV shows, or even stage plays. She is a character actress, which means she is skilled at playing many different types of people.

She has won important awards for her acting. In 2011, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for playing Mags Bennett in the TV show Justified. She also won Emmys in 2015 and 2016 for her role as Claudia in the series The Americans.

Margo has appeared in many popular movies. Some of her well-known films include Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009), Secretariat (2010), and Instant Family (2018). She also voiced a character in the animated series BoJack Horseman. In 2004, she acted on Broadway in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and was nominated for a Tony Award.

Early Life and School Days

Margo Martindale was born in Jacksonville, Texas. She was the youngest of three children. Her father, William, owned a lumber company and was also a champion dog handler. Her mother's name was Margaret.

Her older brother, Billy Martindale, is a professional golfer. In high school, Margo was very active. She played golf, was a cheerleader, and acted in plays. Her classmates even voted her "Miss Jacksonville High School" in 1969.

After high school, she went to Lon Morris College. Later, she moved to the University of Michigan to continue her studies. During the summers, she also took acting classes at Harvard University. There, she performed on stage with other actors who would later become famous, like Christopher Reeve.

Acting Career

Getting Started on Stage and Screen

In the 1980s, Margo worked at the Actors Theatre in Kentucky. There, she became good friends with another actress, Kathy Bates. She also acted in plays in New York City. One of her first big roles was as Truvy Jones in the original production of Steel Magnolias.

She began appearing in movies and TV shows, often playing memorable supporting characters. She acted alongside famous stars like Susan Sarandon in Lorenzo's Oil (1992) and Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby (2004). She also appeared in movies with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock.

In 2004, she made her debut on Broadway in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She played the character Big Mama and was nominated for a Tony Award. She also had recurring roles in TV shows like Dexter and The Riches. She played Grandma Ruby in Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) and appeared in the horse-racing movie Secretariat (2010).

Famous Television Roles

In 2011, Margo joined the TV show Justified. She played Mags Bennett, the head of a family involved in illegal activities in rural Kentucky. Her performance was so good that she won a Primetime Emmy Award.

From 2013 to 2018, she played Claudia in the spy show The Americans. Claudia was a KGB agent handler during the Cold War. This role won her two more Emmy Awards. During this time, she also starred in the family comedy The Millers on CBS.

You might also recognize her voice from the animated show BoJack Horseman. She voiced a funny, fictional version of herself called "Character Actress Margo Martindale." She also had a main role as the family matriarch Audrey Bernhardt in the Amazon series Sneaky Pete.

In 2020, she played Bella Abzug, a real-life congresswoman, in the miniseries Mrs. America. This performance earned her another Emmy nomination. She continues to act in many popular shows, including Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021) and Mrs. Davis (2023).

Personal Life

Margo Martindale married musician Bill Boals in 1986. They have one daughter together.

Selected Acting Credits

Margo Martindale has been in hundreds of movies and TV shows. Here are some of her most notable roles.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Margo Martindale para niños