Merritt Wever facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Merritt Wever
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Wever in 2010
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Merritt Carmen Wever
August 11, 1980 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Sarah Lawrence College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Merritt Carmen Wever (born August 11, 1980) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in popular TV shows like Nurse Jackie (2009–2015), The Walking Dead (2015–2016), and Godless (2017). She also appeared in Unbelievable (2019) and Severance (2025).
Merritt Wever has won several important awards for her acting. She received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on Nurse Jackie. She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in Godless. She was even nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in Unbelievable.
Besides these, Wever has acted in other TV series such as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007) and New Girl (2013). She has also had supporting roles in movies like Michael Clayton (2007), Birdman (2014), Welcome to Marwen (2018), and Marriage Story (2019).
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Early Life and Education
Merritt Carmen Wever was born on August 11, 1980, in Manhattan, New York City. Her mother, Georgia, raised her. Her mother is from Texas and is known as a feminist and political activist.
Wever attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, which is famous for arts and music. After high school, she went on to graduate from Sarah Lawrence College.
Acting Career Highlights
Merritt Wever started her acting journey in small, independent films. She also performed in theater plays, including Smashing and Cavedweller. These plays were performed off-Broadway, which means they were in smaller theaters in New York City, not the biggest ones on Broadway.
She appeared in many films, such as Into the Wild, Michael Clayton, and Signs. Wever also made guest appearances on several TV shows. These include New Girl, The Good Wife, and The Wire.
Starring in Nurse Jackie
Wever became widely known for her role as Zoey Barkow in the TV series Nurse Jackie. This show started in June 2009 on Showtime. Zoey was a cheerful and energetic nurse. She often provided funny moments alongside the main character, played by Edie Falco. Critics praised Wever's performance in the show.
She was nominated for an Emmy Award for Nurse Jackie in 2012 and 2013. She won the award in 2013 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Her acceptance speech was very short and memorable, showing her surprise and excitement.
Roles in The Walking Dead and Godless
In 2016, Wever had a recurring role in AMC's popular show The Walking Dead. She played Dr. Denise Cloyd. Her character's story in the sixth season caused a lot of discussion among fans on social media.
Wever then took on a main role in the miniseries Godless in 2017. She played Mary Agnes McNue, a strong leader in a town mostly run by women. Wever mentioned that she felt nervous about playing such a tough character. However, many critics loved her performance. Entertainment Weekly even wrote that "no one is more electric than the always extraordinary Merritt Wever" in the show. She won another Emmy Award for this role in 2018.
Unbelievable and Other Projects
In 2019, Wever starred in another Netflix miniseries called Unbelievable. This series was highly praised by critics. Wever received her first Golden Globe Awards nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for her role.
In 2020, Wever appeared with Domhnall Gleeson in the HBO comedy thriller series Run. The show ran for one season. She continues to take on interesting roles in both film and television.
Film Appearances
Merritt Wever has appeared in many films throughout her career. Here are some of them:
- 1998: All I Wanna Do as Maureen 'Momo' Haines
- 1999: The Adventures of Sebastian Cole as Susan
- 2002: Signs as Tracey Abernathy
- 2007: Michael Clayton as Anna Kaiserson
- 2007: Into the Wild as Lori
- 2010: Tiny Furniture as Frankie
- 2014: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as Annie
- 2018: Welcome to Marwen as Roberta
- 2019: Marriage Story as Cassie
- 2023: Memory as Olivia
Television Roles
Merritt Wever has also had many roles on television. Here are some of her notable appearances:
- 1997: Law & Order as Myra
- 2003: The Wire as Prissy (2 episodes)
- 2006–2007: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as Suzanne (12 episodes)
- 2009–2015: Nurse Jackie as Zoey Barkow (Main role)
- 2013: New Girl as Elizabeth (7 episodes)
- 2015–2016: The Walking Dead as Dr. Denise Cloyd (9 episodes)
- 2017: Godless as Mary Agnes McNue (Main role)
- 2019: Unbelievable as Detective Karen Duvall (Main role)
- 2020: Run as Ruby Richardson (Main role)
- 2023: Tiny Beautiful Things as Frances "Frankie" Pierce (7 episodes)
- 2025: Severance as Gretchen George (5 episodes)
Awards and Nominations
Merritt Wever has been recognized with several awards and nominations for her acting:
- Primetime Emmy Awards:
- Won: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Nurse Jackie (2013)
- Won: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Godless (2018)
- Golden Globe Awards:
- Nominated: Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for Unbelievable (2019)
- Critics' Choice Television Awards:
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Nurse Jackie (2014)
- Nominated: Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries for Unbelievable (2019)
- Independent Spirit Awards:
- Won: Robert Altman Award for Marriage Story (2020)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards:
- Nominated: Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series for Nurse Jackie (2013)
- Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association:
- Won: Best Ensemble for Birdman (2014)
See also
In Spanish: Merritt Wever para niños
