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Merritt Wever
Merritt Wever 2010 cropped.jpg
Wever in 2010
Born
Merritt Carmen Wever

(1980-08-11) August 11, 1980 (age 44)
New York City, U.S.
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 and movies. Merritt has won important awards for her acting.

She played a cheerful young nurse named Zoey in the TV series Nurse Jackie from 2009 to 2015. She also starred as a brave widow in the Netflix miniseries Godless in 2017. Later, she played a detective in another Netflix crime miniseries called Unbelievable in 2019.

Merritt Wever won an Emmy Award in 2013 for her work on Nurse Jackie. She won another Emmy in 2018 for Godless. In 2020, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in Unbelievable.

She has also appeared in other TV series like Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007), New Girl (2013), and The Walking Dead (2015–2016). Merritt has also had supporting roles in films such as Michael Clayton (2007), Birdman (2014), and Marriage Story (2019).

About Merritt Wever

Merritt Wever was born in Manhattan, a part of New York City. Her mother, Georgia, raised her. Her mother is from Texas and is known for being a feminist and a political activist.

Merritt went to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. This school is famous for arts and performing arts. She also studied at Sarah Lawrence College.

Merritt Wever's Acting Journey

Merritt Wever Portrait cropped
Wever in 2010

Merritt Wever started her acting career in small, independent films. She also performed in theater plays, including "Smashing" and "Cavedweller". These were off-Broadway shows, meaning they were not in the main Broadway theater district.

She appeared in many feature films. Some of these include Into the Wild, Michael Clayton, and Signs.

Merritt has also been a guest star on several TV shows. These include New Girl, The Good Wife, and The Wire. She also had a regular role on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as a character named Suzanne.

Starring in Nurse Jackie

Merritt Wever is perhaps best known for her role as Zoey Barkow in the TV series Nurse Jackie. This show started in 2009. Zoey was a very cheerful and energetic nurse. She often made people laugh and was a good contrast to the main character, played by Edie Falco. Critics praised Merritt's performance in the show.

She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in Nurse Jackie in 2012 and 2013. She won the award in 2013. Her acceptance speech was very short and memorable. She just said, "Thanks so much. Thank you so much. I gotta go. Bye."

Other Major TV Roles

In 2016, Merritt Wever had a recurring role on AMC's The Walking Dead. She played Dr. Denise Cloyd. Her character left the show during the sixth season.

Wever then played a main role in the miniseries Godless in 2017. She played Mary Agnes McNue, a strong leader in a town mostly run by women. Merritt said she was a bit 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." She won an Emmy for this role in 2018.

In 2019, Wever starred in another Netflix miniseries called Unbelievable. She acted alongside Toni Collette and Kaitlyn Dever. This series was highly praised by critics. Merritt received her first Golden Globe Awards nomination for Best Actress for her work in this show.

In 2020, Merritt Wever began starring in the HBO comedy-thriller series Run. She played Ruby Richardson, opposite Domhnall Gleeson. The show ran for one season.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Alaska April Short film
1998 All I Wanna Do Maureen 'Momo' Haines
1998 Arresting Gena Tammy
1999 Adventures of Sebastian Cole, TheThe Adventures of Sebastian Cole Susan
2001 Series 7: The Contenders Lindsay Berns
2002 Signs Tracey Abernathy
2003 Season of Youth Anna
2003 Bringing Rain Monica Greenfield
2004 Hole in One, AA Hole in One Betty
2005 12 and Holding Debbie Poole
2007 Michael Clayton Anna Kaiserson
2007 Into the Wild Lori
2007 Neal Cassady Mountain Girl
2008 Righteous Kill
2009 Mr. Softie Gail
2009 Missing Person, TheThe Missing Person Mabel Page
2009 Messenger, TheThe Messenger Lara
2010 Greenberg Gina
2010 Tiny Furniture Frankie
2011 Strange Ones, TheThe Strange Ones Hotel Girl Short film
2014 Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Annie
2015 Meadowland Kelly
2016 The Last Face Marlee
2018 Irreplaceable You Mindy
2018 Charlie Says Karlene Faith
2018 Welcome to Marwen Roberta
2019 Marriage Story Cassie
2022 Midday Black Midnight Blue Beth
2023 Memory Olivia
TBA Untitled Christy Martin film Not yet released TBA
Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Blue River Lottie Howland Television film
1997 Law & Order Myra Episode: "Mad Dog"
2002 Law & Order Jennifer Taylor Episode: "American Jihad"
2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Hannah Price Episode: "Tomorrow"
2003 Wire, TheThe Wire Prissy 2 episodes: "Storm Warnings" and "Bad Dreams"
2004 Something the Lord Made Mrs. Francis Saxon Television film
2005 Quarterlife Bailey Television film
2005 Law & Order Sunshine Porter Episode: "Sects"
2005 NCIS Wendy Smith Episode: "Switch"
2006 Conviction Bridget Kellner Episode: "Pilot"
2006–2007 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Suzanne 12 episodes
2009–2015 Nurse Jackie Zoey Barkow Main role
2012 Good Wife, TheThe Good Wife Aubrey Gardner Episode: "After the Fall"
2013 New Girl Elizabeth 7 episodes
2013 Remember Sunday Lucy Gillenwater Television film
2015–2016 The Walking Dead Dr. Denise Cloyd 9 episodes
2017 Godless Mary Agnes McNue Main role
2019 Unbelievable Detective Karen Duvall Main role
2020 Run Ruby Richardson Main role
2021 Robot Chicken Mandy, Susan the Tauntaun (voice) Episode: "May Cause the Exact Thing You're Taking This to Avoid"
2022 Roar Elisa Episode: "The Woman Who Was Fed by a Duck"
2023 Tiny Beautiful Things Frances "Frankie" Pierce 7 episodes
2025 Severance Gretchen Season 2
TBA Lockerbie Filming
TBA The Gilded Age Monica O'Brien Season 3

Awards and Nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2010 Gotham Independent Film Awards Best Ensemble Performance Tiny Furniture Nominated
2012 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nurse Jackie Nominated
2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Won
2014 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Ensemble Birdman Won
2018 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Godless Won
2020 Independent Spirit Awards Robert Altman Award Marriage Story Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Unbelievable Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Drama Nominated
2023 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Tiny Beautiful Things Nominated

See also

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