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Carrie Brownstein

Birth Name:
Carrie Rachel Grace Brownstein
Birth Place:
Seattle, Washington, United States
Profession
Soundtrack, Actress, Director, Writer, Producer, Music department
Carrie Brownstein

Fast Facts

  • Rolling Stone Magazine named her band Sleater-Kinney's song "Dig Me Out" as one of the 50 greatest guitar songs of all time, and in 2006 was named their highest-rated female guitarist of all time
  • Graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Sociolinguistics in 1997
  • Began playing guitar at the age of 15, learning chords from her classmate, Sunny Day Real Estate frontman Jeremy Enigk
  • Quote: "I'd gone through so many phases as a kid with my interests that my parents put their foot down with guitar․ So [it was]․․․the first thing that I had to save up my own money for․․․maybe that was the whole reason that I actually stuck with it․"
  • Quote: "Music has always been my constant, my salvation․․․music put a weapon in my hand and words in my mouth it backed me up and shielded me, it shook me and scared me and showed me the way; music opened me up to living and being and feeling․"
  • Best known as a former member of the riot-grrrl band Sleater-Kinney and as the co-creator, writer, and star of "Portlandia․"
  • Formed the band WILD FLAG in 2010 with fellow Sleater-Kinney member Janet Weiss, with their self-titled debut album coming out in September 2011
  • The majority of "Portlandia" is improvised, with only a basic script outlined a week before shooting starts, which itself often changes on set
  • Wrote for the NPR blog "Monitor Mix" from 2007 to 2010, which concerned her thoughts on the state of music and popular culture

Awards

  • 2012Gracie - Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy Series or Special:Winner
  • 2012Peabody AwardWinner
  • 2012Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series:Nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series:Nominated
  • 2013WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series:Winner
  • 2014Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series:Nominated
  • 2014WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series:Nominated
  • 2015Critics' Choice TV Award - Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award - Best Female Performance in a Fiction Program:Nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award - Best Female Performance in a Fiction Program:Nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety Sketch Series:Nominated
  • 2016Actor - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:Nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award - Best Female Performance in a Variety Program:Nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series:Nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety Sketch Series:Nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety Sketch Series:Nominated
  • 2018OFTA Television Award - Best Female Performance in a Variety Program:Nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety Sketch Series:Nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series:Nominated
  • 2018WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series:Nominated
  • 2019WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety Sketch Series:Nominated
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