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Holly Hunter Biography

Birth Name:
Holly Paige Hunter
Birth Place:
Conyers, Georgia, United States
Profession
Actor

Fast Facts

  • The youngest of seven children, she grew up on a farm in Georgia
  • Played piano, French horn and trumpet as a child
  • Starred as Helen Keller in a fifth-grade play
  • After college, she shared an apartment in New York with actress Frances McDormand
  • Has appeared in seven plays written by Beth Henley, including the 1981 Pulitzer-winning drama Crimes of the Heart and 1984's Miss Firecracker Contest
  • Hunter reprised her role in the 1989 film version
  • The two women met when they were stuck in a Manhattan elevator in 1982
  • An accomplished pianist; played all of the music in 1993's The Piano, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress
  • Gave birth to twin boys in January 2006 at age 47
  • Their father is her companion, actor Gordon MacDonald
  • Is deaf in her left ear

Awards

  • 2018Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Female: nominated
  • 2017Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2017Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2017Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2013Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2009Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2008Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2004BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2004Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2003Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2003Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2003Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2001Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2001Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2000Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1994Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 1994BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1994BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1993Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1993Cannes Film Festival-Best Actress: winner
  • 1993Australian Film Institute Awards-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1993New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actress: winner
  • 1993National Society of Film Critics-Best Actress: winner
  • 1993National Board of Review-Best Actress: winner
  • 1993Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special: winner
  • 1993Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1992Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actress: winner
  • 1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1988Berlin Film Festival-Silver Bear for Best Actress: winner
  • 1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 1987New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actress: winner
  • 1987National Board of Review-Best Actress: winner
  • 1987Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1986Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actress: winner

Relationships