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Marcia Gay Harden Biography

Birth Name:Marcia Gay Harden

Birth Place:La Jolla, California, United States

Profession Actress, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Named as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1990" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol․ 42
  • Received a medal of arts from the Texas Cultural Trust in 2011
  • Was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in 2005
  • Earned a masters of fine arts degree from New York University
  • Graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in theatre
  • Quote: "I was in love with theatre․ I was in love with the literature of it․ I was in love with the audience response of it, the craft of it, and the fact that you're taking the author's words and truly great ideas in the most beautifully strung language․"
  • Quote: "(On winning an Oscar for her role as Lee Krasner in "Pollock" [2000]) "Vegas had me at 12-to-1 odds․ I sure do wish I had bet on myself and made a little money․""
  • Quote: "The only thing that seemed to me I could do in such a way that no one else could was acting․ I thought, I can be a doctor, but there's going to be someone else who is just as good or better․ I can be a lawyer, which I still sometimes think I would love to be, but I think there's someone who can do it just as good or better․ So, being an actor, there will be people who can do it just as good or better, but I'll have my voice, and no one will have my voice․"
  • Often takes on the role of sensual characters

Awards

  • 1993CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1996NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 2000ACCA-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2000NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2001Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2001Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Female: nominated
  • 2001NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2003ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2003ACCA-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2003BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2003Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
  • 2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2003Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2003VVFP Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
  • 2003Bronze Wrangler-Television Feature Film: winner
  • 2004Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2004COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2004CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2004ICS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004INOCA-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004IOMA-Best Supporting Actress (Miglior attrice non protagonista): nominated
  • 2004Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: winner
  • 2007Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Female: nominated
  • 2007Fright Meter Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
  • 2009WIN Award-Outstanding Actress Mini-Series / Made for Television Movie: winner
  • 2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
  • 2016People's Choice Award-Favorite Actress in a New TV Series: nominated
  • 2019Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2020WIN Award-Actress Made For Television Movie / Limited Series: nominated
  • 2022OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2023Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2024OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated