Maura Tierney | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tierney in 2018 | |
| Born | Maura Lynn Tierney[1] (1965-02-03)February 3, 1965 (age 61) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse | |
| Father | Joseph M. Tierney |
| Awards | Golden Globe Award Gracie Award |
Maura Lynn Tierney (born February 3, 1965)[2] is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on the sitcomNewsRadio (1995–1999),Abby Lockhart on the medical dramaER (1999–2009), and Helen Solloway on the mystery dramaThe Affair (2014–2019), the last of which won her aGolden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Tierney has also appeared in numerous films, includingPrimal Fear (1996),Liar Liar (1997),Primary Colors (1998),Insomnia (2002),The Iron Claw (2023), andTwisters (2024).
Tierney was born and raised in theHyde Park neighborhood[3] ofBoston, the eldest of three children in an Irish American Catholic family.[4] Her mother Pat (née James) is a real estate broker, while her father,Joseph M. Tierney, was a prominent Boston politician who served on theBoston City Council for 15 years.[5]
Tierney attendedMount Alvernia Academy Elementary School andNotre Dame Academy inHingham, Massachusetts, where she studied drama, which led to her appearance at the Boston Globe Drama Festival.[3] After graduation, she attendedNew York University, where she majored first in dance and then graduated with a degree in drama.[6]
After appearing in several plays, Tierney moved toLos Angeles in 1987, beginning with a role inDisney'smade-for-TV filmStudent Exchange.[7] Tierney's first starring role in a film was in a low-budgetindependent film calledDead Women in Lingerie, which was shot in 24 days.[8]
Tierney had a number of small roles in film and television and a co-starring role in704 Hauser, a short-lived 1994 spin-off ofAll in the Family. She first received regular national exposure with her leading role in the sitcomNewsRadio from 1995 to 1999. While part of theNewsRadio cast, she also starred in several successful films of the late 1990s and early 2000s such asPrimal Fear,Liar Liar,Primary Colors,Forces of Nature andWelcome to Mooseport.
AfterNewsRadio was canceled, Tierney decided not to star in another sitcom:
[W]henNewsRadio got canceled, (...) I thought, there's probably not gonna be something like [that show] again for me... So then, whenER called (...) that was a way to stay in [television] that would remain interesting for me.[9]
From 1999 to 2008, Tierney played NurseAbigail "Abby" Lockhart onER, a character that began as a guest appearance in November 1999 and then expanded in February 2000 to a full-time regular role as an ER nurse and later after completion of medical school, a doctor. She was reunited with herNewsRadio co-starKhandi Alexander, who at that time also had a recurring role onER. Within a year, Tierney's work onER earned her anEmmy Award nomination, a recognition she credits to a "juicy"story arc featuringSally Field as Lockhart's motherMaggie Wyczenski, who hasbipolar disorder.[7]
Tierney confirmed in April 2008 that she would be leavingER shortly after the beginning of the show's fifteenth season. In October 2008, she made her final regular appearance on the series after nearly 10 seasons on the show. She returned to make a cameo appearance in one additional episode later in 2009 toward the end of the final season.
Tierney's highest-profile film while onER was the 2002 filmInsomnia, which was directed byChristopher Nolan. That same year, she also starred inScotland, Pa. where she portrayed aLady Macbeth–like character written specifically for her by Billy Morrissette, her husband at the time. She was praised by critics for her performance. She also collaborated withNewsRadio writerJoe Furey for a special "Working with Joe Furey" featurette for Furey's filmLove and Support.
In 2004, Tierney won the second-season tournament ofCelebrity Poker Showdown againstLauren Graham, who had a guest role in the fourth season ofNewsRadio. Tierney returned to the stage in May 2006 in an appearance oppositeEric McCormack in theOff-Broadway premiere ofSome Girl(s).[10] She also appeared in the 2008 filmsSemi-Pro,Baby Mama,The Go-Getter andFinding Amanda. Tierney also played the role of Laurel in theOff-Broadway playThree Changes withDylan McDermott[11] from September 16 to October 4, 2008.
Tierney returned to television, playing the recurring character Kelly McPhee onRescue Me in 2009 and 2011 during its final season. She replacedJoely Richardson as the female lead ofThe Whole Truth after Richardson left to spend more time with her family.[12] Tierney's role in the series, a legal drama produced byJerry Bruckheimer, marked her return to television after recovering from breast surgery and cancer treatments.[13] ABC canceledThe Whole Truth after four episodes owing to low ratings.[14]
In 2010, Tierney became a member of the New York City–based experimental theatre companyThe Wooster Group.[15] She performed along withFrances McDormand in the Wooster Group's 2010 remounting ofNorth Atlantic, directed byElizabeth LeCompte. From 2016 to 2019, she played the feministGermaine Greer in The Town Hall Affair, also directed by LeCompte. Tierney herself conceived the idea for this play, which recreates a raucous debate on Women's Liberation thatNorman Mailer organized with prominent feminists in 1971.[16]
In February 2011, Tierney made her debut at theGate Theatre in theDublin premiere ofYasmina Reza'sGod of Carnage (translation byChristopher Hampton) alongsideArdal O'Hanlon.[17] Also in 2011, Tierney appeared in one episode ofThe Office asRobert California's wife.
In September 2012, Tierney began a recurring role on the legal dramaThe Good Wife, playing Maddie Hayward.[18] The role included scenes with the show's lead character Alicia Florrick, as played byJulianna Margulies; the two actors had previously worked together onER, Margulies like Tierney having previously played a lead character on that show.[19] In 2013, Tierney joined the cast ofThe Affair,[20] playing Helen Solloway, for which she won theGolden Globe Award in 2016.[21]
In 2018, Tierney co-starred withSteve Carell andTimothée Chalamet in the dark family drama filmBeautiful Boy, based onthe memoir of the same name byDavid Sheff.[22] In 2019, Tierney appeared inThe Report as "an intense, driven, somewhat vengeful Counterterrorism expert determined to get behind any program that promises to get the intel that will stop another attack from happening."[23] Also in 2019, Tierney originated the lead role of Elizabeth in the West Coast premiere ofJen Silverman's playWitch at theGeffen Playhouse, directed by Marti Lyons.[24]
In March 2020, Tierney joined the cast ofAmerican Rust.[25] In October 2020, Tierney joined the cast ofYour Honor.[26]
In 2023, she appeared inSean Durkin's wrestling dramaThe Iron Claw.[27] In 2024, she appeared inLee Isaac Chung'sTwisters, a sequel to the 1996 filmTwister.[28] That same year, Tierney joined the cast ofLaw & Order for season 24, portraying a new lieutenant replacingCamryn Manheim.[29]
In 1992, Tierney met actor-director Billy Morrissette[30][31][32] on the first day he arrived inLos Angeles. They married on February 1, 1993.[33] Morrissette directed, and both he and Tierney appear in, the 2001 filmScotland, PA.[34] The couple separated on March 7, 2006 and she filed for divorce in late July 2006 due toirreconcilable differences.[35] The couple's divorce was later finalized.[36]
On February 1, 2009, Tierney officiated at the wedding of her friend and formerER co-starParminder Nagra to photographer James Stenson.[37]
Tierney had surgery to remove atumor from her breast in 2009.[38] She had been cast inParenthood but schedule conflicts with hercancer treatments led her to leave and she was replaced byLauren Graham.[39] Tierney finished treatment and returned to work in a stage play in 2010.[40]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Dead Women in Lingerie | Molly Field | |
| The Linguini Incident | Cecelia | ||
| 1992 | White Sands | Noreen | |
| Fly by Night | Denise | ||
| 1993 | The Temp | Sharon Derns | |
| 1995 | Mercy | Simonet | |
| 1996 | Primal Fear | Naomi Chance | |
| 1997 | Liar Liar | Audrey Reede | |
| Broadway Brawler | N/a | Unfinished film | |
| 1998 | Primary Colors | Daisy Green | |
| The Thin Pink Line | Suzanne | ||
| 1999 | Forces of Nature | Bridget Cahill | |
| Oxygen | Detective Madeline Foster | ||
| Instinct | Lynn Powell | ||
| 2000 | Mexico City | Pam(voice) | |
| 2001 | Scotland, PA | Pat McBeth | Also producer |
| 2002 | Insomnia | Rachel Clement | |
| Rooftop Kisses | Denise | Short film | |
| The Nazi | Helen | ||
| 2003 | Melvin Goes to Dinner | Leslie | |
| 2004 | Welcome to Mooseport | Sally Mannis | |
| 2006 | Danny Roane: First Time Director | Herself | |
| Diggers | Gina | ||
| 2007 | The Go-Getter | Pets | |
| 2008 | Semi-Pro | Lynn | |
| Baby Mama | Caroline | ||
| Finding Amanda | Lorraine Mendon | ||
| 2012 | Nature Calls | Janine | |
| 2017 | Anything | Laurette Sachman | |
| 2018 | Beautiful Boy | Karen | |
| 2019 | The Report | Bernadette | |
| 2023 | The Iron Claw | Doris Von Erich | |
| 2024 | Twisters | Cathy Carter |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Student Exchange | Kathy Maltby | Television film |
| 1988 | Crossing the Mob | Michelle | |
| The Van Dyke Show | Jillian Ryan | 10 episodes | |
| 1989 | Family Ties | Darlene | Episode: "My Best Friend's Girl" |
| 1990 | Booker | Donna Cofax | Episode: "Reunion" |
| Flying Blind | Donna | Television film | |
| 1991 | Law & Order | Patricia 'Patti' Blaine | Episode: "Aria" |
| 1994 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis | N/a | Episode: "A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story" |
| 704 Hauser | Cherlyn Markowitz | Television miniseries | |
| Out of Darkness | Meg | Television film | |
| Roseanne | Kim | Episode: "Slepper" | |
| 1995–1999 | NewsRadio | Lisa Miller | 97 episodes |
| 1999–2009 | ER | Dr.Abby Lockhart | 189 episodes |
| 2000 | King of the Hill | Tanya(voice) | Episode: "Movin' On Up" |
| Sammy | Kathy Kelly(voice) | 9 episodes | |
| 2009 | Parenthood | Sarah Braverman | Unaired Television pilot; replaced byLauren Graham |
| 2009–2011 | Rescue Me | Kelly McPhee | 9 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | The Whole Truth | Kathryn Peale | 13 episodes |
| 2011 | The Office | Susan California | Episode: "Mrs. California" |
| 2012–2013 | The Good Wife | Maddie Hayward | 7 episodes |
| 2012 | Ruth & Erica | Erica | 10 episodes |
| 2014–2019 | The Affair | Helen Solloway | 53 episodes |
| 2018 | Electric Dreams | Irene Lee | Episode: "Safe & Sound" |
| 2021 | Your Honor | Fiona McKee | 4 episodes |
| 2021–2024 | American Rust | Grace Poe | 19 episodes |
| 2024–present | Law & Order | Lieutenant Jessica Brady | Main role |
| 2025–2026 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Some Girl(s) | Bobbi | Lucille Lortel Theatre |
| An Oak Tree | Father(replacement) | Barrow Street Theatre | |
| 2008 | Three Changes | Laurel | Playwrights Horizons |
| 2013 | Lucky Guy | Alice McAlary | Broadhurst Theatre |
I'm divorced, so something like monogamy I thought a lot about well before the show.
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