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Cherry Jones (born November 21, 1956) is an American actress. She started her career in theater as a founding member of the American Repertory Theater in 1980 before transitioning into film and television. Celebrated for her dynamic roles on stage and screen, she has received various accolades, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards, as well as nominations for an Olivier Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Key Information

Jones made her Broadway debut in the 1987 play Stepping Out. She went on to receive two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play for The Heiress in 1995 and Doubt in 2005. Her other Tony-nominated roles were in Our Country's Good in 1991, A Moon for the Misbegotten in 2000, and The Glass Menagerie in 2014. Her most recent Broadway performance was in The Lifespan of a Fact in 2018.

She is also known for her work on television with breakthrough roles as Barbara Layton in The West Wing and President Allison Taylor in 24, the latter of which won her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2009. She received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Transparent in 2015 and earned two Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her roles in the Hulu drama series The Handmaid's Tale in 2019 and the HBO drama series Succession in 2020.

Her film appearances include The Horse Whisperer (1998), Erin Brockovich (2000), The Perfect Storm (2000), Signs (2002), The Village (2004), Amelia (2009), The Beaver (2011), A Rainy Day in New York (2019), and The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021).

Early life and education

[edit]

Jones was born in Paris, Tennessee. Her mother was a high school teacher, and her father owned a flower shop.[2] Her parents were very supportive of her theatrical ambitions, encouraging her interest by sending her to classes with local drama teacher, Ruby Krider.[3] Jones takes great pains to credit her high school speech teacher, Linda Wilson, with her first real preparatory work.[4] She is a 1978 graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. While at CMU, she was one of the earliest actors to work at City Theatre, a fixture of Pittsburgh theatre.[5]

Career

[edit]

Most of her career has been in theater, beginning in 1980 as a founding member of the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[6]

Her Broadway performances include Lincoln Center's 1995 production of The Heiress and also a 2005 production of John Patrick Shanley's play Doubt at the Walter Kerr Theatre. For both roles, she earned a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play.

Other Broadway credits include Nora Ephron's play Imaginary Friends (with Swoosie Kurtz), the 2000 revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten, and Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good, for which she earned her first Tony nomination.[7] She is considered to be one of the foremost theater actresses in the United States.[8] In 1994, she also appeared in the Broadway run of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika as the Angel, replacing Ellen McLaughlin, who had originated the role.

She has narrated the audiobook adaptations of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series including, Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, Farmer Boy, On the Banks of Plum Creek, By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, and Little Town on the Prairie. In recent years, Jones has ventured into feature films. Her screen credits include Cradle Will Rock, The Perfect Storm, Signs, Ocean's Twelve, and The Village.[citation needed]

Jones played President Taylor on the Fox series 24, a role for which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.[9] She played the role in the seventh season, from January to May 2009, as well as eighth season, which aired from January to May 2010.[10]

In 2012, Jones starred in the NBC drama series Awake as psychiatrist Dr. Judith Evans.

Also in 2012, she portrayed Amanda Wingfield in the Loeb Drama Center's revival of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie alongside Zachary Quinto, Brian J. Smith and Celia Keenan-Bolger.[11]

In 2014, Cherry Jones was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.[12]

In 2015 and 2016 Jones had a recurring role on the Primetime Emmy Award-winning Amazon comedy-drama series Transparent in its second and third seasons. She was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for her work in the 2015 season.

In 2016, she appeared in "Nosedive", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.[13]

In 2018, Jones played Holly, the feminist mother to June/Offred in The Handmaid's Tale. She won an Emmy for her performance.[14]

In 2019, Jones played the role of a grouchy psychic and tarot card reader in the comedy Wine Country,[15] directed by Amy Poehler.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1995, when Jones accepted her first Tony Award, she thanked Mary O'Connor,[16] with whom she had an 18-year relationship.[17][18]

She started dating Sarah Paulson in 2004. When she accepted her Best Actress Tony in 2005 for her work in Doubt, she thanked "Laura Wingfield", the Glass Menagerie character being played in the Broadway revival by Paulson.[19] In 2007, Paulson and Jones declared their love for each other in an interview with Velvetpark at Women's Event 10 for the LGBTQ Center of New York.[20] Paulson and Jones ended their relationship amicably in 2009.[21]

In mid-2015, Jones married filmmaker Sophie Huber.[22]

Acting credits

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Light of Day Cindy Montgomery
The Big Town Ginger McDonald
1992 Housesitter Patty
1995 Polio Water Virginia Short film
1997 Julian Po Lucy
1998 The Horse Whisperer Liz Hammond
1999 Cradle Will Rock Hallie Flanagan
2000 Erin Brockovich Pamela Duncan
The Perfect Storm Edie Bailey
2002 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Buggy Abbott
Signs Officer Paski
2004 The Village Mrs. Clack
Ocean's Twelve Molly Star/Mrs. Caldwell
2005 Swimmers Julia Tyler
2009 Amelia Eleanor Roosevelt
Mother and Child Sister Joanne
2011 The Beaver Vice President
New Year's Eve Mrs. Rose Ahern
2013 Days and Nights Mary
2015 Knight of Cups Ruth
I Saw the Light[23] Lillie Williams
2016 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Geri Taub
2017 The Party Martha
2018 Boy Erased Dr. Muldoon
2019 Wine Country Lady Sunshine
A Rainy Day in New York Mrs. Welles
Motherless Brooklyn Gabby Horowitz
Our Friend Faith Pruett
2021 The Eyes of Tammy Faye Rachel LaValley
2022 The Sky Is Everywhere Gram Walker
TBA The Steel Harp TBA Post-production

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Alex: The Life of a Child Tina Crawford Television film
1987 Spenser: For Hire Tracy Kincaid Episode: "Sleepless Dream"
1992 Loving Frankie Unknown episodes
1993 TriBeCa Tough Woman Episode: "The Loft"
1999 Murder in a Small Town Mimi Barnes Television film
The Lady in Question
2000 Cora Unashamed Lizbeth Studevant
2001 What Makes a Family Sandy Cataldi
Frasier Janet Episode: "Junior Agent"
2002 American Experience Narrator Episode: "Miss America"
2004 The West Wing Barbara Layton Episode: "Eppur Si Muove"
2004–2005 Clubhouse Sister Marie 3 episodes
2008 24: Redemption President-Elect Allison Taylor Television film
2009–2010 24 President Allison Taylor Main role (season 7–8); 44 episodes
2012 Awake Dr. Judith Evans 11 episodes
2015–2019 Transparent Leslie Mackinaw 12 episodes
2016 Mercy Street Dorothea Dix 2 episodes
11.22.63 Marguerite Oswald 5 episodes
Black Mirror Susan Episode: "Nosedive"
2017 American Crime Laurie Ann Hesby 4 episodes
2018 Portlandia Ms. Mayor Episode: "Rose Route"
2018–2025 The Handmaid's Tale Holly Maddox 5 episodes
2019 Chimerica Mel Kincaid 4 episodes
2019–2023 Succession Nan Pierce 3 episodes
2020 Defending Jacob Joanna Klein 8 episodes
Close Enough (voice) Episode: "Robot Tutor/Golden Gamer"
2022 Five Days at Memorial Susan Mulderick 7 episodes
2023–2024 Velma Victoria Jones (voice) 11 episodes
2023 Poker Face Laura Episode: "The Orpheus Syndrome"
Extrapolations President Elizabeth Burdick Episode: "2059: Face of God"
2025 Foundation Ambassador Quent Season 3

Theater

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue
1983 The Philanthropist Liz
1984 The Ballad of Soapy Smith Kitty Chase
1985–1996 The Importance of Being Earnest Cecily Cardew
1987 Claptrap Sarah Littlefield
1987 Stepping Out Lynne
1987 Tartuffe Dorine Portland Stage Company (Maine)
1988 Macbeth Lady Macduff
1991 Our Country's Good Reverend Johnson/Liz Morden
1991 Light Shining in Buckinghamshire N/a
1992 The Baltimore Waltz Anna
1992 Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) Constance Ledbelly
1993–1994 Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Various replacements Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway
1993–1994 Angels in America: Perestroika Various replacements
1993 And Baby Makes Seven Anna
1993 Desdemona Bianca
1995 The Heiress Catherine Sloper Cort Theatre, Broadway
1996 The Night of the Iguana Hannah Jelkes Roundabout Theatre Company
1997–1998 Pride's Crossing Mabel Tidings/Bigelow Lincoln Center
1999 Tongue of a Bird Maxine The Public Theater
2000 A Moon for the Misbegotten Josie Hogan Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway
2001 Major Barbara Barbara Undershaft American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2002–2003 Imaginary Friends Mary McCarthy Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
2003 Flesh and Blood Mary Stassos New York Theatre Workshop
2005–2006 Doubt Sister Aloysius Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway
2006 Faith Healer Grace Booth Theatre, Broadway
2010 Mrs. Warren's Profession Mrs. Kitty Warren American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2013–2014 The Glass Menagerie Amanda Wingfield Booth Theatre, Broadway
2014 When We Were Young and Unafraid Agnes Manhattan Theatre Club
2017 The Glass Menagerie Amanda Wingfield Duke of York's Theatre, West End
2018 The Lifespan of a Fact Emily Studio 54, Broadway
2024 The Grapes of Wrath Ma Joad Lyttleton Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Cherry Jones

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cherry Jones

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from Grokipedia
Cherry Jones (born November 21, 1956) is an American actress specializing in theater, with significant contributions to television and film. Born in Paris, Tennessee, she began her professional career as a founding member of the American Repertory Theater in 1980 and made her Broadway debut in 1987. Her work is characterized by versatile portrayals of complex characters, earning her recognition as a leading stage performer. Jones has achieved prominence through two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play, winning for the 1995 revival of and the 2005 production of . In television, she secured three , including one for her role as President in the series 24. Other notable roles include Dr. Judith Evans in and appearances in films such as Signs (2002) and The Village (2004). She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2014. Recent performances include roles in Succession and The Handmaid's Tale, the latter earning her Emmy nominations as recently as 2025. Jones maintains a strong theater focus, with five Tony nominations overall, underscoring her enduring impact on American drama.

Early Life and Education

Upbringing and Formative Influences

Cherry Jones was born on November 21, 1956, in Paris, Tennessee, a small town in Henry County known for its rural character and annual World's Biggest Fish Fry. Her mother, Joan Jones (née Cherry), served as a high school English and American literature teacher, educating over 3,500 students across her 30-year career before retiring in 1989, and her influence emphasized literary appreciation and verbal expression in the household. Her father owned and operated a local flower shop, providing a practical, community-oriented family environment rooted in small-town Southern commerce. The family included a younger sister, who later became an accountant in Nashville. From childhood, Jones exhibited a tomboyish energy, roaming outdoors with a dog named and improvising dramatic scenarios in the woods near her home, enacting roles ranging from and cowboys in mock battles to Shakespearean characters like . These solitary yet vivid play sessions, often inspired by books and imagination rather than formal instruction, marked her initial foray into performance, fostering an innate affinity for and character embodiment amid the constraints of a conservative rural setting. She has reflected on recognizing her early in life, navigating in a context where such awareness could isolate amid prevailing social norms, though her family's support mitigated overt conflict. Her parents played a pivotal role in nurturing her theatrical inclinations, actively encouraging participation in local and regional opportunities, including a formative summer theater program at the that affirmed her vocational path. Joan's background in likely instilled a deep reverence for narrative craft, while the family's emphasis on over conventional expectations allowed Jones to channel her energetic, performative tendencies without suppression, setting the foundation for her professional discipline in an era when regional theater access remained limited. This upbringing blended Southern practicality with unorthodox artistic freedom, shaping her resilience and commitment to authentic character exploration.

Academic Training

Cherry Jones received her formal acting training at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, enrolling directly after high school and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama in 1978. During her time as a student in Pittsburgh, she became one of the earliest performers to work with the City Theatre Company, gaining practical experience alongside her coursework. This intensive conservatory-style program emphasized rigorous performance techniques, which Jones has credited with shaping her foundational approach to theater. No additional postgraduate academic training is documented in her career trajectory, as she transitioned promptly to professional repertory work post-graduation.

Career

Early Theater Work and Broadway Debut

Jones relocated to in the summer of 1978 following her graduation from , intent on establishing a career in theater. In 1980, she joined the (A.R.T.) in , as a founding member, where she performed throughout much of the 1980s in an array of classical and modern works. Her early roles at A.R.T. encompassed productions by playwrights such as Shakespeare, Chekhov, Molière, Brecht, Shaw, and Federico García Lorca, including Three Sisters, Sganarelle, The King Stag, As You Like It, King Lear, and Twelfth Night opposite Diane Lane. These performances honed her versatility across ensemble casts and experimental stagings under artistic director Robert Brustein, earning her reputation as a dedicated ensemble player in regional theater. Jones made her Broadway debut in late 1986—previews leading to the official 1987 opening—in Richard Harris's Stepping Out at the , portraying Lynne, a shy tap-dancing student in a about an amateur class. The production, directed by and starring , ran for 361 performances, marking Jones's transition from regional stages to New York commercial theater amid a sparse era of only about six Broadway shows running at the time of her arrival.

Peak Theater Achievements and Tony Wins

Cherry Jones reached the height of her Broadway acclaim with two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play, awarded for performances that showcased her command of complex, introspective characters in period dramas and contemporary moral dilemmas. Her first win came in 1995 for portraying the reclusive Catherine Sloper in the revival of The Heiress at the Cort Theatre, a role that highlighted her ability to convey emotional restraint and quiet intensity in Ruth and Augustus Goetz's adaptation of Henry James's Washington Square. The production, directed by Michael Blakemore, ran for 340 performances following its March 9, 1995, opening and earned widespread praise for Jones's nuanced depiction of a woman navigating familial manipulation and personal longing. Building on this success, Jones's second Tony arrived in 2005 for her role as the steadfast principal Sister Aloysius Beauvier in John Patrick Shanley's original drama Doubt: A Parable, which transferred to Broadway after premiering at the Manhattan Theatre Club on October 23, 2004. In the play, Jones embodied a nun grappling with suspicion of child abuse by a priest, delivering a performance marked by unyielding conviction and subtle vulnerability that anchored the production's exploration of certainty versus ambiguity. The Broadway run at the Royale Theatre (now Bernard B. Jacobs) extended over 500 performances, solidifying Doubt's status as a critical and commercial hit. These Tony-winning roles capped a series of high-profile Broadway engagements that underscored Jones's versatility in lead parts, including Tony-nominated turns as a in Timberlake Wertenbaker's (1991) and as the tormented Mary Tyrone in Eugene O'Neill's (2000 revival). Her work during this era, spanning the late 1980s to mid-2000s, established her as a premier stage actress capable of sustaining long runs and drawing audiences to intellectually demanding plays, with and representing the pinnacles of her theater career in terms of awards recognition and cultural impact.

Expansion into Film and Television

Cherry Jones entered the film industry in 1998 with the role of Liz Hammond in The Horse Whisperer, directed by Robert Redford, marking her screen debut after establishing a theater career. She followed this with the portrayal of Hallie Flanagan, the director of the Federal Theatre Project, in Cradle Will Rock (1999). In 2000, Jones took on supporting parts in two high-profile productions: Pamela Duncan, a sympathetic neighbor, in Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich, and Edie Bailey, the wife of a fisherman, in Wolfgang Petersen's The Perfect Storm. These roles showcased her versatility in dramatic ensemble casts. Her film work continued into the early 2000s with Officer Paski in M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002), a tense science-fiction thriller. Jones collaborated again with Shyamalan as Mrs. Clack in The Village (2004), contributing to the film's isolated community dynamic. That year, she also appeared as Molly Star/Mrs. Caldwell in Steven Soderbergh's , adding to her repertoire of character roles in blockbuster heists. On television, Jones made early guest appearances, including on Frasier, before narrating an episode of American Experience in 2002. Her breakthrough came with Barbara Layton on The West Wing in 2004, a recurring role that highlighted her authoritative presence. She also played Sister Marie in the short-lived series Clubhouse (2004–2005). The role of President Allison Taylor on 24, starting in 2008, solidified her television stature, earning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the seventh season in 2009.

Recent Roles and Projects (2010s–2025)

In 2010, Jones starred as the title character in a revival of George Bernard Shaw's at the American Airlines Theatre, portraying a Victorian-era owner navigating moral and economic dilemmas. Her performance earned critical praise for its sharp wit and complexity. Later that decade, she took on Amanda Wingfield in the 2014 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams's , directed by , which garnered her a Tony Award nomination for in a Play. Jones's interpretation emphasized the character's desperate fragility amid economic hardship. Jones returned to Broadway in 2018 for at , playing editor Emily alongside and in a play exploring truth versus narrative in . The production, which ran from October 2018 to January 2019, highlighted her ability to convey intellectual rigor and exasperation in debates over factual accuracy. On television, Jones portrayed Nan Pierce, the matriarch of the fictional Pierce Global Media empire, in HBO's Succession during seasons 2 (2019) and 4 (2023), depicting a principled yet outmaneuvered media owner resisting a corporate takeover. Her role underscored tensions between journalistic integrity and family legacy. In Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, she played Holly Maddox, the estranged mother of protagonist June Osborne, across multiple seasons starting in 2018, earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2019. Jones received another Emmy nomination in the same category in 2025 for her work in the series. Additional television appearances included Laurie Ann Hesby in ABC's American Crime (2017), Mel Kincaid in Showtime's Chimerica (2019), and Ambassador Quent in Apple's Foundation (2021–present). In film, Jones appeared as the mother in Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York (2019), followed by supporting roles in Motherless Brooklyn (2019) as a political aide, Wine Country (2019) in the ensemble comedy, and The Party (2017) as Martha, a troubled academic at a dinner gathering. She played Faith Pruett in Our Friend (2019, released 2021), portraying a friend supporting a family through illness, and Helmsley in The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021), depicting the televangelist scandal's periphery. Later projects included Gram Walker in The Sky Is Everywhere (2022), a coming-of-age drama, and Loie Fuller in the biographical Obsessed with Light (2023). These roles demonstrated her versatility in both dramatic and lighter fare, often as authoritative maternal figures.

Acting Credits

Selected Theater Roles

Cherry Jones received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Liz Morden and other convict roles in the 1991 Broadway production of Our Country's Good at the Nederlander Theatre, directed by Max Stafford-Clark. She achieved her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1995 for playing Catherine Sloper in the Broadway revival of The Heiress at the Cort Theatre, a role that showcased her ability to convey emotional depth in Ruth and Augustus Goetz's adaptation of Henry James's Washington Square. In 2000, Jones earned a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Play as the fiery Josie Hogan opposite in Eugene O'Neill's at the , a revival that ran for 261 performances. Her second Tony win came in 2005 for Best Actress in a Play as the resolute Sister Aloysius Beauvier in John Patrick Shanley's , which originated at Manhattan Theatre Club's space in 2004 before transferring to Broadway's , where it played 525 performances. Jones portrayed the manipulative Mrs. Warren in the 2010 Broadway revival of George Bernard Shaw's at the American Airlines Theatre, earning a Drama Desk Award for her commanding performance in the production. In the 2013 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams's at the , she played Amanda Wingfield, receiving Tony and Drama Desk nominations for her depiction of the domineering Southern matriarch. More recently, in 2018, Jones appeared as in the Broadway premiere of at , engaging with themes of truth and journalism opposite and .

Film Roles

Jones made her film debut in (1987), portraying Cindy, the sister of the protagonist played by . She followed with supporting parts in (1992) as Kathy Davis and The Ice Storm (1997) as Dot Halford. In The Horse Whisperer (1998), Jones played Liz Hammond, a horse owner seeking help for her injured animal from the titular character. Her performance contributed to the film's depiction of rural recovery and human-animal bonds. She also appeared in Cradle Will Rock (1999) as a member of the ensemble cast surrounding the historical . Jones portrayed Pamela Duncan, a Pacific Gas & Electric customer affected by contamination, in Erin Brockovich (2000). That year, she also played Edie Bailey, a crew member on the Mistral, in The Perfect Storm. Her role as Officer Caroline Paski in Signs (2002), directed by , involved investigating crop circles and alien sightings alongside Mel Gibson's character. Shyamalan subsequently cast her as Mrs. Clack, a villager in the isolated community, in The Village (2004). In (2004), she appeared as Molly Star, also known as Mrs. Caldwell, in a brief but memorable con-artist sequence. Later films include Amelia (2009), where Jones depicted , advisor and friend to aviator . She played Ginger, a company executive, in The Beaver (2011). In (2019), Jones portrayed Gabby Horowitz, a tough political figure in Edward Norton's noir adaptation. More recent roles feature Jones as Rachel, Tammy Faye Bakker's mother, in The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021), and Gram Walker, the grandmother in (2022).
YearFilmRole
1987Cindy
1998The Horse WhispererLiz Hammond
2000Pamela Duncan
2000The Perfect StormEdie Bailey
2002SignsOfficer Caroline Paski
2004The VillageMrs. Clack
2009AmeliaEleanor Roosevelt
2011The BeaverGinger
2019Gabby Horowitz
2021The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Television Roles

Jones first gained notice on television in the NBC political drama The West Wing, portraying Republican congressional candidate Barbara Layton across three episodes in 2002 and 2003. Her most prominent television role arrived in 2008 as U.S. President Allison Taylor on the Fox action series 24, a part she originated in the television film 24: Redemption and continued through seasons 7 and 8, appearing in 48 episodes until 2010. For this performance, depicting a principled leader navigating national security crises, Jones won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2009. Following 24, Jones took the recurring role of Dr. Judith Evans, a , in the supernatural drama , which aired its single 13-episode season in 2012. She later appeared in supporting capacities in limited series such as the adaptation (2016), based on Stephen King's novel, and the Apple TV+ miniseries (2020), where she played defense attorney Joanna Klein across all eight episodes. In prestige cable and streaming projects, Jones guest-starred as Holly Maddox, a former educator aiding the protagonist's daughter, in two episodes of Hulu's in 2018, earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She recurred as Nan Pierce, the widowed matriarch of a competing , in HBO's Succession starting in 2018, with appearances spanning multiple seasons amid the Roy family's power struggles. More recently, Jones voiced Victoria in the animated series Velma (2023) and portrayed Ambassador Quent in Apple TV+'s Foundation (2021–present), drawing on her stage-honed intensity for roles in expansive sci-fi narratives.

Awards and Nominations

Tony Awards

Cherry Jones has earned five nominations for the , the highest honor in American theater, with two wins in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Play. Her victories came for leading roles that showcased her command of complex, introspective characters in revivals of classic works, highlighting her precision in dramatic delivery and emotional depth. These achievements underscore her status as a premier stage actress during the and , amid a career marked by selective Broadway engagements. Her first Tony recognition arrived in 1991 as a nominee for Best Performance by a Featured in a Play for , where she portrayed dual roles including Liz Morden, a convict in the set during Australia's founding as a . This transfer to Broadway marked an early breakthrough, though she did not win against competitors like .
YearCategoryProductionRoleResult
1991Best Featured Actress in a PlayOur Country's GoodLiz Morden / Reverend JohnsonNominated
1995Best Actress in a PlayThe HeiressCatherine SloperWon
2000Best Actress in a PlayA Moon for the MisbegottenJosie HoganNominated
2005Best Actress in a PlayDoubtSister Aloysius BeauvierWon
2014Best Actress in a PlayThe Glass MenagerieAmanda WingfieldNominated
The 1995 win for , a revival of the 1947 play adapted from Henry James's Washington Square, celebrated Jones's nuanced depiction of the shy, manipulated Catherine Sloper, earning praise for transforming vulnerability into quiet resolve over the production's March 9 to August 26, 1995, run at the Cort Theatre. Her 2005 triumph in , John Patrick Shanley's original drama, rewarded her riveting turn as the stern principal Sister Aloysius, navigating moral ambiguity in a 1964 ; the play ran from March 31, 2005, to January 21, 2007, at the John Goldstein Theatre. Subsequent nominations in 2000 for the Eugene O'Neill revival and 2014 for Tennessee Williams's further affirmed her affinity for psychologically layered female leads, though awards eluded her in those cycles.

Emmy Awards and Nominations

Cherry Jones has received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, securing three victories, primarily for dramatic television roles. Her wins span supporting and guest categories, reflecting acclaim for authoritative, nuanced performances in high-stakes narratives. In 2009, she won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for portraying President Allison Taylor across multiple episodes of the Fox series 24, where her character navigated national security crises during season 7. This marked her first Emmy win, highlighting her transition from stage to sustained television presence. Jones claimed Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 for her role as Holly Osborne, the troubled mother of protagonist June Graham, in season 3 of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale. The performance, centered on a single emotionally charged episode, earned praise for its raw vulnerability amid the dystopian storyline. Her third win came in 2020 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Series, again in the guest category, for playing Nan Pierce in the Succession episode "," depicting tense family power dynamics in the media empire. This consecutive guest win underscored her efficiency in impactful limited appearances. Beyond these victories, Jones earned nominations in 2023 for another Succession guest role and in 2025 for her return to in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Series category, positioning her as a repeat contender in prestige dramas. These bids contribute to her overall record of three wins from six nominations.

Other Recognitions

Cherry Jones has garnered multiple theater awards beyond her Tony wins, including three Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Play: for in 1995, Pride's Crossing in 1998, and in 2005. She also received two , one for her performance in in 2005 and another for The Baltimore Waltz earlier in her career. Additional stage honors include two , a Lucille Lortel Award for , and two Joseph Jefferson Awards recognizing her regional theater work. In film and television, Jones earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for her role in Transparent in 2015. She received the Point Courage Award from the Point Foundation in 2009, honoring her advocacy for LGBTQ+ equality as an openly actress. These recognitions underscore her versatility across stage and screen, with theater accolades comprising the majority due to her foundational career in live performance.

Personal Life

Relationships and Privacy

Cherry Jones has been married to Swiss filmmaker and director Sophie Huber since mid-2015. The couple met several years prior through a shared rental house in , with Jones humorously noting in interviews that it felt akin to discovering each other via an online listing. Despite initial reluctance from both toward marriage—"Neither of us wanted to get married! Ever!" Jones stated in a 2024 interview—the union proceeded, likely influenced by practical considerations such as legal protections or residency. Prior to her marriage to , Jones was in a relationship with actress from 2004 to 2009, which ended amicably. Following the breakup, Jones described experiencing singledom for the first time in her adult life after nearly three decades in partnerships, expressing appreciation for the independence. Earlier reports suggest a long-term relationship with Mary O'Connor spanning 1986 to 2004, though details remain sparse and unconfirmed in major interviews. Jones maintains significant privacy around her personal affairs, rarely delving into specifics beyond occasional reflections in career-focused profiles. She has emphasized mutual respect and low-key compatibility in her marriage to Huber, avoiding public displays or extensive media commentary on family dynamics. This reticence aligns with her broader approach, prioritizing professional achievements over personal disclosures, even as an openly lesbian figure in the entertainment industry.

Political Views and Public Commentary

Expressed Stances and Endorsements

Cherry Jones has publicly endorsed Democratic candidates, including during her 2016 presidential campaign. She also supported Michael Bloomberg's 2009 reelection bid for mayor, highlighting his pragmatic governance amid her role portraying a U.S. president on television. In a 2019 interview, Jones expressed dismay over the Trump administration, stating that "everything progressive in America has been trampled on," reflecting her alignment with progressive policies on social issues. She has been vocal in support of LGBTQ+ rights, narrating the 1998 documentary on the history of the gay rights movement and participating in events like the Human Rights Campaign's "Unite for Equality Live!" in 2020. Jones received the Point Foundation's Courage Award in 2009 for her advocacy as an openly actress. On transgender issues, Jones described being transgender as "sort of the last taboo" in a 2024 , advocating for greater societal acceptance. In July 2024, amid concerns over President Joe Biden's age and performance, she urged him to withdraw from the presidential race, arguing he could not defeat and that "there's many viable roads to winning but Biden has to understand, he's not it." This stance underscored her prioritization of electoral viability over personal loyalty within Democratic circles.

Criticisms and Broader Reception

Jones' political commentary has generally aligned with progressive Hollywood norms, earning praise from outlets like for her outspoken criticism of the Trump administration, where she stated in April 2019 that "everything progressive in America has been trampled on," citing policies such as the 2017 transgender military ban. Her advocacy for LGBT rights, including receiving the 2009 Point Foundation Courage Award for supporting queer youth and speaking at events, has been positively received in activist circles. However, her nuanced stances have drawn criticism from more ideologically rigid factions; in the same 2019 interview, Jones faced backlash for declining to instinctively condemn amid #MeToo allegations, stating after research that she did not believe him guilty of assaulting Dylan Farrow and warning against a "" of reflexive judgments, which some viewed as insufficient solidarity with accusers. In 2024, Jones urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, asserting he could not defeat Donald Trump due to age and health concerns, a position that echoed debates within Democratic circles but risked alienating loyalists prioritizing party unity over empirical assessments of electability. This candor, expressed in The Independent, contrasted with her praise for transgender individuals as "the bravest people" confronting society's "last taboo," highlighting a pattern of endorsing progressive social causes while applying caution to partisan orthodoxy. Broader reception remains polarized along ideological lines, with left-leaning media amplifying her anti-Trump rhetoric but critiquing deviations like her #MeToo restraint, while conservative outlets have noted her Bloomberg endorsement in 2009 as evidence of pragmatic moderation amid celebrity partisanship. Such views, sourced from establishment media prone to progressive bias, underscore limited empirical backlash beyond activist echo chambers, as Jones' profile has not triggered widespread cancellation or professional repercussions.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427728/
  2. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cherry-Jones/
  3. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/cherry-jones/bio/3000054309/
  4. https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/cherry-jones
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427728/awards/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427728/bio/
  7. https://velvetparkmedia.com/cherry-on-top-jonesin-for-the-stage/
  8. https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/18/24-star-tennessee-native-cherry-jones-just-her-moms-kid/31874837/
  9. https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/cherry-jones-ive-lived-so-many-lives--thats-the-joy-of-being-an-actor
  10. https://www.tvinsider.com/people/cherry-jones/
  11. https://en.geneastar.org/genealogy/jonescherry/cherry-jones
  12. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/29/theater/a-longtime-theater-virtuoso-who-keeps-being-discovered.html
  13. https://windycitytimes.com/2007/01/10/cherry-on-top/
  14. http://www.glbtqarchive.com/arts/jones_c_A.pdf
  15. https://www.npr.org/2020/08/31/906693558/actor-cherry-jones-on-her-journey-from-theater-to-succession-media-mogul
  16. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-08-ca-41569-story.html
  17. https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2038788/handmaids-tale-star-cherry-jones
  18. http://www.40lunches.com/2017/07/the-legacy-we-leave-behind-lunch-with.html
  19. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/magazine/cherry-jones-at-the-peak-of-her-powers.html
  20. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cherry-jones-doubt-21832/
  21. https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Cherry-Jones-inhabits-roles-with-a-rare-magic-she-2547576.php
  22. https://www.lgbthistorymonth.com/sites/default/files/icon_multimedia_pdfs/2009/Jones%252012.pdf
  23. https://24.fandom.com/wiki/Cherry_Jones
  24. https://kids.kiddle.co/Cherry_Jones
  25. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/arrows-flight-cherry-jones-career-continues-soar-always-28001/
  26. https://playbill.com/article/cherry-jones-on-doubt-why-watching-herself-in-the-heiress-was-ghastly-and-sticking-with-theatre-com-122772
  27. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cherry-jones-talks-a-life-in-theater-coming-to-terms-with-her-ne-65353/
  28. https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/cherry-jones/
  29. https://capitol.tn.gov/bills/99/Bill/HJR0354.PDF
  30. https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/cherry-jones
  31. https://playbill.com/article/the-playbill-vault-celebrates-tony-award-winner-cherry-jones-com-212011
  32. https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardspersoninfo.php?nomname=Cherry%2520Jones
  33. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/cherry-jones/profile/
  34. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-horse-whisperer/cast/2000345242/
  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286106/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368447/
  37. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/194437/the-lifespan-of-a-facts-cherry-jones-on-her-delicious-co-stars-her-sex-symbol-status-more-on-show-people/
  38. https://playbill.com/article/the-lifespan-of-a-fact-closes-on-broadway-january-13
  39. https://www.vulture.com/2019/09/succession-season-2-cherry-jones-interview.html
  40. https://www.televisionacademy.com/video/2019-creative-arts-emmys-guest-actress-drama-series
  41. https://www.parispi.net/news/local_news/article_bc25474f-6d46-4a35-9c70-36ad6a9d2d8d.html
  42. https://www.movieinsider.com/p600/cherry-jones
  43. https://www.fandango.com/people/cherry-jones-332890
  44. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/cherry_jones
  45. https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardspersoninfo.php?nomname=Cherry%20Jones
  46. https://playbill.com/person/cherry-jones-vault-0000038047
  47. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1956-cherry-jones
  48. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119314/characters/nm0427728/
  49. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/fullcredits/
  50. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177971/fullcredits/
  51. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286106/characters/nm0427728/
  52. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368447/characters/nm0427728/
  53. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427728/fullcredits
  54. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1129445/fullcredits/
  55. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/motherless_brooklyn/cast-and-crew
  56. https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/cherry-jones
  57. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/cherry-jones/credits/3000054309/
  58. https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/year/1995/category/any/show/any/
  59. https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardsshowinfo.php?showname=The%20Heiress
  60. https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardsshowinfo.php?showname=Doubt
  61. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2014-Tony-Award-Nominations-The-Complete-List-20140429
  62. https://awardswatch.com/2025-emmys-will-cherry-jones-the-handmaids-tale-break-emmy-record-for-most-guest-actress-in-a-drama-wins/
  63. https://www.24spoilers.com/2009/09/20/cherry-jones-wins-emmy-for-24-season-7/
  64. https://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2009/09/20/cherry-jones-snags-first-emmy-24
  65. https://variety.com/2019/tv/awards/cherry-jones-emmys-2019-guest-drama-actress-1203304334/
  66. https://www.goldderby.com/tv/2023/emmy-nominee-profile-cherry-jones-succession/
  67. https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/nominees-winners/2025/outstanding-guest-actress-in-a-drama-series
  68. https://www.radionwtn.com/2025/07/15/paris-own-cherry-jones-nominated-for-another-emmy/
  69. https://www.theatreinchicago.com/news.php?articleID=193
  70. https://wptheater.org/cast-creatives/cherry-jones/
  71. https://gomag.com/article/actress_cherry_jones_rece/
  72. https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/cherry-jones-reflects-on-her-childhood-career-and-marriage/
  73. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/cherry-jones-theatre-succession-b2582142.html
  74. https://s3.amazonaws.com/external_clips/1840652/26_01_p60.pdf?1462223411
  75. https://www.nickiswift.com/618115/the-truth-about-sarah-paulsons-relationship-with-cherry-jones/
  76. https://lezwatchtv.com/actor/cherry-jones/
  77. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/cherry-jones
  78. https://news.amomama.com/214916-handmaids-tale-actress-cherry-jones-open.html
  79. https://diva-magazine.com/2022/08/15/sarah-paulson-dating/
  80. https://victoriaadvocate.com/2009/09/20/analysis-nyc-mayor-king-of-obscure-endorsements/
  81. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/16/chimericas-cherry-jones-everything-progressive-in-america-has-been-trampled-on
  82. https://lgbthistorymonth.com/sites/default/files/icon_multimedia_pdfs/2009/Jones%252012.pdf
  83. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaJKkTtMeEk
  84. https://nypost.com/2024/07/20/entertainment/succession-star-tells-joe-biden-to-drop-out-of-presidential-race-he-has-to-understand-hes-not-it/
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