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Jamie Brewer
Jamie Brewer
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Jamie Brewer is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles in the FX horror anthology television series American Horror Story. In its first season, Murder House, she portrayed Adelaide "Addie" Langdon; in the third season, Coven, she portrayed Nan, an enigmatic and clairvoyant witch; in the fourth season Freak Show, she portrayed Chester Creb's vision of his doll, Marjorie; in the seventh season Cult, she portrayed Hedda, a member of the 'SCUM' crew, led by feminist Valerie Solanas; and she also returned to her role as Nan in the eighth season, Apocalypse.

Key Information

Life and career

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Brewer grew up loving all forms of the arts, especially movies and theater productions. She started by taking theater classes in 1999 at a College for Kids class during her middle school years. She performed in dramas, musicals, comedies, and many improvisations during her theater training at Dionysus Theater.[citation needed] Brewer appeared and spoke in PSAs for the Super Bowl of Caring Houston Food Drive in Houston, Texas for two consecutive years which aired on NBC, ABC, and CBS. Brewer continues her stage training through The Groundlings Theater and School.

In 2011, Brewer made her television debut as Adelaide "Addie" Langdon in American Horror Story: Murder House.[1] "I first got word of the audition for the show from a friend of mine." She said. "They were looking for a young lady with Down syndrome who could act. My headshot and resume were submitted and I was called for an audition and, to my surprise I got the part. I was so excited."[2] About her role, Brewer stated: "Adelaide is a complex character, but the most difficult part of playing Adelaide is learning how to portray someone who isn't always viewed acceptable to her mother and society. This is a new challenge for me."[3]

After the show's first season ended, she appeared on Southland in an episode titled "Heat", which aired on February 20, 2013. Also in 2013, she returned to American Horror Story for the third season, subtitled Coven, playing the supporting role of Nan, a young witch who is clairvoyant.

Brewer at PaleyFest 2014 for American Horror Story: Coven

It was announced at the 2014 PaleyFest that Brewer would return to the series for the fourth season, subtitled American Horror Story: Freak Show.[4] Although, at a later date, show creator Ryan Murphy indicated Brewer may not appear during the season. Brewer was later confirmed after appearing in a promo for the final two episodes.[5][6] She both voiced and played Marjorie, the ventriloquist's dummy of another character.

In February 2015, Brewer became the first woman with Down syndrome to walk the red carpet at New York Fashion Week, which she did for designer Carrie Hammer.[7][8][9] Talking about the experience, Brewer said, "It's amazing that the fashion industry are including individuals with disabilities," she said. "It's an amazing opportunity for women, women that are disabled."[10] Another time she also said, "Young girls and even young women [see me] and say 'hey, if she can do it so can I'. It's a true inspiration being a role model for any young women to [encourage them] in being who they are and showing who they are."[citation needed]

In July 2015, she appeared as a character named Jamie in three episodes of the web series Raymond & Lane,[11][12] while In September, Brewer appeared on Switched at Birth in an episode titled "Between hope and fear".[13] The next month she claimed her title as a recipient of the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.[14] The same month, during an interview, Brewer was asked if she would make an appearance in American Horror Story's upcoming fifth season, subtitled Hotel. She responded with; "Possibly. I don't fully know, it depends. I really want to be." However, she did not appear in the season.[14]

In May 2017, Brewer starred in the comedy short Whitney's Wedding, in which she played a bride who gets 'cold-feet' when she starts thinking her fiancé is not "normal".[15] In October, American singer Miley Cyrus asked Brewer to introduce her at the Variety Power of Women event, where Cyrus received an award for The Happy Hippie Foundation. Cyrus' non-profit foundation focuses on youth homelessness (particularly among LGBTQ youth), the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable populations. "We've never met in person before today, but I'm a huge fan of Jamie's,” Cyrus said during her acceptance speech. “I thought she would beautifully encompass the Happy Hippie Foundation and all we represent.”[16] Brewer also returned to American Horror Story on its seventh season Cult. In the seventh episode of the season she portrayed Hedda, a member of the original 'SCUM' crew, led by feminist Valerie Solanas.[17] Around the same time, Brewer had a role in Bridget Everett’s Love You More, a pilot filmed for Amazon Video that was later not picked up.[18]

In February 2018, Brewer made her off-Broadway debut in Amy and the Orphans, a play by Lindsey Ferrentino about three siblings, one of whom has Down Syndrome, in the wake of their father's death. She was the first woman with Down syndrome to star in an Off-Broadway play.[19] In April, Brewer was nominated for an Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play by the Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance in Amy and the Orphans. In June of the same year, she won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her performance. Soon afterwards, she was cast, as Gina, in the independent drama film Turnover.[20][non-primary source needed]

During October, Brewer briefly appeared on American Horror Story once again, on its eighth season subtitled Apocalypse, where she reprised the role she played in Coven. Brewer's return as Nan received positive reviews from hardcore fans. Katie Louise-Smith from PopBuzz called Brewer "brilliant" and stated the return was "short but sweet".[21] Ron Hogan of Den of Geek reacted to Brewer's return positively, noting her return was "handled well".[22] However, Kat Rosenfield from Entertainment Weekly criticized the scene featuring Nan, commenting that it "serves mostly as fan service".[23] Brewer also briefly appeared in the tenth and final episode of the season.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2017 Whitney's Wedding Whitney Short film
Kill Off Sonja Short film
2019 Turnover Gina
Second Date Maura Short film
The Wagon Claire Short film
The Hoarding Mary Short film
2021 Cherry Shelly
TBA Snow Moon Awakening Aurora Pre-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 American Horror Story: Murder House Adelaide Langdon Recurring role; 6 episodes
2013 Southland Amanda Episode: "Heat"
2013–2014 American Horror Story: Coven Nan Recurring role; 9 episodes
2015 American Horror Story: Freak Show Marjorie Episodes: "Magical Thinking" and "Show Stoppers"
Switched at Birth Teacher's Aide Episode: "Between Hope and Fear"
2017 American Horror Story: Cult Hedda Episode: "Valerie Solanas Died for Your Sins: Scumbag"
Love You More Maggie Television film
2018 American Horror Story: Apocalypse Nan Episodes: "Traitor" and "Apocalypse Then"
2020 Station 19 Rose Episode: "Ice Ice Baby"
2021 American Horror Stories Adelaide Langdon Episode: "Game Over"

Theater

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Amy and the Orphans Amy
2022 Corsicana[permanent dead link] Ginny

Web

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Raymond & Lane Jamie Guest role; 3 episodes
2025 Vic[24] Faye

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jamie Brewer (born February 5, 1985) is an American actress and model with . She is best known for her role as Adelaide "Addie" Langdon in the horror anthology series , appearing in multiple seasons starting with the 2011 debut. Brewer began her career in theater in 1999 and trained at institutions including the Ruskin School of Acting. Brewer achieved pioneering milestones as the first model with to walk the runway at in 2015 for designer Carrie Hammer. In 2018, she became the first actress with to lead a mainstream production in Amy and the Orphans, earning acclaim for her performance. She has also served on the board of the National Down Syndrome Congress, becoming its youngest elected member, and advocates for inclusion in the .

Early life

Family background and diagnosis

Jamie Brewer was born on February 5, 1985, in . She was diagnosed with , a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra , shortly after birth, which is standard practice for visible physical characteristics associated with the disorder. Brewer was raised in Texas and southern California by a family that provided consistent encouragement, fostering her early development despite the challenges posed by her diagnosis, such as potential delays in physical and cognitive milestones. This parental involvement, rather than reliance on external medical or institutional interventions alone, played a primary causal role in supporting her independence and interests from a young age, as evidenced by her family's emphasis on affirming her choices regardless of outcomes.

Education and initial interests

Brewer developed an early interest in during her years, enrolling in theater classes through the College for Kids program in 1999. This self-initiated participation introduced her to stage performance, fostering a passion that she pursued through involvement in school dramas and musicals. Her engagement in these activities highlighted an independent drive, as she actively sought out opportunities to perform without reliance on specialized inclusion mandates. Following , Brewer transitioned to young adult theater groups, continuing her training in and stage work. She joined ensembles such as the Born To Act Players, where she took on roles in plays, reflecting a sustained personal commitment to honing her craft through consistent practice and performance. This progression from school-based pursuits to broader group involvement underscored her proactive approach to developing skills in the prior to professional opportunities.

Acting career

Theater beginnings (1999–2011)

Brewer initiated her theater involvement in 1999 by enrolling in classes through a College for Kids program while in in . This early exposure marked the start of her formal training, focusing on foundational techniques amid her local educational environment. She advanced her skills at the Dionysus Theatre in , where she became a resident troupe member, participating in a range of productions including dramas, musicals, comedies, and improvisational works. Notable roles encompassed performances in original pieces like Violet and established musicals such as , alongside portraying Gertie, the wife of , in a production that involved dance sequences in period costume. These experiences, spanning her high school years through early adulthood, emphasized repetitive skill-building and selection based on demonstrated aptitude in community and semi-professional settings. By the late 2000s, Brewer's theater work had solidified her proficiency in live performance, providing the groundwork for her relocation to and subsequent professional opportunities, without prior connections to mainstream Hollywood. Her progression reflected consistent engagement in merit-driven local stages, culminating in honed improvisational and ensemble abilities by 2011.

Breakthrough in American Horror Story (2011–2014)

Jamie Brewer debuted on national television as Adelaide "Addie" Langdon in the premiere season of , which aired from October 5 to December 21, 2011, on . Addie, a young adult with residing adjacent to the series' haunted Murder House, serves as a recurring character whose tragic arc involves ghostly hauntings and interactions with the protagonists, emphasizing her innocence amid horror elements. This role marked Brewer's entry into mainstream media, transitioning her from theater to horror anthology television and garnering initial visibility for actors with disabilities in genre programming. In the third season, , Brewer portrayed Nan, a clairvoyant witch with , across episodes broadcast from October 9, 2013, to January 29, 2014. Nan's abilities include mind-reading and tea-leaf , positioning her as an integral member of the who contributes to supernatural conflicts while facing from peers. The character's empowered depiction in a witch-centric expanded Brewer's beyond victimhood, demonstrating vocal intensity and mystical poise in scenes involving spells and confrontations. achieved the series' highest viewership to date, with the season averaging over 5 million viewers per episode, amplifying exposure for Brewer's performance. Brewer returned in the fourth season, , as , a sentient ventriloquist possessed by malevolent forces, featured prominently in episodes from October 8, 2014, to January 21, 2015. Voiced and physically embodied by Brewer, manipulates her human partner in a setting, blending horror with psychological terror through limited but pivotal appearances that exploit immobility for eerie effect. This unconventional role, opposite , highlighted Brewer's versatility in non-humanoid characterization, diverging from her prior portrayals to underscore physical expressiveness in supernatural antagonism. The season's drew a series-high 6.13 million viewers, reflecting sustained franchise momentum during her involvement.

Subsequent roles and projects (2015–present)

Brewer expanded her television presence with guest roles in established series. In 2015, she appeared as a teacher's aide in the episode "Between Hope and Fear" of Switched at Birth. In 2020, she portrayed Rose, a patient facing medical challenges, in the episode "" from season 3. She also contributed to the anthology, the spin-off series to , with appearances that maintained her association with horror-themed projects. In , Brewer took on selective opportunities, including a lead role in the 2022 short Taco Tuesday, which focused on themes of friendship and daily life. Her career trajectory emphasized quality over quantity, prioritizing roles that showcased her range amid limited mainstream offers for actors with . A significant development came in February 2023, when announced a feature adaptation of the play Amy and the Orphans, with Brewer reprising the titular lead role originally performed in 2018; the project, written and directed by , aims to bring the story of adult siblings reuniting with their sister with to wider audiences. As of 2025, production details remain in progress without a confirmed release date. Brewer has upcoming projects including Vic and Late for Dinner, both scheduled for release in 2025, signaling continued momentum in her acting pursuits.

Modeling and public appearances

Fashion Week debut (2015)

In February 2015, Jamie Brewer became the first person with Down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week. The event occurred on February 12 during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015, as part of designer Carrie Hammer's "Role Models Not Runway Models" presentation. Brewer modeled Hammer's clothing, including a black dress with white accents, striding confidently down the catwalk to demonstrate inclusion of diverse women in fashion. The show featured Brewer alongside other accomplished women, such as CEOs and activists, selected to highlight rather than traditional runway standards. Preparation involved collaboration with , who aimed to challenge conventional beauty norms by showcasing women of varied backgrounds and abilities. Media coverage from outlets like and documented the walk, capturing Brewer's poised demeanor and the audience's positive reception. This debut directly boosted visibility for models with disabilities, evidenced by widespread reporting and subsequent discussions in fashion media about expanding representation on major runways. Brewer's participation marked a verifiable milestone in industry practices, with no prior instances of a model with at NYFW confirmed in contemporary accounts.

Additional modeling and events

In October 2015, Brewer participated in the Global Foundation's Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show in Denver, Colorado, an event featuring models with and culminating in her receipt of the Exceptional Advocacy Award for her contributions to visibility in entertainment and fashion. In February 2017, she entered a commercial partnership as for 7 Charming Sisters, a jewelry retailer, under which she promoted select products through channels to her audience, marking an expansion into consumer-facing endorsements beyond runway appearances. Brewer continued modeling engagements into the , including a runway walk at the Uniquely You Bridal on May 12, 2025, in , a collaboration between and bridal retailer Ivory & Beau aimed at showcasing adaptive bridal wear for diverse abilities. These appearances underscored her sustained presence in niche inclusive fashion circuits, driven by organizer selections rather than broad commercial campaigns.

Advocacy and activism

Organizational involvement

Brewer served on the executive board of The Arc of Texas, a nonprofit advocating for people with and developmental disabilities, after being elected to the position at age 19 in 2007. In 2015, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation awarded her the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award at its Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show on October 24, recognizing her efforts in promoting inclusion for individuals with . She has supported through volunteer speaking engagements aimed at fostering friendships and opportunities for people with disabilities. Brewer has also engaged with initiatives, featured as one of their "50 Game Changers" for advancing inclusion in entertainment and sports for those with intellectual disabilities.

Key initiatives and speeches

In 2016, Brewer delivered a address at the , Inclusion and Diversity event in , where she urged audiences to "advocate for a more healthier and inclusive world today," emphasizing practical steps toward opportunity equality for individuals with disabilities through demonstrated abilities rather than assumptions of limitation. Her speech highlighted as essential for challenging stereotypes, drawing from her experiences to promote environments where capabilities determine access to roles and responsibilities. Brewer has consistently advocated for self-reliance in public appearances, such as a 2018 ABC News interview where she stated, "Don't let disability hold you back, no matter what," framing inclusion as contingent on proving competence through action and perseverance. This message aligns with her efforts against derogatory language, including a 2018 TODAY show segment where she campaigned to eliminate the "R-word" as a barrier to respectful treatment and equal opportunities in employment and education for those with and developmental disabilities (I/DD). These initiatives underscore her push for causal realism in advocacy, prioritizing evidence of individual potential over paternalistic protections. A pivotal initiative came through her starring role in the 2018 off-Broadway production of Amy and the Orphans at the Laura Pels Theatre, marking the first time an actor with Down syndrome originated a lead role in a major New York theater production unaided by accommodations that altered performance standards. Brewer leveraged the production to advocate for employment and inclusion in the arts and beyond, arguing in contemporaneous interviews that such milestones validate talent-based selection, thereby opening pathways for others with I/DD to secure roles based on merit rather than quotas or sympathy. This approach extended to broader awareness campaigns, using her visibility to demonstrate how capability-focused opportunities foster self-reliance and reduce dependency in professional settings.

Reception and impact

Achievements and recognition

Brewer received the Exceptional Advocacy Award from the Global Foundation in 2015 for her efforts in promoting inclusion for individuals with . In 2018, she became the first actor with to win the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured in a Play, for her role in the off-Broadway production Amy and the Orphans. That same year, she earned the Theater World Award for the same performance and a for Outstanding Featured in a Play from the Outer Critics Circle. In modeling, Brewer achieved a milestone in February 2015 by becoming the first person with Down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week, participating in Carrie Hammer's "Role Models Not Runway Models" show. This appearance marked a precedent for representation of individuals with disabilities in high-profile fashion events. Additional recognition includes the "See It, Be It" Award at the 2019 Bentonville Film Festival, honoring her contributions to inclusive storytelling in film. Her sustained presence in theater, television, and advocacy through the 2020s demonstrates career persistence, with ongoing involvement in projects emphasizing disability inclusion.

Criticisms of representation in media

Some disability advocates and media critics have argued that Jamie Brewer's roles in American Horror Story, particularly in the "Freak Show" season (2014–2015) where she portrayed Hedda, a microcephalic character, contribute to the perpetuation of historical "freak show" stereotypes by framing physical and intellectual differences within a sensationalized horror context. This portrayal, involving makeup to exaggerate features associated with intellectual disability, has been critiqued for voyeuristically exploiting disabled bodies for shock value, echoing real 19th- and 20th-century freak shows that marginalized performers with conditions like Down syndrome or microcephaly as spectacles rather than individuals. Such representations, according to these views, risk stigmatizing disability by linking it inherently to the grotesque or supernatural, potentially reinforcing public perceptions of disabled people as "other" or threatening, despite the use of authentic disabled casting. In her earlier role as Nan, a clairvoyant witch with in the "Coven" season (2013–2014), criticisms have focused on whether the character's supernatural abilities serve to "compensate" for her visible , subtly implying that intellectual or developmental differences require magical justification for competence or agency. This dynamic, some analyses suggest, aligns with broader media patterns where disabled characters are granted extraordinary traits to offset perceived deficits, rather than depicting unadorned capability, which could normalize without qualifiers. However, empirical assessments of Brewer's performance counter these concerns, noting her effective delivery of complex scenes—such as Nan's and sequences—demonstrating proficiency independent of the character's traits, as evidenced by contemporary reviews praising the role's of expected intellectual limitations. Debates on representation in Hollywood extend to questions of versus merit-based hiring, with Brewer's breakthrough roles occurring amid growing industry calls for authentic but persistent underrepresentation—only 2.4% of speaking characters in top 2024 films had . Critics from perspectives argue that quota-like diversity initiatives, such as inclusion riders popularized post-2018, risk prioritizing visible differences over skill, potentially diluting standards and leading to one-dimensional roles that confirm rather than challenge . In Brewer's case, however, sourced performance metrics— including standout moments in that garnered specific acclaim for nuance—empirically refute claims of protective overreach or lowered bars, illustrating causal efficacy in competitive roles without reliance on sanitized narratives. This aligns with first-principles evaluation: observable competence in high-stakes scenes, such as Nan's hospital confrontation on December 12, 2013, validates her as merit-driven rather than emblematic of broader tokenistic trends.

Filmography

Television

  • American Horror Story: Murder House (2011), as Adelaide "Addy" Langdon, appearing in multiple episodes of the first season.
  • Southland (2013), as Amanda Hill, in the episode "Wednesday in Oakland" (season 5, episode 2).
  • American Horror Story: Coven (2013–2014), as Nan, a recurring role across 9 episodes of the third season.
  • American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014–2015), as Marjorie, the possessed doll, in several episodes of the fourth season.
  • Switched at Birth (2015), in a guest role.
  • Station 19 (2018), as Rose, in season 1.
  • American Horror Story: Apocalypse (2018), reprising the role of Nan from Coven, in season 8.
  • Special (2019), as Prom Participant, in season 1 of the Netflix series.
  • American Horror Stories (2021), in the anthology spin-off series.

Film

Brewer starred as Gina in the independent comedy-drama Turnover (2019), for which she also served as ; the film won awards including Best for at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema. In 2021, she portrayed Shelly in the ' crime drama Cherry, adapted from Nico Walker's novel and starring . Brewer appeared in the 2022 buddy comedy Bromates, directed by Mike Poland. In February 2023, announced a feature adaptation of the play Amy and the Orphans, with Brewer set to reprise her lead role as Amy under director ; as of October 2025, the project remains in development.

Theater

Brewer began her theater involvement in 1999 during , enrolling in classes at a College for Kids program and participating in local theater groups. She performed in a range of school and community productions, including dramas, musicals, comedies, and improvisational works, primarily through training at the Dionysus Theatre. Brewer continued honing her skills with further instruction at institutions such as the Ruskin School of Acting, building a foundation in live performance before transitioning to professional opportunities. Her professional stage debut occurred in the off-Broadway production of Amy and the Orphans by , presented by at the Laura Pels Theatre from February 13 to April 8, 2018. Brewer portrayed Amy, one of three adult siblings reuniting after their father's death, marking her as the first actor with to take a lead role in a mainstream off-Broadway play. For this performance, she received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and the Theatre World Award for outstanding debut on Broadway or off-Broadway. In 2022, Brewer appeared in the world premiere of Will Arbery's Corsicana at Playwrights Horizons, running from June 22 to July 10. She played Ginny, the sister of the protagonist, a character also depicted with Down syndrome, in a production that featured Brewer's first onstage singing and dancing sequences. The role allowed her to explore familial tensions and personal expression within a contemporary drama set in Texas.

References

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