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Lily Rabe
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Lily Rabe (born June 29, 1982)[1][2] is an American actress. She is best known for her multiple roles on the FX anthology horror series American Horror Story (2011–2021). For her performance as Portia in the Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice, she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
Key Information
Her film credits include What Just Happened (2008), All Good Things (2010), Pawn Sacrifice (2014), Miss Stevens (2016), Golden Exits (2017), Vice (2018), Fractured (2019), and The Tender Bar (2021). On television, she appeared in the series The Whispers (2015), The Undoing (2020), The Underground Railroad (2021), and The First Lady (2022).
Early life
[edit]Rabe was born on New York City's Upper West Side,[3] the daughter of playwright David Rabe and actress Jill Clayburgh. She has a younger brother, Michael, an actor and playwright; and an older paternal half-brother, Jason, a musician.[4] Her father is Roman Catholic,[5] her maternal grandfather was Jewish, and her maternal grandmother was Protestant.[6] Rabe was raised in Bedford, New York, but moved to Lakeville, Connecticut, when she was in seventh grade,[3] where she attended the Hotchkiss School.[7]
Rabe studied dance for ten years. She was teaching ballet at a summer arts program in Connecticut when she was approached by the program's acting instructor, who asked her to perform a monologue in the final production.[8] She read a monologue from the play Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley.[8] She said, "It was that moment, performing that monologue, that made me think, 'Maybe this is what I wanna do'."[8] She then went on to study acting at Northwestern University, graduating in 2004.[9]
Career
[edit]Early years
[edit]In 2001, Rabe made her screen debut opposite her mother Jill Clayburgh in the film Never Again. She made her professional stage debut, again opposite her mother, at the Gloucester Stage Company in Massachusetts. She starred in two one-act plays, Speaking Well of the Dead by Israel Horovitz and The Crazy Girl by Frank Pugliese,[10] roles that enabled her to get an Equity Card.[11] In July 2003, she returned to the Gloucester Stage Company to appear in Proof by David Auburn. That year, she also appeared in the film Mona Lisa Smile. After graduating, she moved back to New York. From September 29 through October 2, 2004, she appeared in White Jesus by Deirdre O'Connor,[12] one of a series of one-act plays presented as The Democracy Project from the Naked Angels Theater Company.[13]
On January 21, 2005, she took part in a workshop production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the Roundabout Theatre Company, directed by Joe Mantello.[14] She made her Broadway debut as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto in the 2005 revival of Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, directed by Jason Moore[15] for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.[16] She had been cast in the play Sisters of the Garden, but had to drop out after being cast in Steel Magnolias.[17] From September through to October 2005, she appeared in the American premiere of Colder Than Here by English playwright Laura Wade at the MCC Theater,[18] prompting New York Magazine's Jeremy McCarter to call her performance "one of the best breakthroughs" of 2005.[19] From September to December 2006, she played Ellie Dunn in Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Heartbreak House by George Bernard Shaw.[20] In 2007, she appeared in the film No Reservations.
In August 2007, Rabe appeared in Crimes of the Heart at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the directorial debut of actress Kathleen Turner.[21] In 2008, the production moved Off-Broadway to the Laura Pels Theatre, where it was staged by the Roundabout Theatre Company and ran from February 14 to April 13.[22] During a rehearsal, a piece of the set fell on Rabe, leaving her with a fractured rib[23] and causing her to miss a week of preview performances; the opening night was changed from February 7 to February 14.[22]
In August 2008, Rabe was cast as a plainclothes cop in the pilot of the HBO 1970s drama Last of the Ninth,[24] written by David Milch and directed by Carl Franklin. In December 2008, it was reported that HBO had decided not to pick it up as a series.[25] That year, Rabe appeared in the films What Just Happened and The Toe Tactic, as well as two episodes of Medium. From January to March 2009, she appeared in the Broadway premiere of Richard Greenberg's 1990 play The American Plan at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.[26] In 2010, she made her debut appearance at Shakespeare in the Park in a production of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Daniel J. Sullivan, that ran from June 30 to August 1.[27] Rabe was cast as Portia, which she described as "one of the great female roles."[28] She also co-starred in the 2010 film All Good Things.
2011–present
[edit]
Rabe next starred in The Merchant of Venice, opposite Al Pacino as Shylock, in a performance described as a "smashing break-out".[29] The production transferred to Broadway at the Broadhurst Theater, where it ran from October 19, 2010, to February 20, 2011.[30] For her performance, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.[31] In March 2011, she was cast in the FOX drama pilot Exit Strategy.[32] In July, it was confirmed that FOX had passed on the pilot.[33] Rabe appeared again at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in a production of A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, where she played Nora Helmer.[34]
In August 2011, Rabe got her first regular role on a television series, as Nora Montgomery on the FX horror series American Horror Story. She was later cast in the second season as the nun Sister Mary Eunice McKee (which she reprised in the fourth season). For the second season, she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries. She was also cast in the third season as a resurgent witch, Misty Day, a role written for her by co-creator Ryan Murphy.[35] In the fifth season, she was a special guest star in the "Devil's Night" episode, playing Aileen Wuornos. In the sixth season, she had a main role as Shelby Miller. Rabe is one of only three actors to appear in the show's first six seasons.[36] In 2019, for the ninth installment of the show, titled 1984, Rabe returned in the recurring role of Lavinia Richter, a distraught mother who haunts Camp Redwood, an idyllic summer retreat with a history of massacre.
Rabe appeared at the Golden Theatre in the Broadway play Seminar by Theresa Rebeck. Directed by Sam Gold, the cast included Alan Rickman, Jerry O'Connell, Hamish Linklater and Hettienne Park. It opened on November 20, 2011 and closed May 6, 2012. In May 2012, it was announced that Rabe would play actress Mary Pickford in The First, a film based on the book Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood by Eileen Whitfield.[37] She finished work in the Public Theater's production of As You Like It, part of the 50th Season of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theatre. She played Rosalind in the production that opened on June 11, 2012, and closed on June 30, 2012. In October 2012, it was announced that Rabe would appear in We're Just Married, a film written by her father and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. Rabe was also a producer on the film.[38] In May 2013, she made her Los Angeles stage debut in Miss Julie by August Strindberg, adapted and directed by Neil LaBute.[39] In September 2013, she was cast as Commander Lyme in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the final two installments of The Hunger Games film series, based on the novels by Suzanne Collins.[40] She was later replaced in the films by Gwendoline Christie due to a scheduling conflict.[41]
On February 14, it was announced that Rabe would appear in Much Ado About Nothing as part of the 2014 Shakespeare in the Park season. The production began on June 3 and ran to July 6.[42] In 2014, she appeared in Pawn Sacrifice, a film biopic about chess player Bobby Fischer, playing Fischer's sister Joan Targ.[43] On February 24, it was announced that Rabe would appear with Thomas Jane and Jessica Alba in horror film The Veil.[44] It was released on January 19, 2016, through video on demand, prior to home-media release on February 2, 2016.[45][46] That day, it was announced that Rabe would star in The Visitors, a drama pilot for ABC.[47] The pilot was later changed to The Whispers and was officially picked up by ABC in May 2014.[48] The series premiered on June 1, 2015[49] and was subsequently cancelled on October 19, 2015 after one season.[50] In May 2016, Rabe was cast in Golden Exits directed by Alex Ross Perry.[51]
In August 2021, Rabe starred in the tenth season of American Horror Story, as Doris Gardner in the first half of the season, and as Amelia Earhart in the second. It was her first time as part of the main cast since Roanoke.[52]
Personal life
[edit]In December 2016, it was reported that Rabe was expecting her first child with boyfriend Hamish Linklater. She gave birth to a girl in March 2017.[53][54] In June 2020, they had their second daughter.[55][56] In September 2021, Rabe announced her third pregnancy with Linklater.[57][58] She gave birth to a son in June 2022.[59]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Siena Boatman | Episode: "Scared Crazy" |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Nikki | Episode: "Recall" |
| 2008 | Nip/Tuck | Lanie Ainge | Episode: "Kyle Ainge" |
| Medium | Joanna Wheeler | 2 episodes | |
| 2009 | Last of the Ninth | Mary Byrne | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2010 | Saving Grace | Sarah Cullen | Episode: "You Can't Save Them All, Grace" |
| Law & Order | Andrea Wheaton | Episode: "Crashers" | |
| 2011–2015 | The Good Wife | Petra Moritz | 3 episodes |
| 2011 | Exit Strategy | Natalie Clayton | Unsold TV pilot |
| American Horror Story: Murder House | Nora Montgomery | 7 episodes | |
| 2012–2013 | American Horror Story: Asylum | Sister Mary Eunice McKee | 10 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | American Horror Story: Coven | Misty Day | 10 episodes |
| 2014 | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Sister Mary Eunice McKee | Episode: "Orphans" |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Claire Bennigan | 13 episodes |
| The Walker | Sarah | Episode: "How to Deal with a Frenemy" | |
| 2015–2016 | American Horror Story: Hotel | Aileen Wuornos | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | American Horror Story: Roanoke | Shelby Miller | 10 episodes |
| 2017 | Regular Show in Space | Ailen (voice) | Episode: "Meet the Seer" |
| The Wizard of Lies | Catherine Hooper | Television film | |
| 2017–2018 | Voltron: Legendary Defender | Honerva (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2018 | Legion | Joan Barrett | Episode: "Chapter 12" |
| American Horror Story: Apocalypse | Misty Day | 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | American Horror Story: 1984 | Lavinia Richter | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | The Undoing | Sylvia Steineitz | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Tell Me Your Secrets | Emma Hall | 10 episodes |
| The Underground Railroad | Ethel Wells | 2 episodes | |
| American Horror Story: Double Feature | Doris Gardner | 4 episodes | |
| Amelia Earhart | 2 episodes | ||
| 2022 | The First Lady | Lorena Hickok | 7 episodes |
| 2023–2024 | Shrinking | Meg | 8 episodes |
| 2023 | Love & Death | Betty Gore | 7 episodes |
| 2024 | The Great Lillian Hall | Margaret Tanner | Television film |
| Presumed Innocent | Dr. Liz Rush | 4 episodes |
Stage
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Colder Than Here | Jenna Bradley |
| Steel Magnolias | Annelle Dupuy-Desoto | |
| 2006 | Heartbreak House | Ellie Dunn |
| 2008 | Crimes of the Heart | Babe Botrelle |
| 2009 | The American Plan | Lili Adler |
| 2010–2011 | The Merchant of Venice | Portia |
| 2011–2012 | Seminar | Kate |
| 2011 | A Doll's House | Nora Helmer |
| 2012 | As You Like It | Rosalind |
| 2013 | Miss Julie | Miss Julie |
| 2014 | Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice |
| 2015 | Cymbeline | Imogen |
| 2025 | Ghosts | Mrs. Helen Alving |
Podcasts
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sanctuary | Reya | Matt Altman | Fiction podcast produced by Voyage Media, 8 episodes |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Steel Magnolias | Nominated |
| 2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Play | The Merchant of Venice | Nominated |
| Tony Awards | Best Actress in a Play | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries | American Horror Story: Asylum | Nominated |
| 2016 | SXSW Film Festival Awards[60] | Special Jury Recognition for Best Actress | Miss Stevens | Won |
| 2019 | Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | Vice | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ UPI Staff (June 29, 2022). "Famous birthdays for June 29: Lily Rabe, Richard Lewis". United Press International. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "MILESTONES: June 29 birthdays for Lily Rabe, Nicole Scherzinger, Maria Conchita Alonso". Brooklyn Eagle. June 29, 2022. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- ^ a b Lawrence, Vanessa (July 15, 2010). "Lily Rabe Talks "Merchant of Venice"". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ Miller, Griffin (22 May 2013). "Celebrity Profile: Lily Rabe". NYLuxury.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ Kolin, Philip C. (Spring 1989). "An Interview with David Rabe". Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism. pp. 139–140. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ Bloom, Nate (19 November 2010). "The Plame game, Jill Clayburgh: a Jew?, Gyllenhaal and Lambert". J. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ Smith, Krista (January 24, 2013). "Opening Acts". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ a b c "When Lily Met Babe". TDF.org. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ "Lily Rabe". AmericanTheatreWing.org. October 2012. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ Wallenberg, Christopher (July 17, 2011). "Her parents' legacy, her own spotlight". Boston.com. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio (February 12, 2008). "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Lily Rabe". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ "Democracy: An Issues Project". NakedAngels.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Kilian, Michael (September 23, 2004). "New York playwrights getting political". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ "Playreading: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The". Roundabout Theatre Company. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ ,Ennis, Connor (May 12, 2005). "Broadway newcomer is impressive in debut play". SentinelSource.com. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ Murray, Matthew (May 22, 2005). "2005 Drama Desk Awards Presented". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ Rizzo, Frank (March 3, 2005). "Fabrique To Play Ella Fitzgerald At Theaterworks". Courant.com. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio (July 14, 2005). "Judith Light and Lily Rabe To Star in MCC Theatre's Colder Than Here Off-Broadway". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ McCarter, Jeremy (8 December 2005). "Theater". New York. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio (December 17, 2006). "Heartbreak House, Starring Philip Bosco and Swoosie Kurtz, Ends Run on Broadway". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (July 20, 2007). "Full Cast Announced for Williamstown's Crimes of the Heart; Kathleen Turner Directs". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Hernandez, Ernio (January 29, 2008). "Roundabout Shifts Crimes of the Heart Opening to Valentine's Day". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ O'Driscoll, Sean (February 25, 2008). "Actresses Find Their Way Into 'Heart'". Fox News. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 8, 2008). "Threesome step in for HBO 'Ninth'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 17, 2008). "HBO picks up 'Hung'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "The American Plan". PlaybillVault.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (June 30, 2010). "The Merchant of Venice, With Al Pacino, Lily Rabe, Byron Jennings, Opens in Central Park June 30". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ Steinberg, Julie (June 16, 2010). "Shakespeare in the Park's Lily Rabe Wants You to Throw Peonies at Her". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (June 30, 2010). "Railing at a Money-Mad World". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (February 20, 2011). "The Merchant of Venice, With Al Pacino, Ends Broadway Run Feb. 20". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ "Lily Rabe – Tony Awards 2013 Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Nominee". Key Brand Entertainment. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 10, 2011). "TV CASTINGS: Slew Of Actors Join Pilots". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 5, 2011). "Midseason Status Report: 'Breaking In' Stays Alive With Cast Options Pickup, 'Common' & 'Album' Keep Some Actors, 'Smothered' Dead". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ "A Doll's House". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- ^ Dos Santos, Kristin (August 22, 2011). "Which Famous Actress' Daughter Is Getting an "Ungodly" Role in American Horror Story?". E! Online. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
- ^ Neumyer, Scott (January 22, 2014). "How the Ethereal Lily Rabe Found Success on 'American Horror Story'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (May 17, 2012). "Lily Rabe To Play Mary Pickford". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 24, 2012). "Rodrigo Garcia To Helm Lily Rabe In 'We're Just Married'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Ng, David (March 8, 2013). "Lily Rabe: Driving 'Miss Julie'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Lily Rabe Joins 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay'". Deadline Hollywood. September 16, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 4, 2014). "'Game Of Thrones' Actress Gwendoline Christie Replacing Lily Rabe In 'Hunger Games'". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ "Breaking News: 'MUCH ADO' with Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater & KING LEAR with John Lithgow Set for The Public's 2014 Shakespeare in the Park Season". Broadway World. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ "Lily Rabe Boards Bobby Fischer Pic 'Pawn Sacrifice'". Deadline Hollywood. October 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Kit, Borys (February 24, 2014). "'American Horror Story's' Lily Rabe to Star in Jason Blum's 'The Veil' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Disgusting, Mr (January 8, 2016). "Universal's 'The Veil' Going Straight to Video". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ "The Veil". Uphe.com. 11 November 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (February 24, 2014). "Pilot Scoop: American Horror Story Vet Lily Rabe Joins ABC's Alien Drama The Visitors". TVLine. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 8, 2014). "ABC New Series Pickups". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
- ^ Weinstein, Shelli (April 8, 2015). "ABC's Summer Schedule: Find Out When The Whispers, Mistresses and More Premiere". TV Guide. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ "The Whispers: Cancelled by ABC; No Season Two". TVSeriesFinale. 19 October 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (May 3, 2016). "Alex Ross Perry Pic 'Golden Exits' Set With Ensemble Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- ^ "Meet the full cast of FX's horror series American Horror Story Double Feature". meaww.com. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ^ "Baby on the Way for Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater". People. December 28, 2016.
- ^ Juneau, Jen (March 15, 2017). "Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater Welcome a Daughter — See Her First Photo". People.
- ^ "Baby No. 2! Lily Rabe Welcomes Second Child with Boyfriend Hamish Linklater". People. August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ Niazi, Amil (May 25, 2021). "A Conversation With Lily Rabe: Motherhood Made Career Decisions So Much Easier". Romper.
- ^ Duncan, Gabrielle (September 26, 2021). "Lily Rabe Expecting Third Baby with Hamish Linklater". Yahoo.
- ^ Chase, Stephanie (September 27, 2021). "American Horror Story star Lily Rabe confirms pregnancy". Digital Spy.
- ^ "Lily Rabe gives birth to third baby with Hamish Linklater". 22 June 2022.
- ^ "SXSW: Complete List of Winners at the 2016 Film Awards". Indiewire. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
External links
[edit]- Lily Rabe at IMDb
- Lily Rabe at the Internet Broadway Database
- Lily Rabe at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
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Lily Rabe
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Family background
Lily Rabe was born on June 29, 1982, in New York City's Upper West Side.[5] She is the daughter of acclaimed playwright and screenwriter David Rabe and award-winning actress Jill Clayburgh, both of whose artistic careers immersed her in the world of theater from an early age.[6] Rabe has described growing up surrounded by theater and film, with her parents' frequent discussions about the craft sparking her eventual passion for acting despite her initial resistance to following in their footsteps. After initial resistance to acting, Rabe studied dance for much of her youth and taught dance to children before pursuing theater. She even lost her first tooth at the Cort Theatre on Broadway while watching a production of The Grapes of Wrath directed by her father.[7] Rabe has two brothers: a younger brother, Michael Rabe, an actor and playwright, and an older half-brother, Jason Rabe, a musician from her father's previous marriage.[8] The family spent her early childhood in Bedford, New York, before relocating to Lakeville, Connecticut, when she was in seventh grade.[9] Her mother, Jill Clayburgh, passed away in 2010 after a long battle with leukemia.[10]Education
Rabe attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, as a day student after moving there in seventh grade, where she began her engagement with theater through the school's Dramatic Association.[11][12] During her time there, she performed in productions including the musical A Chorus Line and Beth Henley's The Wake of Jamey Foster, which marked her initial experiences in stage performance.[11] Influenced by her family's artistic background, Rabe pursued higher education in theater at Northwestern University, graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in theater.[13][14] At Northwestern, her training emphasized classic works alongside contemporary drama, providing a foundational skill set for her acting career.[15] She participated in student theater productions, such as ensemble roles in The Laramie Project and appearances in The Real Thing, which allowed her to develop versatility in dramatic interpretation.[16]Career
Early career
Lily Rabe began her professional acting career during her time as a student at Northwestern University, making her screen debut in the 2001 independent film Never Again as the daughter of her real-life mother, actress Jill Clayburgh.[2] Her training at Northwestern provided a strong foundation for these initial forays into performance. She followed this with her professional stage debut in 2002, appearing opposite Clayburgh in Israel Horovitz's one-act play Speaking Well of the Dead at the Gloucester Stage Company in Massachusetts.[15] After graduating in 2005, Rabe made her Broadway debut as the shy, newlywed hairdresser Annelle in the revival of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias at the Lyceum Theatre, a role that showcased her ability to portray vulnerable yet resilient young women and earned her a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.[17] She continued building her theater profile the following year with the role of Ellie Dunn in George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House at the Irish Repertory Theatre, an Off-Broadway production that brought her an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.[3] Parallel to her stage work, Rabe took on supporting roles in film to gain diverse experience, appearing briefly as a student in Mona Lisa Smile (2003) and as a young woman in the crime drama A Crime (2006).[1] These opportunities expanded in 2007 with her portrayal of Bernadette, the younger sister to Catherine Zeta-Jones's character, in the romantic comedy No Reservations, directed by Scott Hicks.[1] She then stepped into a leading role in the 2008 independent animated feature The Toe Tactic, voicing Mona Peek, a grieving artist navigating surreal encounters with her deceased father.[18] In 2009, Rabe starred as the fragile and impulsive Lili Adler in the Broadway premiere of Richard Greenberg's The American Plan at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, opposite Mercedes Ruehl; critics lauded her performance for its mercurial intelligence and emotional depth, marking a significant early breakthrough in her stage career.[19][20] During these formative years, Rabe often balanced intensive New York theater rehearsals and runs—typically demanding long hours and physical presence—with sporadic film shoots, a common challenge for emerging actors prioritizing the immediacy and artistry of live performance over sporadic screen work.[21] This dual commitment helped her develop versatility while establishing a reputation in the city's vibrant but competitive theater community.[7]Breakthrough period (2011–2015)
Rabe's breakthrough came in 2011 with her portrayal of Portia in the Broadway revival of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, directed by Daniel Sullivan and starring Al Pacino as Shylock.[22] The production, which transferred from the Public Theater to Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre, ran from October 2010 to January 2011 and showcased Rabe's command of classical roles, earning her a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Play. This recognition marked a pivotal moment, highlighting her transition from supporting stage work to leading dramatic performances and solidifying her reputation in New York theater circles.[23] That same year, Rabe joined the cast of Ryan Murphy's anthology horror series American Horror Story on FX, beginning a series of transformative roles that propelled her into television stardom. In the first season, Murder House (2011), she played Nora Montgomery, a ghostly socialite and grieving mother, introducing audiences to her ability to blend vulnerability with eerie intensity. She returned for season two, Asylum (2012), as Sister Mary Eunice McKee, a nun possessed by a demonic force, a performance that demonstrated her range in portraying psychological horror and earned her a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries in 2013.[24] Rabe continued this momentum in season three, Coven (2013), embodying the resilient swamp witch Misty Day, whose folk-magic persona and survival instincts further showcased her versatility in supernatural narratives.[25] By season four, Freak Show (2014), she made a cameo reprise of Sister Mary Eunice in the episode "Orphans" and appeared as the spectral serial killer Aileen Wuornos, reinforcing her integral status within the ensemble.[26] These American Horror Story appearances diversified Rabe's career, shifting her image from a stage actress rooted in Shakespearean drama to a multifaceted television talent adept at horror's emotional depths. Critics praised her chameleon-like adaptability across genres, noting how her roles evolved from tragic figures to empowered, otherworldly characters, which broadened her appeal and established her as a key player in prestige cable programming.[27] During this period, she also took on smaller screen projects, including a guest role as Taylor Spencer in the Lifetime series The Client List (2012), adding contemporary drama to her portfolio. In film, Rabe portrayed Camille Moriarty in Walter Salles' adaptation of Jack Kerouac's On the Road (2012), playing the wife of a central character in the Beat Generation road trip narrative, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and highlighted her emerging presence in independent cinema. This confluence of theater accolades and horror anthology success during 2011–2015 cemented Rabe's rise, transforming her into a recognized name for her nuanced portrayals of complex, often tormented women.Expansion into film and television (2016–2020)
Following her established presence in anthology horror, Lily Rabe continued her involvement with American Horror Story during this period, portraying Shelby Miller, a central figure in the true-crime reenactment style of season 6, Roanoke, which aired in 2016.[28] She reprised her fan-favorite role as the witch Misty Day in season 8, Apocalypse, in 2018, contributing to the series' crossover narrative that linked earlier installments.[28] These appearances maintained her association with the franchise while allowing her to explore layered, psychologically intense characters amid shifting formats. Rabe expanded her film career with a mix of indie dramas and higher-profile projects, starting with her supporting role as Esme Manucharian, a young lobbyist grappling with personal trauma, in the political thriller Miss Sloane (2016), opposite Jessica Chastain. In 2017, she appeared as Sam, a supportive yet conflicted sister, in the ensemble indie Golden Exits, directed by Alex Ross Perry, which examined interpersonal tensions in Brooklyn.[29] Her visibility grew with the role of Liz Cheney in Adam McKay's satirical biopic Vice (2018), where she depicted the future congresswoman as a poised extension of her father's political legacy.[30] Culminating the decade, Rabe took the lead as Joanne Monroe, a mother thrust into a nightmarish hospital ordeal, in the Netflix thriller Fractured (2019). On television, Rabe's earlier lead role as FBI agent Claire Bennigan in the ABC sci-fi series The Whispers (2015), which concluded its run in 2016, underscored her ability to anchor genre-bending narratives with emotional depth, influencing her subsequent opportunities.[29] She guest-starred as Joan Barrett, a pivotal maternal figure in a hallucinatory flashback, in season 2 of FX's Legion (2018), enhancing the show's surreal exploration of mental health. Closing the period, Rabe portrayed Sylvia Steinetz, a shrewd attorney and confidante to the protagonist, in HBO's limited series The Undoing (2020), a psychological drama that highlighted her command of tense, upscale ensemble dynamics. This era marked Rabe's solidification as a versatile performer, adept at balancing intimate indie films with prestige television on platforms like HBO and FX, thereby broadening her range from horror roots to sophisticated dramatic roles that emphasized psychological nuance and relational complexity.Recent projects (2021–present)
In 2021, Rabe returned to the American Horror Story anthology series for its tenth season, Double Feature, portraying Doris Gardner, a struggling writer and mother in the "Red Tide" storyline, and making a cameo as the historical figure Amelia Earhart in the "Death Valley" arc.[31][32] This marked her ninth appearance in the franchise, showcasing her versatility in horror narratives. That same year, she appeared in the Amazon Prime Video miniseries The Underground Railroad, directed by Barry Jenkins, as Ethel Wells, the conflicted wife of an abolitionist who grapples with moral dilemmas in the antebellum South.[33][34] Rabe continued her television work with a lead role in Showtime's The First Lady (2022), embodying journalist Lorena Hickok, a close confidante to Eleanor Roosevelt whose relationship with the First Lady influenced her reporting career.[35][36] In 2023, she portrayed Betty Gore, the victim in the true-crime story of a churchgoing housewife's murder, in HBO Max's Love & Death, delivering a poignant performance in the series' climactic confrontation scene.[37][38] She also joined the ensemble of Apple TV+'s Shrinking as Meg, the estranged adult daughter of Harrison Ford's character, navigating family reconciliation amid grief in the comedy-drama's seasons (2023–present).[39] In 2024, Rabe recurred as Dr. Liz Rush, the family therapist to Jake Gyllenhaal's protagonist in Apple TV+'s Presumed Innocent, providing emotional insight into marital strain during a high-stakes legal thriller.[40][41] On the film front, Rabe played Dorothy Moehringer, the resilient mother of memoirist J.R. in George Clooney's The Tender Bar (2021), a coming-of-age drama based on real-life struggles in 1970s Long Island.[42] In 2023, she co-directed and starred as Julia Rabia, a newcomer teacher in the isolated town of Owl, North Dakota, in the indie tragicomedy Downtown Owl, adapted from Chuck Klosterman's novel and helmed alongside her husband Hamish Linklater.[43][39] The following year, she portrayed Margaret Tanner, the devoted but strained daughter of a Broadway legend in HBO's The Great Lillian Hall (2024), supporting Jessica Lange's Emmy-nominated turn as an actress facing dementia.[44][45] Returning to the stage, Rabe starred as Mrs. Alving in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts at Lincoln Center Theater in 2025, alongside Billy Crudup and directed by Jack O'Brien, marking her return to classical theater after a period focused on screen work.[46] Looking ahead, Rabe is set to appear in Kogonada's A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025), playing Sarah's mother in the surreal road-trip drama starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell.[47] Throughout this period, Rabe's career has reflected a deliberate shift toward ensemble-driven streaming series and limited-run projects, allowing flexibility amid her family life with husband Hamish Linklater and their three children, while re-engaging with theater to honor her stage roots.[39][46]Personal life
Relationship with Hamish Linklater
Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater began their romantic relationship in 2014 while working together on a Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Public Theater in New York, where they portrayed the leads Beatrice and Benedick.[48] The pair had previously met and collaborated professionally in earlier stage projects, including the 2010 Central Park staging of The Merchant of Venice opposite Al Pacino and the 2011 Broadway comedy Seminar.[49] Their onstage chemistry in Much Ado About Nothing was notably enhanced by their offstage connection, with Rabe describing a "professional shorthand" developed from repeated collaborations.[50] The relationship, confirmed publicly through media reports in mid-2014, has remained largely private, with both actors preferring to avoid detailed discussions in interviews.[48] Despite their discretion, Rabe and Linklater have made occasional joint appearances at industry events, including the 2023 Tony Awards at the United Palace Theater in New York City.[51] They continue to frequent such gatherings, reflecting their ongoing involvement in the theater community.[52] Professionally, Rabe and Linklater share deep ties to New York's theater circles, frequently cast opposite each other in productions that leverage their rapport.[53] Notable overlaps include their 2025 co-starring roles in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts, directed by Jack O'Brien, who had previously helmed their Much Ado About Nothing.[54] As of 2025, the couple describes their partnership as a source of mutual support in their acting careers, with Linklater publicly celebrating Rabe's influence on his creative life.[55]Children and family life
Lily Rabe and her partner, actor Hamish Linklater, have three children together. Their first child, a daughter, was born in March 2017. Their second child, also a daughter, arrived in June 2020. The couple welcomed their third child, a son, in June 2022; his name has not been publicly disclosed.[56] The family also includes Linklater's daughter, Lucinda Rose, from his previous marriage to Jessica Goldberg.[57] Motherhood has profoundly shaped Rabe's approach to her career, providing her with sharper focus and making it easier to prioritize projects that fit her family responsibilities. Despite the demands of parenting, she has continued working through her pregnancies and early postpartum periods, including filming three television projects under strict COVID-19 protocols shortly after her second child's birth in 2020. Following the arrival of her third child, Rabe returned to prominent roles, such as in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking starting in 2023, demonstrating her commitment to balancing professional commitments with family life. The family maintains a low public profile, with Rabe occasionally sharing subtle, heartfelt updates about her children via social media, such as Father's Day tributes. Their partnership with Linklater serves as the foundation for their family life in the New York area.Filmography
Film
- 2001: Never Again as Tess, directed by Eric Schaeffer (supporting role)
- 2003: Mona Lisa Smile as Art History Student, directed by Mike Newell (supporting role)
- 2006: A Crime as Sophie, directed by Manuel Pradal (supporting role)[58]
- 2007: No Reservations as Bernadette, directed by Scott Hicks (supporting role)[59]
- 2008: What Just Happened as Dawn, directed by Barry Levinson (supporting role)
- 2010: All Good Things as Deborah Lehrman, directed by Andrew Jarecki (supporting role)
- 2010: Weakness as Katharine, directed by Michael Melamedoff (supporting role)[60]
- 2013: Aftermath as Samantha, directed by Thomas Farone (supporting role)[61]
- 2014: Pawn Sacrifice as Joan Fischer, directed by Edward Zwick (supporting role)
- 2016: Miss Stevens as Miss Stevens, directed by Julia Hart (lead role)[62]
- 2016: Redemption Trail as Anna, directed by Britta Sjogren (supporting role)[63]
- 2017: Golden Exits as Sam, directed by Alex Ross Perry (supporting role)[64]
- 2018: Vice as Liz Cheney, directed by Adam McKay (supporting role)
- 2019: Sgt. Will Gardner as Mary-Anne Mackey, directed by Max Martini (supporting role)[65]
- 2019: Finding Steve McQueen as Sharon Price, directed by Mark Steven Johnson (supporting role)[66]
- 2019: Fractured as Joanne Monroe, directed by Brad Anderson (lead role)[67]
- 2021: The Tender Bar as Dorothy Moehringer, directed by George Clooney (supporting role)
- 2023: Downtown Owl as Julia Rabia, directed by Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater (lead role)[68]
- 2024: The Great Lillian Hall as Margaret Tanner, directed by Michael Cristofer (supporting role)[69]
- 2025: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey as Sarah's Mother, directed by Kogonada (supporting role)[70]
Television
Lily Rabe began her television career with guest appearances in procedural dramas before gaining prominence through recurring roles in prestige series. Her most extensive television work is in the anthology horror series American Horror Story, where she portrayed a variety of characters across multiple seasons from 2011 to 2021.[8] The following table lists her television credits chronologically, focusing on series and miniseries roles, with details on characters and episode counts where applicable.[8]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Shannon Maytor | Guest role; 1 episode ("Lowdown")[8] |
| 2008 | Medium | Rachel | Guest role; 2 episodes ("Burned", "The Devil You Know")[8] |
| 2009 | Saving Grace | Amanda Moore | Guest role; 1 episode ("Aloha, etc.")[8] |
| 2009 | Nip/Tuck | Polly | Guest role; 1 episode ("Lo-Lo's Run")[8] |
| 2010 | Law & Order | Andrea | Guest role; 1 episode ("Anthropology")[8] |
| 2011 | Exit Strategy | Natalie Clayton | Lead role in unaired pilot; 1 episode[8] |
| 2011–2013 | The Good Wife | Petra Moritz | Recurring guest role; 3 episodes ("Feeding the Rat", "An Inconvenient Election", "Death Row Tip")[8] |
| 2011 | American Horror Story: Murder House | Nora Montgomery | Main role; 6 episodes[8] |
| 2012 | American Horror Story: Asylum | Sister Mary Eunice | Main role; 8 episodes[8] |
| 2012 | Suits | Rachel Lane | Guest role; 1 episode ("Meet the New Boss")[8] |
| 2013 | American Horror Story: Coven | Misty Day | Main role; 5 episodes[8] |
| 2013 | Unforgettable | Zoe | Guest role; 1 episode ("The Haircut")[8] |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Lucy Cooper | Lead role; 13 episodes[8] |
| 2016 | American Horror Story: Roanoke | Shelby Miller | Lead role; 6 episodes[8] |
| 2017 | Feud: Bette and Joan | Sarah Sloan | Guest role; 1 episode ("And the Winner Is...")[8] |
| 2017 | American Horror Story: Cult | Aileen Wuornos | Guest role; 1 episode ("Election Night")[8] |
| 2018 | American Horror Story: Apocalypse | Misty Day | Guest role; 1 episode ("Fire and Reign")[8] |
| 2018 | Sharp Objects | Diana | Guest role; 1 episode ("Cherry")[8] |
| 2019 | The Loudest Voice | Beth Ailes | Recurring role; 3 episodes[8] |
| 2021 | Tell Me Your Secrets | Emma / Lisa / Rebecca | Lead role; 10 episodes[8] |
| 2021 | American Horror Story: Double Feature | Doris Gardner | Recurring role; 3 episodes (Part 2: Death Valley)[8] |
| 2022 | The First Lady | Jill Jacobs Biden | Recurring role; 3 episodes[8] |
| 2023 | Love & Death | Betty Gore | Main role; 7 episodes[8] |
| 2023 | White House Plumbers | Tammy Farioli | Guest role; 2 episodes[8] |
| 2023–2024 | Shrinking | Meg | Recurring role; 8 episodes (3 in season 1, 5 in season 2)[8] |
| 2024 | Presumed Innocent | Dr. Liz Rush | Recurring role; 4 episodes[8] |
Stage
Lily Rabe's stage career encompasses a range of classical and contemporary roles, with a strong emphasis on New York theater, including multiple Shakespearean productions and award-nominated performances on Broadway and Off-Broadway. Her work highlights her versatility in dramatic and comedic roles, often in revivals of canonical plays. Below is a chronological overview of her key theater credits.- Speaking Well of the Dead (2001–2002, Gloucester Stage Company, Beverly, MA): Professional debut in Israel Horovitz's one-act play, alongside her mother Jill Clayburgh, marking her entry into professional theater.[16]
- The Crazy Girl (early 2000s, regional production): Supporting role in Frank Pugliese's one-act play, which contributed to her obtaining an Actors' Equity Association card.[71]
- Proof (2005, Off-Broadway, Los Angeles or regional): Played Jenna in a production of David Auburn's play.[3]
- Steel Magnolias (April 4–July 31, 2005, Broadway, Lyceum Theatre): Debuted on Broadway as Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto in Robert Harling's revival, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.[72]
- Heartbreak House (October 11–December 17, 2006, Broadway, American Airlines Theatre): Portrayed Ellie Dunn in George Bernard Shaw's revival directed by Robin Phillips, receiving an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and a Callaway Award.
- Crimes of the Heart (2008, Off-Broadway, Laura Pels Theatre): Starred as Babe Botrelle in Beth Henley's revival produced by Roundabout Theatre Company.
- The American Plan (January 22–March 22, 2009, Broadway, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre): Played Lili Adler in Richard Greenberg's drama, a transfer from Off-Broadway.
- Cymbeline (Summer 2010, Off-Broadway, Delacorte Theater, Shakespeare in the Park): Took the lead role of Imogen in Shakespeare's romance, directed by Daniel Sullivan.
- The Merchant of Venice (November 13, 2010–February 20, 2011, Broadway, Broadhurst Theatre): Starred as Portia opposite Al Pacino's Shylock in Daniel Sullivan's production, transferred from Shakespeare in the Park; nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play.[73]
- Seminar (October 27, 2011–May 6, 2012, Broadway, John Golden Theatre): Portrayed Kate in Theresa Rebeck's comedy directed by Sam Gold.[74]
- Much Ado About Nothing (Summer 2014, Off-Broadway, Public Theater): Played Beatrice in Shakespeare's comedy as part of the Public Theater season.
- The Importance of Being Earnest (Opened November 18, 2019, Broadway, American Airlines Theatre): Starred as Gwendolen Fairfax in Oscar Wilde's revival directed by David Cromer.[75]
- As You Like It (Summer 2012, Off-Broadway, Delacorte Theater, Shakespeare in the Park): Led as Rosalind in the Public Theater's production of Shakespeare's comedy, directed by Daniel Sullivan.[15]
- Ghosts (2025, Off-Broadway, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center Theater): Portrayed Helena Alving in Henrik Ibsen's drama opposite Hamish Linklater, earning Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play.[52]